Woven throughout the pulsing music, high energy cheering and laughter of Youth Day 2006, there was a strong message to the 12,953 teens attending on March 30 at the Anaheim Convention Center: Stand up for Christ and never forget he loves you.

The Youth Day 2006 theme, "Stand Up: Never Forget," was taken from the day's liturgy readings selected by the advisory team of youth and youth leaders: from Isaiah 49 ("Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child in her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you") and from the Gospel of John (in which Jesus asks a man if he wants to be healed, then tells him to "Stand up, take your mat and walk").

"Jesus is saying that, through God's grace, each of us has the strength to leave negative attitudes behind and be healed," Mike Norman, Youth Day coordinator, explained in his welcome to attendees, representing primarily students in grades 9-12.

The 13 Youth Day sessions included workshops with topics relevant to teens such as "Sexuality and Relationships" by Dr. Jim Burns; "Walking the Path of Justice" by Joe Grant; "Racism: A Sin Against God and God's Children" by Dr. Carole Goodwin.

Aldo Corona, 18, a senior at Don Bosco Technical Institute, Rosemead, was bussed from the school with about 25 other students to attend his second Youth Day which he called"uplifting and holy, but fun."

He said he most enjoyed the two presentations by inspirational speaker Paul George, from Louisiana. "His story telling is emotional and it sucks you in," he said. "You can totally see what he is telling you."

George talked about his experience during Hurricane Katrina, the birth of his children and traumatic childhood experiences that changed his life and eventually drew him closer to Christ.

The day is one Corona said he would recommend to other high school students.

"It brings back and reinforces our beliefs," Corona said. "Just when things look grim, it helps teenagers know that they are not alone --- that there are a lot of people going through the same thing as you are."

Three morning Masses were celebrated with Cardinal Roger Mahony, Father Steve Davoren, from Our Lady of Assumption in Ventura, and Father Norm Supancheck, Bishop Alemany High School youth minister in Mission Hills, presiding.

During his homily, Cardinal Mahony asked the youth if they could imagine being crippled for 38 years, like the man in the Gospel reading.

"As we come today, we also bring our burdens with us," he said. "We also are crippled and lame and at times, in our sinfulness, we need the Lord to ask us, 'Do you want to be healed?' When we say, 'Yes, Lord,' God heals us from our sinfulness, and lifts us up."

At the end, Cardinal Mahony asked students thinking of joining the priesthood or religious life to stand; about 40 students stood up in the arena and the rest prayed for them with the cardinal.

One of the group, Andy Wilcox, said he had been in the audience three years ago, when Cardinal Mahony made a similar vocation call. It changed his life, said Wilcox, who is planning to enter St. John Seminary in Camarillo.

"In that moment, God called me and invited me to become a priest," Wilcox said. "It was surprising to hear such a clear call from God. I am filled with joy at the thought of becoming a priest in this archdiocese. The church needs young men to become priests who love their faith and feel the presence of Christ in their lives and want to be that Christ to others."

Youth Day volunteer Jennifer Silva, 19, who attends Cal State Fullerton, attended the event three times in high school. She said the experience was so moving that she has now returned to serve.

"It helped me stay more connected knowing that a lot of teens are involved," she said. "It just helped me out more knowing that it's okay to stay in prayer."

High school senior Kayla Devine-Torte, one of 35 attending from the Padre Serra Parish youth group in Camarillo, was making her fourth Youth Day trip. She said that the first year she attended, she had never been with more than 100 Catholic youth at an event. She said that it was "amazing" to find so many "driven" Catholics her own age. She said her favorite was APeX Ministries' Gene Monterastelli and Brad Farmer, a two-man team that juggled, performed tricks and kept the audience laughing.

"They incorporated a lot of fun, but they also brought it down to a serious level but didn't lose anybody," Devine-Torte said.

The message she appreciated most?

"Everyone had a chance to be a saint," she said. "It is not going to be easy but you can do it."