Staff photo / Bob Coupland
Participants in the all-day Arise young adult summer festival July 26 at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Cortland take part in a procession around the church grounds. There were guest speakers, panel discussions and group gatherings throughout the day.

CORTLAND — The Arise young adult summer festival was designed to help younger people grow together and know that God has a plan for each of them.

The Diocese of Youngstown coordinated the one-day event at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Cortland, which was geared to those aged 18 to 39.

Jake Huzyak of North Canton, a seminarian for the Diocese, said he hopes the 75 participants who attended the event will encounter Jesus Christ in a very deep and profound way.

“They can continue to share the good news of what they hear today,” Huzyak said.

Throughout the day, there were guest speakers, panel discussions with people from different vocations and breakout discussion groups.

Huzyak spoke on vocations, including how holiness is a part of so many of them.

“God communicates to each of us in many different ways. You do not have to have everything figured out for God to tell you what he wants for you,” he said.

Huzyak said the age bracket for the weekend event was aimed at having young people live their faith and come together as a community in worshipping God and knowing there are other young adults who also love Jesus and live out their faith.

He said the programs focused on helping young adults in the discernment of their vocations.

A special Mass with Bishop David Bonnar was followed by a meal as the culminating activities of the day.

Jaden Karr of Boardman, director of music / liturgy at St. Robert said he has served as music director at different parishes.

He said the event provides a lot of outreach to young adults who are from the six counties served by the Diocese of Youngstown: Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Ashtabula, Stark and Portage.

“To me, this day is very encouraging and uplifting.” Karr said.

Huzyak said a grant was given to the Diocese to host the event, which is marking its third year.

Karr said he was not sure what the day’s events would entail but it helped enlighten his faith.

“This provided a great opportunity to be with other people our age who can share the same beliefs and faiths. Many young people have said they have enjoyed participating,” Karr said.

Huzyak said many young adult groups attended, such as those of Frassati of Youngstown, Trumbull North and Canton.

“These groups all exist to meet the needs of young Catholics so they can grow in their faith and in their communities,” he said.

The Trumbull North includes members from St. Robert, St. William in Champion and St. Thomas the Apostle in Vienna.

Huzyak said the “Arise” theme was chosen from the Gospel of Luke in the Bible because Mary arose and went in haste in answering God’s call to become the mother of Jesus.

Bobby Angel, an author and Catholic speaker, was among the keynote speakers.

“We want the young people to know they are not forgotten. Too often people feel like they are adrift in their 20s and 30s and being left behind. When it comes to vocations, many are waiting on God’s timing. The message is each of us is known by a loving Father. Today has been a great mixture of prayer, recreation, fellowship and discussions,” Angel said.

Bonnar said it is important that young adults grow in God’s holiness.

“These events allow for each of us to grow great strength from the community by coming together,” he said.