For CU FOCUS students however, it’s a different story.
“It’s a blessing to see how many people are saying this is not what we want”, said O’Rourke who won the FOCUS male student of the year award at the conference and enjoyed the spotlight with a fellow CU senior, Katherine Witt, who won runner-up for female student of the year.
“It’s incredible to see our student leaders stepping up despite the bad image we’ve gotten.”
Yellow t-shirt laden CU students could be spotted all weekend organizing events, pointing people in the right direction and taking up many leadership roles.
“We have the power and ability to create a different image and lifestyle”, O’Rourke said.
Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo North Dakota was a priest in the Archdiocese of Denver at FOCUS’ genesis.
He said in his homily at the closing mass on Sunday that, “little in my imagination did I dream I’d stand before so many young people whose hearts have been set on fire by that vision seven years ago.”
“God has placed you at this time in history in 2005 for a specific purpose”, he said. “He has called you by name.”
Before the 1500 students packed up their busses and boarded their planes to travel back to their respective campuses and everyday lives, Dr. Reyes left them with a challenge.
“On Monday, you might wake up and think it was all a dream. Don’t forget.”
“You have met the Living God this weekend”, he reiterated passionately, “Don’t forget!”
(Story continues below)
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