TROY — On Sunday, Oct. 26, teens and families from across the Archdiocese of Detroit gathered at Christ Our Light Parish in Troy for "Come, Encounter Christ," an evening of prayer and Eucharistic adoration created to help young people meet Jesus personally and discover His love in the midst of daily life.
The church filled with song as praise and worship prepared hearts to encounter the Lord, followed by time for confession and quiet reflection before the Blessed Sacrament.
In a relatable and heartfelt message, Fr. Stephen Moening drew from the Gospel account of Jesus calming the storm and spoke candidly about the reality of emotions in the spiritual life, from excitement and joy to anxiety, loneliness, and even helplessness. Rather than dismissing or being ruled by these feelings, Fr. Moening encouraged the youth to see them as spaces where Jesus desires to enter, offering peace and transforming the heart.
Sharing personal stories of vulnerability, he reminded teens that when life feels overwhelming or out of control, Christ does not wait for a “perfect” version of us. Instead, he meets us in the very moments we would rather hide, and invites us to receive his presence, his strength, and his love.
As the evening drew to a close, families knelt together in silent adoration, entrusting their cares, questions, and hopes to the One who calms every storm. Many lingered in prayer, a sign that hearts had indeed encountered Christ, and were not eager to leave His presence.
(Photos by Izzy Cortese | Detroit Catholic)
