By Emily Chaffins -
Billy Pfeiffer, a senior at Archbishop McCarthy High, delivers his testimony about participating in World Youth Day Lisbon at the Rise Up event for Catholic high schoolers at the St. Thomas University Fernandez Family Center Oct. 5, 2023.
Dylan Francisco, a senior at St. Thomas University, delivers his testimony about participating in World Youth Day Lisbon at the Rise Up event for Catholic high schoolers at the St. Thomas University Fernandez Family Center, Oct. 5, 2023.
Joe Melendrez, a Catholic speaker and recording artist, speaks at the Rise Up event for Catholic high schoolers at the St. Thomas University Fernandez Family Center, Oct. 5, 2023.
Catholic high school students react to the words and music of Catholic speaker and recording artist Joe Melendrez at the Rise Up event at the St. Thomas University Fernandez Family Center, Oct. 5, 2023. Melendrez also was the keynote speaker at the event.
Students from archdiocesan high schools sway to the beat of Catholic speaker and recording artist Joe Melendrez during "Rise Up for a Revival" at St. Thomas University, Oct. 5, 2023. (COURTESY)
Students from archdiocesan high schools sway to the beat of Catholic speaker and recording artist Joe Melendrez during "Rise Up for a Revival" at St. Thomas University, Oct. 5, 2023. (COURTESY)
Archbishop Thomas Wenski preaches the homily while celebrating Mass with archdiocesan high school students at St. Thomas University's "Rise Up for a Revival!" on the university's campus, Oct. 5, 2023. (COURTESY)
Surrounded by students representing the different archdiocesan high schools, Archbishop Thomas Wenski blows out the candles on the Archdiocese of Miami's 65th anniversary cake, as Father Rafael Capo, vice-president of Mission and Ministry at St. Thomas University looks on. The birthday bash was part of "Rise Up for a Revival!" on the university's campus, Oct. 5, 2023. (COURTESY)
Close-up of "birthday cake" for the Archdiocese of Miami's 65th anniversary, and the candles blown out by Archbishop Thomas Wenski at the "Rise Up for a Revival!" event at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Oct. 5, 2023. (COURTESY)
Photography: EMILY CHAFFINS | FC
Photographer: EMILY CHAFFINS | FC
Joe Melendrez, a Catholic speaker and recording artist, speaks at the Rise Up event for Catholic high schoolers at the St. Thomas University Fernandez Family Center, Oct. 5, 2023.
MIAMI GARDENS | Joe Melendrez was a “cultural Catholic” for most of his childhood. A song about Jesus called “Best Friend” by hip hop artist Puff Daddy, and a high school retreat, inspired Melendrez to go deeper into his Catholic faith. Now a recording artist and international speaker, Melendrez performed at World Youth Day Lisbon – and gave both a concert and keynote speech at St. Thomas University’s “Rise Up for a Revival!”, which brought nearly 300 students from archdiocesan high schools to the university’s campus Oct. 5, 2023.
At “Rise Up,” besides discovering that even a burrito can be a route to evangelization, high schoolers learned about the importance of the National Eucharistic Revival and the National Congress taking place in Indianapolis in July 2024; jumped to the beat of Melendrez’s live music; attended Mass celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski; and sang happy birthday to the Archdiocese of Miami, which would mark its 65th anniversary two days later, on the feast of the Holy Rosary.
About that burrito: In his speech, “Chosen,” Melendrez shared a humorous story about how winning a Chipotle burrito essay contest in college gave him the opportunity to give free burritos to, and share his Catholic faith with, his fellow students.
When he was struggling to create a rap song to accompany his essay, Melendrez prayed for inspiration. He received an answer in the form of a Chipotle burrito meal his mom had ordered for dinner.
“I take my first bite, and give me a pad and pen: I got my rhymes back,” said Melendrez.
“If y’all didn’t believe in God, I hope you do now, because God fed the five thousand and gave me $10,000 of free Chipotle,” he said, adding, “With great power comes great responsibility. These burritos were my responsibility. I had to share these burritos with other people and bring them to Jesus. So every day, I brought two people and we talked about our faith, relationships, aspirations, and dreams, and it was like a retreat at Chipotle.”
Photographer: COURTESY
Students from archdiocesan high schools sway to the beat of Catholic speaker and recording artist Joe Melendrez during "Rise Up for a Revival" at St. Thomas University, Oct. 5, 2023.
The goal of “Rise Up” was “to show [students] they can be leaders in faith,” said Dylan Francisco, a senior at St. Thomas University majoring in sports administration, who gave a testimony on World Youth Day Lisbon.
Father Rafael Capo, STU vice president of Mission and Ministry, and Ivan Diaz, STU director of Campus Ministry, were two of the main organizers of the event. Jim Rigg, archdiocesan superintendent of Schools, and Stephen Colella, cabinet secretary for Parish Life and Evangelization, also took part.
Diaz said World Youth Day Lisbon inspired him and Father Capo to create the event to encourage high schoolers “to be missionary disciples.”
Father Capo said they envisioned the group of St. Thomas University pilgrims returning to the Archdiocese of Miami, as part of the archdiocese’s 65-year celebration, “to bring [World Youth Day] back to high schoolers.”
“The theme is a combination of the World Youth Day theme, ‘Mary rose up and went with haste,’” Diaz said, “and the Eucharistic Revival.”
Photographer: COURTESY
Surrounded by students representing the different archdiocesan high schools, Archbishop Thomas Wenski blows out the candles on the Archdiocese of Miami's 65th anniversary cake, as Father Rafael Capo, vice-president of Mission and Ministry at St. Thomas University looks on. The birthday bash was part of "Rise Up for a Revival!" on the university's campus, Oct. 5, 2023.
Father Matthew Gomez, archdiocesan vocations director, weighed in on the importance of celebrating the archdiocese’s 65th anniversary with a gathering of Catholic high schoolers.
“We want them to know they’re not alone,” Father Gomez said. “We hope they’re able to have a greater appreciation for the archdiocese at large – not just their own school, but to have a greater sense of belonging to the whole Church.”
Gianna Ferrara, an 11th grader at Immaculata-La Salle in Miami, concurred. “I think it’s really cool that all these kids from the archdiocese have come together,” she said. “I’m hoping to make friendships. We are tightly knit with our school, so it’s really cool to say Mass and build friendships with other schools.”
Isabella Limardo, a ninth grader at Immaculata-La Salle, said, “The Eucharistic Revival is important because we need more Jesus in this world. By going to and organizing events like [Rise Up], we can spread the word and the good news.”
Diaz said the university is planning to host a similar event tailored to young adults in the spring.
Photographer: EMILY CHAFFINS | FC
Catholic high school students react to the words and music of Catholic speaker and recording artist Joe Melendrez at the Rise Up event at the St. Thomas University Fernandez Family Center, Oct. 5, 2023. Melendrez also was the keynote speaker at the event.
