April 9, 2014

Watertown – Florida youth minister Kelly Colangelo will return to upstate New York where she was raised to serve as the keynote speaker for the annual diocesan Youth Rally set for April 26 at Immaculate Heart Central School.

Deacon Brian Dwyer, diocesan director of youth ministry, said “Through her humorous skits and engaging presentations, Kelly seeks to draw youth to the beauty of the Catholic faith and to help them grow in a deeper relationship with Christ and his Church.”

On her website, Colangelo says, “I have served as a youth minister for many years. I try my best to maintain a balance between fun, creative programming and meaningful, in depth catechesis. My hope is to challenge youth to be everything God intended them to be... and go to heaven of course.”

“I attended Niagara University, a small Catholic college and was an active disciple of Christ on campus,” she said. “During my summers off, I had a rockin' job working at a Catholic camp, that would ultimately sow the seed for my passion with ministry to teenagers.

After graduating from Niagara University, she attended Syracuse University for a masters degree in School and Student Affairs Counseling and Franciscan University of Steubenville for certificate in youth ministry.

Music for the day will be led by Ryan Grant of Adams.

The youth rally is open to youth in grades 6-12 and will feature interactive games, group discussions, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a closing liturgy with Bishop Terry R. LaValley.

The cost for the day is $25 which includes lunch, snacks and a tee-shirt.

Registrations forms, which are due in the youth office by April 14, are available in each parish, on the diocesan youth ministry website, www.rcdony.org/youth or by calling the youth office at 315-393-2920 ext. 1411.