Catholic New World - Newspaper for the Archdiocese of Chicago

Publications

Sections

• Our Shepherd
• News Update
• Photos
• Obituaries
• Activities
• Sports
• Classifieds

Advertisements

October 12, 2008

‘Underground’ captures young Catholics’ attention

If you think eucharistic adoration and rap or hard rock can’t mix, think again. Catholic Underground has come to Chicago.

Originally founded by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal as a cultural apostolate, Catholic Underground — an evening of eucharistic adoration, music and fellowship for college students — is a direct response to a call begun by Pope John Paul II and continued by Pope Benedict XVI — that the Gospel must be in conversation with culture. How can we best accomplish this goal? By integrating Gospel values into music, art and culture while maintaining the integrity of the mysteries of faith.

Here in Chi-Town, Catholic Underground is happening at the John Paul II Newman Center at the University of Illinois-Chicago. With so many things competing for students’ time and attention, Father Patrick Marshall, the Newman center’s chaplain, was looking for something new to offer them. Inspired to engage young adults through media, Marshall contacted Rob Kaczmark for help.

Kaczmark, producer and director for Spirit Juice Studios, was no stranger to the JPII Newman Center. He’d hosted “Experiencing the Stations,” a digital-media portrayal of Christ’s Good Friday Agony using film clips from the Passion of the Christ, during Lent 2008. Marshall said he knew Kaczmark would be able to help give the Catholic faith a fresh edge for young adults. After a few conversations, they decided that what Newman needed was Catholic Underground.

“Catholic Underground tries to make faith real in the culture we live in, while at the same time offering people an experience of the sacred,” Kaczmark said. Unlike some attempts to draw young adults into Catholicism that focus more on socializing, Catholic Underground provides the perfect blend of prayer and community celebration.

Adoration, music

The evening begins with worshiping Jesus in eucharistic adoration. On Oct. 2, the candle-lit Newman Center Chapel welcomed students to adoration. Worship was guided by popular praise hymns, interspersed with Scripture passages attesting to the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and times of quiet music for personal prayer and reflection. Benediction marked the transition from prayer to the celebration of gifts and talents.

The second part of the evening presents music and art that celebrates life while integrating Catholic values. October’s Catholic Underground welcomed rapper ManCHILD (Greg Owens) from Mars ILL, an Atlanta-based hip-hop group. Unlike most rappers, ManCHILD’s message was clear: Love is a gift and Christ is our center. Young adults moved from kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament to jamming on their feet with ManCHILD.

Following ManCHILD, three young men from Phaze II came to perform their hip-hop dance style known as “breaking” or “beat boying.” Daniel “Bravemonk” Haywood, who lead the group, said, “Real hip-hop culture is about celebrating life, taking negative energy and doing something positive with it.”

Haywood coaches students around Chicago who might otherwise end up drawn into the gang culture. When he heard Kazmark was producing Catholic Underground at UIC, he said wanted to take part in the celebration.

Good vibes

Positive feedback abounded from the evening. “I love that there was a big crowd, and I love the fact that people who have never experienced adoration can come and experience it here in a low-key way,” said Nora Mc- Carthy, director of ReCharge, a group dedicated to bringing the Catholic faith to young people.

Liz Meenan, a student from Columbia College, said she’d heard about Catholic Underground Chicago from a friend, but didn’t know much about it beyond the opportunity for adoration.

“There is nothing better than Jesus, so I decided to come,” she said. “I really liked the entire evening, and I plan on coming back next month.”

Kaczmark summed up the event, “Our day to day life can be hard to live if we don’t have something to inspire our faith ... that is Catholic Underground’s goal, to be that source of inspiration.”