Middle School students gather for PAX: The Summit to encounter Christ

By Phil Brown
Contributing Writer

UNITY TOWNSHIP – In a joyful day of song and prayers, fun and games and fellowship, middle school students from around the Diocese of Greensburg joined in a journey to deepen their understanding of the spiritual summit where heaven and earth meet, the Catholic Mass.

Hailing from Westmoreland, Fayette, Armstrong and Indiana counties, more than 100 students in sixth through eighth grade gathered for PAX: The Summit on Saturday, Feb. 28, at Christ Our Shepherd Center.

The daylong retreat was organized by the diocesan Office of Faith, Family and Discipleship.

In a creative mixture of play, prayer, group discussion sessions, teaching and worship, students were encouraged to encounter Christ in the Eucharist.

Bishop Larry Kulick  said The PAX middle school ministry represents a diocesan commitment to forming missionary disciples from a young age. “ It roots our students in prayer, community, Scripture, and the sacraments to help them understand that faith is not simply something we learn about – it’s something we live,” Bishop Kulick said.

The day concluded as students and family members gathered for Mass celebrated in St. Joseph’s Chapel by Bishop Kulick.

According to Vincent Reilly, managing director for the Office of Faith, Family and Discipleship for the Diocese of Greensburg, PAX: The Summit was designed to keep middle-school students engaged in the church at an age when many young people are in danger of falling away from the faith.

PAX means peace, Reilly explained.

“The program is designed to give the students a fun learning experience that is different than what they normally do and to build community with others in their age group so they’re not alone in their journey of faith,” Reilly said.

“There is quiet time for renewal,” he said. “We try for a fun experience. The students are choosing to come (to PAX: The Summit) and that’s encouraging,” Reilly said.

Reilly said  the  program focuses on the Eucharist and the Mass, emphasizing that Catholic worship is a journey to be walked, not something to watch.

Reilly said the program addresses major concerns voiced in listening sessions with Bishop Kulick. In those sessions,  parishioners asked for more time for confession, adoration and prayer, he said.

The program was broken into four components of the Mass: Community, Scripture, Thanksgiving and Mission.

Students were encouraged to view Mass like climbing a mountain with every part leading closer to Christ. Students were asked to view life as a perpetual pilgrimage, literally walking with Christ.

“Jesus is waiting for us at the summit of the Mass,” Reilly said.

To drive home that point, organizers provided an energetic keynote speaker who has extensive experience walking with the Lord in the form of the Eucharist.

Natalie Garza, a Texas native who now teaches in Kansas City, served as National Eucharistic Pilgrim on the Seton Route of an arduous walk from New Haven, Conn, to Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress in July 2024.

Recounting her experiences during the trip, Garza told students the 65-day experience was a challenging journey that helped her grow in the faith.

“It was a journey, not a vacation,” she said. “But there’s joy in the journey because we don’t go alone, but with Christ.”
Pointing to the Old Testament Book of Exodus, Garza reflected on the story of Moses climbing the mountain to speak with God. Moses then carried God’s Word back to the Israelites.

She told the students Mass is the mountain Catholics climb to spend time with Jesus in the Eucharist.

“The Eucharist is where we receive spiritual food for the journey,” she said.

Garza reminded students the word Mass is derived from the Latin word “missa” which means to send.

She encouraged her listeners to not only to receive the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass but to carry Him in their hearts, out of the doors of the church and into their everyday lives.
The next PAX event for middle school students will be held on Friday, November 6, 2026 at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Greensburg from 6pm until 9:30 pm. PAX: Chosen will feature keynote speaker Mari Pablo.

At the end of this PAX retreat,  the launch of COR, our new high school youth ministry program was announced.   ‘COR’ means heart. Bishop Kulick hopes that through this high school ministry, the hearts of our young people will be conformed to the Heart of Christ. 

 “Our youth are not simply preparing to be the Church someday – they are the Church now. Bishop Kulick said.  “Through PAX and COR, we will accompany them as they encounter Christ personally and allow Him to share their minds, their hearts, and their future.”

Registration for the COR Program  in August will open soon.