Norma Urbina, a 23-year-old parishioner of St. Clare parish in Essex, thinks it can be difficult to be a Latino young adult in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
“I think, in general, we lack a lot of support from our families here because most of us have immigrated,” the native of El Salvador said. “We were born in other countries. A lot of times we feel lonely.”
Urbina and about 70 other Latino young adults found something in common at an Easter Rally May 1 at Archbishop Borders School. The Hispanic Young Adult Archdiocesan Council hosted the event in the school’s cafeteria. The rally was designed to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
The day began with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and then dovetailed into a substantive talk about the resurrection. Small groups took the discussion further. Activities, lunch, and Mass were other highlights of the day.
They learned that they are all part of the Catholic Church and need to support one another.
“I came today because I think it’s important to support not only the teenagers, but the youth in general,” Urbina said. “Going from teenagers to young adults, a lot of things change. We tend to go the negative ways instead of the positive ways. It’s a way of relating to other people, staying away from drugs, alcohol, from parties that could lead to a lot of negative things.”
Georgina Vaca, coordinator of Hispanic Youth and Young Adults for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, said it is common for Latino people to celebrate the resurrection with such rallies in preparation of Pentecost, which is May 23 this year.
The enthusiasm for praise and worship that the young adults showed was invigorating for those ub attendance, Vaca said. She said attendees gained a better understanding of the meaning of Jesus’ resurrection.
“The fact that they come here shows they are thirsty and desire more,” Vaca said. “They have a desire to go deeper in their lives. They are the present and future of our church. This is what the church is looking like.”