NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. — Daniel Horan, a friar in post-novitiate formation, was recently invited to present at a program for Catholic youth at Our Lady of the Rosary here in central New York.
Teen Nite Out is the creative work of Dick Vetre, director of youth ministry for Our Lady of the Rosary, and former assistant director of youth ministry for the Diocese of Syracuse, N.Y. It is run by Vetre and Kelly Colangelo.
On Aug. 5, Dan, spoke on vocation, religious life and young adult faith to about 40 participants. Approximately half of the students had recnetly returned from the popular Franciscan University High School Youth Conference in Steubenville, Ohio, where they met Franciscans of the Third Order Regular (TOR), and were excited to ask questions of a young OFM friar, Dan said.
Now in its 12th year, Teen Nite Out, is sponsored by the parish and the Diocese of Syracuse, and attracts about 30 to 50 high school students on Sunday evenings during the summer. It features food, an engaging speaker and a variety of activities.
An Amazing Teen Spirit
“These young people had an amazing spirit about them and are inspiring,” said Dan. “They could have been at the mall, watching TV or playing video games on a weekend evening. Instead, they get together with other Catholic teenagers to hang out, share their faith and listen to guest speakers talking about faith and the church.”
The directors of the youth program contacted Dan last fall after an article in The Catholic Sun featured Dan’s vocation story. Dan, a native of Utica, N.Y., recently finished summer philosophy studies at Boston University and is moving to Holy Name College, Silver Spring, Md., at the end of August.