When Christ was born, the universe became at that moment “the baby in the manger” which is both “bizarre” and “exciting to think about.”
He said that the Nativity helps “even the most hardened rationalist” understand how God and creation “come together” in the form of the Christ.
Participant Dennis Sponable of Denver told CNA that he believed the content of all the talks during the conference “tied in together really well.”
Although intellectuals tend to see religion as irrational, as Justice Scalia mentioned in his talk, Sponable said he appreciated hearing about how a scientist like Br. Consolmango “sees the beauty of God” in the study of the universe.
Christie Valdez of Ft. Collins, Colo., who has attended the conference since before it was available to the general public, said that she thinks “every year is just as good as the next.”
The conference also featured talks from youth minister Chris Stefanick, Fernando Casanova, Abram Leon and John Allen Jr., as well as workshops which offered practical tips from Catholic leaders such as Dr. Mary Healy, Msgr. Bernie Schmitz, Ben Ackers, S.T.L., Fr. John Riley, Fr. Armando Marsal, Thomas Smith and Mark Shea.
This year the conference included a Teen Track in order to help people recognize that young people are “not just the Church of tomorrow” but “a very powerful part of the Church of today,” Chris Stefanick, director of youth and young adult ministry for the archdiocese, told CNA.
“This is a celebration of purity and faith which are really both one yes to God,” he said, “a lot of times kids might feel like they're alone in their faith or in their desire to live a pure life.”
Stefanick said that they had 800 seats for the event, but it was so crowded that a Fire Marshall had to come by to clear to doorways. He said such a large crowd really helped to show teens that “they're obviously not” alone in their commitment to God.
The Teen Track featured Mass, confession, praise and worship and talks from noted Catholic speakers.
Jason and Crystalina Evertt of Catholic Answers gave their testimonies about conversion and chastity and Catholic Answers LIVE radio host, Patrick Coffin, spoke about cooperating with God's plan.
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Teen Laura Rosling of Roggin, Colo., who attended the conference with her mother and sister as part of her preparation for Confirmation, said she could relate to Coffin's story about a father who searched for his son after a natural disaster as an example of how God is always faithful.
High schooler Tom Brown of Greely, Colo. said that he “learned a lot” from the Teen Track and that he was still processing it all.