Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, November 22, 2002 Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges Pop music often promotes good values, consultant/disc jockey Anna Scally says By Susan K. Virgalitte LOUISVILLE – When missionaries go to a foreign country to spread the Gospel, the first thing they must do is learn the language of the people. In the same way, those who wish to be “missionaries” to young people must learn their “language,” and that language is their music. That was the message Anna Scally, president of Cornerstone Media, brought to this year’s Diocesan Youth Convention Nov. 9 at St. Thomas Aquinas High School here. Ms. Scally is a popular youth rally speaker, consultant and disc jockey who monitors popular music for Gospel values and values in opposition to Christianity. Her company puts out a quarterly newsletter – “Top Music Countdown” – which evaluates popular music and offers suggestions for family and classroom discussions of the songs. The theme of this year’s Youth Convention was “9/11—11/9: We Can Turn It Around,” which referred to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the date of this year’s convention: Nov. 9. The theme, developed by teen-agers and adult leaders, focused on the positive effect young people can have in the world through learning and practicing Catholic social teaching. “Everyone of us has the incredible potential in life to hurt people by what we say and do,” Ms. Scally said in her keynote address. “I think sometimes we are oblivious, but that is what we are called to do.” She added that being loving takes a lot more time than ignoring others. “Every one of us has the responsibility to make the decision to be a loving person: To say ‘how are you,’ and stick around for the answer; To look people in the eye; To not judge people by the package they come in — their bodies. So many times, when we look at what’s going on in the world, it seems like someone else’s problem. When we see it as partly our responsibility, we can make better decisions.” Ms. Scally said popular music often promotes good values, although the perception of many adults is that the music is harmful. Young people’s favorite music, whether it is “top 50,” rap, alternative, Christian rock, “oldies,” or even classical, is an important part of their lives. In fact, North American teens spend an average of more than three hours a day listening to music. Even in the case of negative music, parents and youth leaders should be open to talking about it. “Music in itself does not cause problems,” she said. “What causes them is bad decisions.” She added that, while she will not play songs with negative values during a dance, she does use such songs in discussion groups with teens. Still, only about 15 percent of today’s popular music “pitches a negative value,” according to Ms. Scally’s studies. These are songs with anti-Christian, anti-family, pro-violence or drug messages. “On the other end,” she said, “another 25-30 percent of popular songs promote Gospel values: making good choices about relationships, saying you are sorry, working on unconditional love. In the middle are songs that just talk about life.” Every year, Cornerstone Media sends thousands of ballots to people in the music industry asking what they thought were the best and worst songs of the year. When all the results are tabulated, Cornerstone makes a CD for teens, youth leaders and parents that plays the best and worst songs of the year, with explanations on why each song received the rating it did. Ms. Scally played some of the top songs of 2001, which were also Cornerstone’s picks as promoting Gospel values. They included: —‘Who Can Say’ by Enya. (“Enya goes to church every Sunday,” Ms. Scally said.) —‘I Can Be Your Hero’ by Enrique Inglesias. (Ms. Scally said this is a wonderful song to imagine Jesus singing to you, “if you can get over Jesus calling you ‘baby’!”) —‘I’m Already There’ by Lonestar. (“Another great song to imagine Jesus singing.”). —‘Walk On’ by U-2. “’Walk On’ speaks of going on through life’s challenges,” Ms. Scally said. “We all share the same goal: to love and be loved.” Listeners of this song must remember that God’s love is always there, regardless of what else happens to them in life. Ms. Scally told her teen audience to remember to be people of faith, to remember they were created by God, are very special, and have responsibilities in the world. “There will never be another you to walk this earth,” she said. “How will you be measured? Will people know you as Christlike? We are called to live in the world and to change the world. I believe that in front of me are some of God’s best people.” In addition to her keynote address, Ms. Scally conducted a workshop for adults and “dee-jayed” a dance in the evening. Teens and their leaders had their choice of 25 workshops and nine activities during the day. Alternate activities included projects to raise awareness about the death penalty, the plight of migrant workers and domestic violence. At each of these activities, participants could read about or talk to someone about the issue. They also wrote letters to Congress, sewed hats for children in domestic violence shelters, and designed cloth squares to be made into quilts for migrant workers. In the evening, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin visited the convention, presided at Mass, and ate dinner with the teens. Faye Abbondanza, associate director of the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, said that about 450 people attended the convention, including more than 300 young people. She said comments from those in attendance were very positive. “The teens seemed really ‘up’ and very much into what was going on.” She added that the activity rooms, new to this year’s convention, were planned by teens on the convention committee, which has been meeting for more than a year. “We had some really wonderful people on the team who went above and beyond,” she said. “They really got things going. It was a joy.” The diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry holds youth conventions every other year, with a smaller diocesan Youth Congress held in the years between conventions. During those “in-between” years, young people are encouraged to attend the biennial National Catholic Youth Conference. In 2003, that conference will be held Nov. 13-16 in Houston.   