New April conference for high school students to focus on young people's gifts, God-given mission

DETROIT — From its beginning, the “Unleash the Gospel” movement in the Archdiocese of Detroit was meant to include everybody. And that includes the area's teenagers.

In late April, Catholic young people from across southeast Michigan will learn about their role in proclaiming the kingdom of Jesus Christ in the 21st century, thanks to a new youth conference, RISE Detroit 2020.

The initiative is specifically geared toward teaching high school-age students how their contributions make a difference in transforming the Church into a “band of joyful, missionary disciples,” said Chris Leach, coordinator of youth ministry for the Archdiocese of Detroit's Northeast Region.

The goal of RISE Detroit 2020 is “to give young people of the Archdiocese of Detroit a sense of empowerment and give them ownership of the mission of 'Unleash the Gospel,'” Leach told Detroit Catholic. “We’re all called to be joyful, missionary disciples, and that includes young people.”

RISE Detroit, which takes its name from the city of Detroit's motto, “We hope for better things; it will rise from the ashes,” will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, at Mercy High School in Farmington Hills.

Bob Rice, a speaker, catechist and professor at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, will be the keynote speaker, and members of the Culture Project, a team of young adults who travel the country to speak to young adults and teens, will lead breakout sessions.

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron will celebrate Mass, and Fr. Stephen Pullis, director of evangelization and missionary discipleship for the Archdiocese of Detroit, will lead a “Come, Encounter Christ,” adoration and reflection event to close the conference. Registration for the conference costs $26.25 before March 1, or $35 at the door.

“This is the first conference designed with Unleash the Gospel in focus, born out of the pastoral letter, instead of something that existed before the synod,” said Laura Piccone-Hanchon, archdiocesan coordinator of youth ministry for the Northwest Region.

“We want adults to accompany the youth to this,” Piccone-Hanchon continued. “We’ll have adults experience the conference as well, connecting with the young people, showing we’re all equal in this endeavor of spreading the Gospel.”

Participants don’t need to be a part of a Catholic school or youth group to attend RISE Detroit 2020, and the one-day conference is meant to encourage those who haven’t gone to a spiritual conference before to try it out.

“We hope to equip young people with a sense of what it means to share the Gospel in a way that is intentional,” Piccone-Hanchon said. “We don’t arrive at faith, but it is something you are actively involved in. I think young people in particular are evangelized best by other young people; it carries more meaning if you see one of your peers sharing the word of God. So this a great opportunity for young people to see what it means to be a young person of God, sharing the light, living in a different way.”

If You Go

• What: RISE Detroit 2020, an Unleash the Gospel-themed conference for high school-age students focused on evangelization and missionary discipleship
• Who: Sponsored by the Archdiocese of Detroit's Office of Youth Ministry and open to young people, their parents and chaperones
• Where: Mercy High School, 29300 West 11 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334
• When: 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25, 2020
• How: Register at Eventbrite or the conference's website, or by calling (313) 596-7325 or emailing [email protected].