The fire gets hotter and hotter
The heat of XLT Fire spreads through campus.
FIIRREEEE!! But no one is running. The fire is spreading. Heart after heart, the fire ignites.
This is XLT.
XLT is a night of prayer and worship, with an inspiring talk and Eucharistic adoration. Held in the Strader Grotto, this event is open to all grade levels to come and worship with friends. The first XLT was held Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Retreat Director Francis Cabildo started XLT at SMCHS last year in hopes to offer students opportunities, other than retreats, where they can grow in their faith.
“Whether it’s the first time they encounter Jesus, or they’re veterans, that they continually encounter God,” Cabildo said. “They will see God when they pray together and when they worship together. I hope that they have an experience of Jesus and being loved in the midst of their prayer and their worship to God. And that God can reveal Himself to them in a real, very tangible way.”
Opening the night, songs are sung and people begin to center themselves on God. Matt Franklin, a youth minister who previously worked at San Francisco Solano, spoke at this year’s first XLT. Specifically, he spoke about fire and the fire in his own life.
“There was a spark, and I could’ve done one of two things,” Franklin said. “I could’ve ignored it, or I could’ve received it. I chose to receive it. He took that spark and He set me on fire. This consuming fire that I can’t put out. I couldn’t put it out if I wanted to… Because I said yes. I said it and I meant it with every ounce of my heart.
Franklin then spoke about experiences people have when they return from retreats, such as Kairos. He argues that it is not just an emotion, happy, huggie feeling that people get. Rather, it is a spark. This spark contains love, hope, and most of all- faith.
“I’m going to see what happens to this spark when I feed it,” Franklin said. “So I’m going to pray. And I’m going to go to Mass. And I’m going to go to Mass like I’ve never been to Mass before. I’m going to go and listen. I am going hear the literal words of Jesus proclaimed in the mass. So we go and pay attention and we worship and the fire grows even more. The fire grows and now He sends us out. He tells us now it is time to be obedient… But this all starts with a choice: are you going to fan the flame and feed it? Or are you going to let it die?”
Following the talk there is Eucharistic adoration and more worship music for participants to pray and reflect in the Lord’s presence.
“There was a good sense of God’s presence, especially from what the speaker was saying,” said senior Michael Shiraishi. “God is speaking to us all the time. We just have to be open to listen.”
Reflecting on the night, many students said that XLT makes SMCHS an even closer knit community. This was especially evident when the night came to a close. Everyone lingered and continued to reflect on the evening with one another. There was a sense of closeness with people who didn’t even know each other and hugs were given regardless if you knew the name of the person.
“Everyone is there for a reason,” said senior Delaney Rosenthal. “No matter what their reason is, everyone is there and praying for one another. It’s really cool to see people, that you normally wouldn’t talk to, give you a hug. Or you hug someone you wouldn’t normally talk to because you see them crying.”
Senior Sam Patrick said that XLT makes SMCHS a better place.
“Mr. Cabildo really inspires all of us to get into the music and be really holy with everybody,” Patrick said. “We come together and let all of our faith out- not be embarrassed or ashamed of it- and just be confident and praise our Lord.”
At the end of Franklin’s talk, he challenged the audience: “My question to you is: are you missing it? Is it passing by you every single day, and you go home and you don’t feel any different? Don’t feel any closer to God? You go to Mass and you miss it. Are you missing it?”
The next XLT events will be held Dec. 3rd, March 18, and June 9. Don’t miss it.