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2002   Christmas letter from El Salvador missions thanks diocesan Catholics   Bishop shares views, discussion with Central students   ETC slates Christmas specials throughout the season   My Favorite Christmas Memories   Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued   Local Catholic radio station targets Feb. 1 date   HMs end 98-years of service to Salem St. Paul Parish   Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges   Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’   Priests must ask one another the tough questions, speaker says   Catholic death and funeral rites   Deacons mark 25th with Mass, dinner, memories   Diocesan Ministry Convocation Speaker: Global solidarity, not globalization, should be aim   Jusseaume inaugurated as sixth Walsh president   Diaconate marks 25th anniversary with Oct. 27 fete   New norms sent to priests, deacons on Communion under both kinds   Ashtabula parishes are ‘one Catholic community’   Jusseaume to become Walsh’s sixth president   Charismatic speaker: ‘Church being tested in faithfulness’   Lutheran/Catholic covenant event draws 140 to Walsh   Canton St. Joseph Parish observes centennial celebration   HMHP CEO Michael Rowan   Stewardship speaker: It’s about gratitude and thanking God first   Imagination is key to resolving crisis, priests told   War with Iraq? Expo readers opposed by 81-19%   Newspaper columns didn’t give complete story, official says   Diocesan Ministry Convocation set Oct. 26 at YSU’s Kilcawley   New year brings new faculty, changes at diocesan high schools   Mont St. Michel, Avignon’s papal palace are treasures   Preparing for the priesthood   Entering well-earned retirement, Sr. Marcella’s not slowing down   Warren St. Mary observes 100th year for church building   Lay Ministry Formation program attracting new audience   The cathedrals of France: Monuments of faith in stone   Executive summary of the ad hoc commission on athletics in diocesan high schools   ‘No widespread abuse’ found   Milburn leaving pro-life post to pursue grad studies   Return to France yields history, memories, surprises   Two new members appointed for Diocesan Finance Council   Former SS. C&M school razed, but memories remain   Pastor, 80, keeps busy with ‘lots of interests’   Ravenna IC boasts 5 high school valedictorians for ‘02   Humility Sister Sandy Pedone to profess perpetual vows July 21   NRLC convention filled with good news   ‘Capture the Romance’ is theme for NFP Week   Question of moral evil discussed at Walsh symposium   Notre Dame Sisters will celebrate jubilees July 14   ‘A great lady’ retires   Statement of Bishop Tobin on the meeting of the U. S. Conference   Haladej, Celuch ordained to priesthood, diaconate in Slovakia   Bishop plans implementation of norms on sexual abuse   Kevin McCaffrey, Robert Miller are newest priests   Theologian: ‘Behave toward others as though God were there’   Fr. Bonnot: Use good judgment for TV, movie viewing   MOMS: ‘A place to claim yourself’   Storm ‘changed lives forever’ for Jackson Twp. family   Bishop will ordain Miller, McCaffrey at May 25 ceremony   Update on child abuse   Vicar general addresses issue of not giving priest names to media   New Middletown St. Paul youth — called to be ‘witnesses’ for Christ   New Ursuline Sisters leadership team elected to 6-year term   Two receive first pastorates; two pastors change parishes   Abuse coverage   Walsh University dedicates new ‘David’ campus center   Sisters’ HIV/AIDS ministry critical, heartbreaking   Bishop visits St. Peter’s as rebuilding process begins   Chrism Mass theme: Priests can’t afford discouragement   Bishop’s Appeal stresses meeting needs, funding ministries   Diocese OKs closing Conneaut St. Frances Cabrini K-8; preschool stays   St. Stan’s marks 100th year   Canton St. Joseph choir enjoys ‘incredible trip’   New schools superintendent   Four journeys of faith among hundreds marked here   DPC considers direction, importance of youth ministry   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Pro-life dinner heralds new beginning in Stark County   Kids at church   Religious day studies resurrection amid culture of violence   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Keynoter: Eucharist should change us   Speaker: ‘Truth’ key concept in Gospel of John   Parishes offer Lenten missions for spiritual enrichment   Parishes offer Lenten missions, speakers series   Working in Medjugorje   TV anchorman finds faith not incompatible with journalism   Action alert on cloning set in diocese for Feb. 2-3   Austintown parishioner finds fulfillment in El Salvador   ‘Where Faith and Knowledge Meet’   Resisting TEMPTATION: It’s worth the effort, teens say   4th annual Diocesan Pro-life Mass set Jan. 26   Catholic/Lutheran dialogue, death of Walsh president top news   Diocese helping Afghanistan relief   Past Articles From 2001