Detroit auxiliary bishop speaks at FOCUS gathering in Panama; tells youth from around the U.S., ‘you need to make us nervous’

PANAMA CITY — Accompany one’s brothers and sisters, have an encounter with the Lord, be transformed by that encounter, and go out and change the world.

Accompany, encounter, transform, change. 

Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Arturo Cepeda wasn’t asking for any small favors during The Fellowship of Catholic University Students’ (FOCUS) FIAT Festival for U.S pilgrims at Panama City’s Figali Convention Center.

The Knights of Columbus and U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops-sponsored event was geared toward American and other English-speaking pilgrims at World Youth Day 2019 in Panama.

Transitioning between English and Spanish, Bishop Cepeda had a message for today’s youth, calling for a global transformation. 

“We have this great opportunity, my brothers and sisters, to share our faith with joy,” Bishop Cepeda said, addressing various groups from across the U.S. “We are making history in Panama and in our Church. Today, we proclaim Panama to be the capital of the youth. To be the place of joy, to be the chosen place of mission, under the protection of Our Lady.”

FOCUS chose the name "FIAT" from this year’s World Youth Day theme, Luke 1:38, “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Bishop Cepeda, along with other bishops and prominent Catholic speakers from across the country, told the youth it was critical to say “yes” to God’s call to mission and to say “yes” to the call to change the world.

“We need you to take that first step of faith, and you know what, you have done it so far, you have come all the way to Panama,” Bishop Cepeda said. “You have taken that first step. By taking the first step, you are already making me nervous; which is great. You are making us (my fellow bishops) nervous. We want you, our youth, to make us nervous. You have the great opportunity to change our Church, our world, according to God’s will. Because you have taken that first step.”

Bishop Cepeda challenged the youth to make that second step: to accompany their fellow World Youth Day pilgrims and to be open to an authentic encounter with the Lord, become moved by that encounter, and to return home ready to transform the entire world.

“When you return from here, people are going to say, ‘What’s going on with you, what happened to you? Are you OK,’” Bishop Cepeda said. “You are going to say, ‘I went to the encuentro in Panama. I was with our youth, our people. I accompanied them, I engaged with them, I have been transformed by them, and I am bringing fruit from that experience.’ That is what we’re called to do with joy.”

That joyful transformation into someone who says “yes” to the Lord’s will is what Pope Francis, who arrived in Panama on Thursday, is calling on the entire Church to undertake, said Bishop Cepeda, who added it was critical that the youth lead the way. 

“Please say ‘yes.’ That is what the Church needs, and that is what the world needs,” Bishop Cepeda said. “The whole world is looking at you now, and they want you to keep smiling with great hope. Transform our world. Because we are people of faith who can do anything when we say ‘yes’ to God’s plan.”