Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington

From the

Official News Magazine of the Diocese of Spokane

(From the Sept. 30, 2004 edition of the Inland Register)

Father Pat Kerst, pastor of St. Patrick and St. Francis of Assisi parishes in Walla Walla, will present “Restoring the Joy of Our Youth” during the annual Catholic Conference Oct. 30 in Spokane. (IR file photo)

Father Pat Kerst will lead a workshop at the Oct. 30 Catholic Conference titled “Restoring the Joy of Our Youth.”

Father Kerst said that he hopes the workshop will help youth ministers and parents of teens to understand the “unique way that young people approach their way of living in the world and their conception of God and the Church.”

Father Kerst said that though parents and ministers often “give up” on rebellious youth and hope they will “come out of it” when they get older, that is not the best way to deal with the youth.

“Wherever kids are, youth are, they are in fact living a spirituality,” said Father Kerst. “It’s not a time to give up on them. Rather than see the experience of youth as a ‘black hole’ of spirituality and religious practice, we need to see that it’s something that’s unique and an incredible gift to the Church.”

Father Kerst plans to use the workshop as an opportunity to discuss with the adults who work closely with teens, youth ministers and parents, the challenges our society presents to youths’ spiritual growth and how adults can help them to focus their incredible spirituality.

Father Kerst is pastor at St. Patrick and St. Francis parishes in Walla Walla. He serves with the southern region youth SEARCH retreat team and is a regular workshop presenter at the diocesan Catholic Youth Celebration. He also has served as pastor of the parishes in Brewster and Twisp, and was parochial vicar of the two Walla Walla parishes where he is now pastor. His first assignment as a priest was to St. Patrick Parish, Pasco, where he was associate pastor.

Father Kerst was ordained in 1990.

The Catholic Conference is an annual event meant to foster growth and understanding of the Catholic faith among all members of parish communities in the Spokane Diocese. This year, the conference will take place on Saturday, Oct.30, at the Ridpath Hotel in Spokane.

For more information, or to register, contact the Parish Services Office at (509) 358-7311, or check the web site – click on “What’s New,” then on “Catholic Conference on October 30, 2004.”