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           An original music passion play “Make Us Believers” was performed Friday, March 26th at Beloved Disciple.  This play was part of an effort to engage the parish in preparing for the Easter Triduum.  “Make Us Believers”  is the story of the passion, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ as interpreted by parish Youth Minister Bob Summers. Besides his ministry work Bob is an author, playwright, musician and composer. Some years ago, he felt compelled to bring the passion of Christ closer to his fellow Christians and he wrote his adaptation of Our Savior’s love for us along with the original score of  music that stirs both the heart and soul. Bob brought the play to the Western Pennsylvania region in the mid 1990’s.  In addition to the play being performed at Beloved Disciple, the play  was  also performed at St. Margaret Mary in Moon Township, St. Titus in Aliquippa and St. Alphonsus in Wexford – all using a cast of local parish teens, children and adults.

          The musical was the fruit of a two-year-long effort to begin a comprehensive and faithful youth ministry for the parish.  Father Hoffman commented that “we hired Bob to design and structure a youth ministry program which was more than games and pizza, and he has not let us down!  In fact, he has engaged parents and college students from Grove City College to work shoulder to shoulder with the young people.  We want faithful, authentic and creative Catholic youth ministry for Beloved Disciple.”   He also added that “I was amazed at the talented musicians, vocalists and acting abilities of our youth and adults.”  The parish hopes to make this musical an annual event on the Friday before Good Friday.  “A great outcome of this event is that even those who were a bit apprehensive at first have become firm believers in solidly Catholic youth ministry.  The hard work is paying off!”  Next year the parish hopes to add a middle school youth ministry program to feed into the high school component.

           While the attendance at the musical was very good, we hope to make next year’s presentation even more polished.  Those in attendance were asked for a donation which was earmarked towards the teen’s annual trip to Catholic Heart Work Camp, which this year will be the week of July 18-24.