PORT ORANGE | A recent issue of the Church of the Epiphany’s Sunday bulletin allocated an entire, four-page section to telling of the spirit-filled adventure experienced by 10 Epiphany teens at One Bread, One Cup summer conference.

Using words like “powerful,” “transformative” and “unforgettable,” the teens returned home knowing they had something of real value to contribute to their parish. They came home to a parish community that thought so too.

“One Bread, One Cup” is a five day liturgical leadership conference for high school students that explores the importance of prayer and the Mass. Held at St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana, the conference empowers young people to offer their gifts and talents as liturgical ministers in their home parish. It also recognizes these gifts flourish most fully in a fertile soil — a supportive community that celebrates its teenage members.

“Epiphany’s true charism is hospitality,” said Jessica Smith, Epiphany parish pastoral associate who serves family formation and youth ministry. “We have people who are very welcoming.”

Welcoming is also part of the life at St. Meinrad Archabbey that was founded in 1854. According to Scotty Biggs, the director of St. Meinrad’s Center for Youth and Young Adult Evangelization, the charism of hospitality is an essential component of life at the Benedictine archabbey.

“High school students are not the future of the Church. They are the Church of today. By the end of day two (of the conference) they are responsible for everything in the context of the liturgy. They become the leaders. It’s a beautiful thing to see that the Church is being led by these young adults,” Biggs said. “The rule of St. Benedict here at St. Meinrad is to greet each visitor as if you are greeting Christ, not just as a number.”

For the past 30 years that essential part of fostering ministry and discipleship has infused the spirit of the “One Bread, One Cup” summer conference.

Aurora is an incoming sophomore who took part in the hospitality and stewardship course, one of 10 liturgical formation sessions. She learned how to serve people and make conversation.

“We got to serve dinner and lunch to everyone at the camp, and it was honestly a great experience. It lets you see everyone as people you could help. And more than that, you could help people around you,” she said. “For me it told me I could do more than just be there with people. I could actually help people. It doesn’t have to be a lot. All you have to do is help people with very simple things no one else is willing to do.”

When she returned to Epiphany, she volunteered at a teachers’ retreat.

“I see God in the fact I can do something because for a lot of my life I felt really hopeless without God. And the fact that I’ve learned how to use His teachings to help other people — that’s how I see God,” she said.

Giada is senior who chose the proclamation of the word track. She experienced the connection lectors feel with the congregation and how the Lectio Divina, the practice of praying and meditating with the Scriptures, helps lectors prepare for proclaiming the Word.

When she shared with her peers, she likened the experience at the conference to the Transformers. The transformers appear as everyday objects, such as cars, but when they are needed to serve, they transform. She said she felt that kind of change within her. She said she and her peers were “overwhelmed by God’s grace” as they were surrounded by peers and those of St. Meinrad Archabbey.

“Before I went to One Bread, One Cup, I was active in my faith, but it wasn’t a super deep understanding,” she said. “I feel a much deeper understanding of the Mass and of my faith personally. I feel like, boom, out of my shell.”

Stevie, who participated in the master of ceremonies/server/sacristan track agreed and is eager to perform these Mass related functions. “We learned so much that I am confident that I can do it,” he said.

Through the prayer in the life of the Body of Christ track, Brianna described the experience of “hearing the Holy Spirit” during devotional prayer. Included among her aspirations is the opportunity to write the intercessory Universal Prayers for the celebration of Mass.

Looking back to when Jessica Smith recommended the “One Bread, One Body” conference, she recalled some initial uncertainty about the feedback she would receive from her teens. “Would five days in a Benedictine monastery, in the summer, with no comforts of home, and a midwestern dress code work?” she wondered. When subsequently asked whether her hopes had been fulfilled, she responded, “We had a 100% rating of satisfaction. They all had different experiences. All of them grew in their faith. And all of them were so excited. It must be the Holy Spirit.”

It is this spirit of enthusiasm and commitment that continues for these young adults back home at Epiphany. “We have a community that cheers the kids on,” she said, “Love is a response to love. When they see this gift (of love) being given to them, of course they want to serve.”

Epiphany pastor Father Karl Bergin, who also attended the conference, described its impact on the teens and on him. He said, “Seeing the youth transformed gives me incredible hope, and I am excited to engage with them and accompany them as we come back to our Epiphany family.” He concluded by adding their participation in liturgical ministry and participation at Mass, “will transform us all as a parish community.”

By George Fournier and Glenda Meekins, Florida Catholic, August 07, 2025