Approximately 110 youth and 30 adults brought the "Little Theater" at Dodge City Community College to rousing life at the 2007 High School Youth Rally, March 24-25.

Keynote speaker Jerry Goebel told the youth, who had come from parishes across the diocese, not to be "cool" about life.

"You can’t tell me Martin Luther King, Jr. was cool about life," he said. "He was passionately in love with life. You can’t tell me Mother Teresa or John Paul II were cool about life. Be hot for life!

"...It takes less than two percent of the people with a common vision" to change a community, he said. "We have more than that here. Four people in a school of 200 can change an entire school.

"If we have a common vision, we can change the world, as long as we aren’t cool."

The weekend event was filled with presentations, small group activities, and time for fun and games, all designed to bring the youth closer to Christ and each to other.

At the closing Mass, Bishop Ronald Gilmore also spoke of becoming impassioned. "Whenever you meet evil, in whatever form it takes, I want you to become angry."

Citing stem cell research, the demonizing of undocumented immigrants, and a Kansas agricultural system that is failing the family farmer, he said, "Whenever you meet evil in the world, I want you to summon up the courage to do something about it."

He also told the youth to "never build yourself up by tearing other people down. ... I want you to be your brother’s keeper. I want you to be your sister’s keeper. There is really no other way to live."

Steven Polley, director of youth ministry for the diocese and organizer of the event, introduced members of the new youth council, which will be highlighted in an upcoming issue. For information on upcoming youth events, go to www.dcdiocese.org, and click on the youth link.