During the 2 nd half of his pontificate, looking towards the New Millennium, Pope John Paul II called on Catholics everywhere to launch a “New Evangelization.” The purpose of this drive was to present Christ to the large portion of the world that remains unevangelized, and also to evangelize and /or re-evangelize the lukewarm and the lapsed among the baptized and catechized.

Recognizing the tremendous challenges of the Post Modern Era, the Pope called for an evangelization “new in its fervor, new in its expression and new in its methods.”

Several Catholics responded enthusiastically and among the new expressions emerged The Youth Explosion for teenagers and young people up to age 35.

This movement has born tremendous fruit over the past 13 years in the Dutch Caribbean Islands of Aruba , Bon Air and Curacao . Three years ago Fr. Ian Taylor and Mrs. Janet Chinnia, having preached at these “Youth Explosions” for several years, launched in Trinidad an adaptation of this. Thus was born the “Jesus Explosion.”

From an initial 600 plus, the numbers of young adults and adults has multiplied to over 1,000 in July 2005. In an age when Catholic liturgical participation is generally low, what is its attraction?

Music plays a major part in the “Explosion.” In fact, music bands experienced in leading crowds in praise and worship minister for the entire weekend.

This year, a young Catholic music ministry from Aruba called 4 Co ( For Christ Only) ministered powerfully and in the Spirit despite their relative newness and youth. Their ages ranged from 14 to 21, except for the leader, Gregory Goedgedraag. English is also not their native language (Papiamento and Dutch are) yet, they performed masterfully.

To win over youth to Christ one especially needs the medium of music. GRACE, a local Catholic music band shared the ministry time with 4 Co and helped to make Catholic worship truly alive and joyful for the participants.

Preaching should be a key factor of Catholic services, including the Mass. No one could sleep or feel bored during these sessions. Speakers were chosen from among priests and lay preachers who have a charism for preaching.

More and more we are seeing the emergence of good lay preachers. Among these was a lay preacher from Brazil , Celso Deretti, a single young man, devoted to the ministry, who demonstrated a gift to make Jesus real to the people.

Women preachers are equally capable, and Janet Chinnia in her fiery charismatic style invoked the Holy Spirit upon the assembly. When one preaches with expectancy, things happen; God is allowed to work. And many came forward in response, and as they committed themselves to their Lord, many ‘rested in the Spirit!'

Fr Ian Taylor preaches to youths at recent Jesus Explosion III.

This type of experience is most often an opportunity for an encounter with God – a grace for submission to Him. This has been our experience at the Jesus Explosion.

Mention must also be made of the workshops held on Sunday. Topics such as Spiritual Warfare, Defense of the Catholic Faith, Men in Ministry, Pro-Life and several others were enthusiastically communicated and received by our participants. Numerous have been the testimonies of the tremendous benefits of each of the weekend's ministries.

For the people it is important for them to see their priests on fire for Jesus in celebrating the Eucharist, in preaching the Word of God, and even in dancing before the Lord.

Frs. Moses, Khan, Nathasingh, Makhan (42 years a priest), and Taylor entered fully into the weekend worship, communicating the Gospel with their whole being. Droves of young people, and adults too, streamed to confession. All the priests who assisted must be highly commended.

A treat this year was the anointed and beautiful voice of Kristin Taylor, a native of Tampa, Florida and a princess of Samoa in the South Pacific. At age 12, after praying to God desperately for a singing voice, it suddenly happened and with it, the gift to play the guitar. All her songs are received by inspiration.

At age 44 she is the mother of 14 children, 4 biologically and 10 by adoption. She shared how she literally had to pray her young child back to life after finding him lifeless at the bottom of the pool one day. Our God is an awesome God!

Drama can effectively communicate the Gospel. Valerie Bethel and the Morne Diablo Youth proved this with a dramatized display of disaster news around the world. Then by contrast they presented the “Jesus Explosion” as a powerful sign from God indicating the true answer to this world's problems: Jesus.

Invariably, the climax of the Youth Explosion and the Jesus Explosion is the procession with the Blessed Sacrament. To even a casual observer, it must appear that Jesus himself is walking among the crowd as they fell to their knees, wept in repentance, reached out to touch Him and rose victorious, their burdens lifted.

This moment has sealed the faith of so many in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Even Pentecostals and other non-Catholics have had to admit the powerful presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at that moment!

The Jesus Explosion had proven such a success that the organizers had to launch “The Jesus Revival” in September of 2004, as a follow-up. This year it will be held on Sept.24.

Yet, one wonders, should not at least some of this joyful and powerful “Jesus Explosion” become the norm at Sunday Masses and other liturgical services? Why should Catholics have to wait for an event to revive their faith?

Perhaps it is time for the New Evangelization to become part of the mainstream of Catholic liturgical services. If this is of God, dare we allow Him to have His way? Dare we allow Him to renew ‘His' Church? Wouldn't our Catholics then acquire a new zeal for mission to the world? Do we dare?