One of God’s many gifts that I have received is a huge imagination. Fortunately, as I was growing up my mother and grandparents allowed me to use my imagination to its fullest. And more than once it ran wild.

As an example, I once built a car out of wood from the old water tank -- not a small car mind you, but a full sized car, something where three nails would have held it, but 16 nails were much better. Many times I won the Daytona 500 and did not move an inch.

Or the time that I took four of my grandfather’s windbreaks and built a restaurant for my cousins and I to play in. And finally and probably the biggest was the way that I could play an entire football season all by myself. The Green Bay Packers never lost a game.

To this day I still have a vivid imagination. And yes, I still use it to build things, or to make someone’s boat look a little sharper the next time it goes to the lake, etc. But too, it is used in more productive ways with my ministry, and more serious. Now I use it in creative ways to enhance the youth ministry in the diocese, trying to come up with new and exciting ideas that will draw our young people into a deeper relationship with our risen Lord. Just imagine 4,000 or more young people so on fire for the Lord, that they cannot wait until the next youth event. Just imagine these young people saying "no" to all other activities just to come to a diocesan youth event. Remember, I have a vivid imagination!

One part of my ministry is working with our Diocesan Youth Council. I have spoken of this before. It is made up of youth representing all areas of the diocese, serving as a communication link between parishes and the diocese.

After last spring’s youth rally where the attendance was quite low, I met with the Youth Council and I asked them to ponder and pray about these questions over the summer. Just recently, we held our Youth Council leadership weekend, and I again proposed these same questions.

• What is your vision of Church?

• What is your vision of Youth Ministry?

• Do you believe in the true presence?

I would invite you to take a few moments and ponder these same questions.

I concluded my questions with what I feel is one of key questions we can address. I asked the Council to imagine if there was no diocesan youth ministry, no rallies, no camps, no retreats -- how would they feel? Their response was direct. They said that something very important would be missing in their lives. They quickly said that if there was nothing, they would have no reason to attend Mass, etc. They were simply saying that these diocesan functions nourished and gave them life.

I followed it up by asking them how the other young people in their parish would feel? Would they even know that something was missing; would they care if there were no diocesan youth activities? Thus, the goal for the Youth Council is to become a stronger voice to many, allowing them to hear about the things offered to them through their parish and the diocese. To evangelize in a way that sparks a new found joy and desire to experience Christ in new and special ways.

I would like to end this column by proposing one final question, one final imagination. I invite you to pause for a moment, close your eyes, and imagine if you will walking into your church. Visualize everything, the stations of the cross, the statues, the stained glass windows, etc. But visualize one more thing -- no altar. What do you see? How does this make you feel?

My hope is that you quickly realize that something very important is missing, something that you cannot live without it. The hope of the Diocesan Youth Council, through youth ministry, is to draw all young people to a deeper love of the Eucharist, and to obtain a deeper desire to come to the table of the Lord.

As the Youth Council begins another year of service, they need your help. Following is a list of the Youth Council members and their parish. I invite you to contact them, to ask them questions, to offer suggestions, and most of all to lend your love and support in ministry. Together with the Council great things can happen.

Thank you for your imagination and for all that you do for our risen Lord.

Allison Eck

Erica Traffas

Jed Ricke

Anna Bennett

St. Ann’s Parish – Olmitz

Diana Yarmer

Katie Lies

Aaron Frieb

James Suppes

Scott Boyd

Andrea Holguin

Aubrey Hageman

Tyler Meyer

Kendra Stanford

Nathan Willis

Jamie Schartz

Cathedral of Our Lady of Gudalupe

Nick Edwards

Trevor Schaffer

Andrew Oberley

Adam Rains

Stepheny Frederiksen

Sergio Padilla III

Tiffani Hahn

Jesse Austin

Carly Champlin

Tylan Ricketts

Dave Geist – Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Brenda Jensen – Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Sonia Baker – St. Mary’s Parish, Marienthal

We, the members of the Diocese of Dodge City Youth Council, have pledged our commitment to serve the Church in this ministry. We are using Jesus as our example and model of servant leadership. We have heard of who Jesus was, as a Christian leader. God has called us to this ministry and we have joyfully said yes to this call and to using our gifts and talents for the good of the diocese.

We ask that you support us and lend your gifts and talents in working with and beside us in our service to others. We thank you for sharing in our joy and for walking this journey with us.