By CatholicVote | Created at 2024-11-25 19:56:14 | Updated at 2024-11-25 23:22:03
3 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // Holy Family High School in Broomfield, Colorado, is breathing new life into its faith community through a growing movement that extends beyond the academic life, inviting students, families, and even alumni to deepen their connection with Christ.
The school’s new series, Encounter, is offering students and their families an evening of Eucharistic Adoration, praise and worship music, confession, and witness testimonies, according to a report from Denver Catholic.
The events, held in the school chapel, have grown rapidly in popularity, drawing in not just students but also their parents and siblings.
Maddie, a senior at Holy Family, said that the impact of Encounter events extends beyond the student body. She has also witnessed growing enthusiasm for the after school Adoration hour among parents.
“We’re reaching parents. We’re reaching all the people,” she said.
Even non-Catholic attendees have found the peace and reverence of the experience meaningful, leading to greater engagement in the community.
“Encounter really makes the students take initiative,” Maddie said. “We’ve brought people who are not Catholic, and they would come and really enjoy the quiet and the chance to pray.”
This initiative is part of Ut Fidem (“keep the faith”), a student-driven ministry designed to foster a deeper relationship with Christ and grow faith both on and off campus. Students who join Ut Fidem form small groups that meet weekly for prayer, Scripture study, and community building. The program emphasizes living a faith-centered life and guiding students toward becoming active participants in their spiritual journey.
Since its inception, Ut Fidem has exceeded expectations. The original goal of four student groups by the end of the 2023-2024 school year was more than tripled, with 12 groups in place by the end of the year. This year, the program is set to have 19 groups.
The growth of Ut Fidem has spread largely by word of mouth, with students excitedly inviting their friends to take part in Encounter and other faith-building activities.
Stephanie Devenny, director of the movement, makes a clear distinction: Ut Fidem is a lifestyle, not a club. “This isn’t an extra club to check off and put on a resume,” she said. “We’re trying to reawaken young people in the Catholic Church.”
Seniors Matt and Brady shared how their involvement has helped them grow in their faith and build deeper friendships. “It’s helped me to realize in a greater way how God wants a personal relationship with each of us,” Brady said.
Matt added that the experience has been more personal and transformative than their classroom theology classes.
Science department chair Micah Greenmyer, with the support of Principal Mary Vulcani, researched successful models other Catholic schools used to enhance spiritual engagement. After discovering the Ut Fidem movement, they introduced the program to Holy Family, where it quickly flourished.
Building on its success, Ut Fidem is now reaching out specifically to the parents of Holy Family students, providing new opportunities for them to grow in faith alongside their children.
Devenny hopes the movement will expand further, not only to other schools but throughout the state.
“We have an opportunity to be a light in this state, to reignite the spark in the students and the family for Jesus and his Church,” she said. “I want them to be missionary disciples, not just to keep the faith.”
