ConQuest program helps youth understand Christ in their lives

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - John Volk, a father of two, was looking for something Christ-centered for his sons to get involved in, and he knew it needed to be engaging and spiritually enriching.

When he found ConQuest, his search ended. "(It) focuses on growing in virtue in a fun way. It's countercultural - and it's meeting a great need," Volk, a member of St. Denis Parish in Havertown, Pa., told The Catholic Standard & Times, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. His 7- and 9-year-old sons currently participate in the program, and his 13- and 15-year-old daughters are part of Challenge, the girls' version of ConQuest. ConQuest consists of three programs designed to instill virtue, develop character and encourage spiritual growth through challenging physical, intellectual and spiritual activities. The ConQuest father-and-son program is for 5- to 7-year-olds and gives fathers an opportunity to participate in their sons' formation while sharing time with them. It introduces the boys to God through biblical stories, encouraging them to be like the heroes in scripture. "We have lots of dads participating," said Volk, coordinator of ConQuest in Philadelphia. He has started groups at three parishes in the archdiocese over the past year. The ConQuest junior program, for boys ages 8 to 10, focuses on Jesus as a brother, friend and obedient son. The boys learn that obedience is good and that being obedient out of love for God will help them become better human beings. The program reinforces the basic elements of friendship, including trust, loyalty and sincerity. The ConQuest Club, for boys 11 to 16, provides a fun, athletic atmosphere to help form young men as Catholic leaders, and promotes works of social and cultural volunteerism. "There's also a strong emphasis on the older boys mentoring and working with the younger boys," Volk added. The club's structure includes six-week cycles of meetings called "campaigns," with each campaign focusing on a different virtue through athletics, games and skits. The weekly meetings are two hours long. The first hour is spiritual and devoted to character formation, and the second hour consists of an activity. During the first two weeks, the boys see a video on a specific virtue. During the third week, they compete in making posters depicting the virtue. The following week, the boys work in groups to come up with skits emphasizing the virtue. In the final week, they engage in a "campaign challenge," which tests everything they've learned in a fun way. The boys can earn points for growing in virtue and win awards for their efforts. ConQuest also supports the development of religious vocations, particularly priestly vocations, presenting them in a positive way to the boys at weekly meetings and monthly retreats. The program was the brainchild of the late Brian R. Bisgrove. At age 17, he realized he wasn't being called to be a priest, as he first thought, but he knew he had a specific mission as a layperson - to help young men understand the unique role given to them by Christ. He took the spiritual, intellectual, human and apostolic formation he received during four years of study with the Legionaries of Christ and used that to create a simple program for boys, now known as ConQuest. Three years into his work, he learned he had cancer. In 1998 at age 22, he died, but his father and others were inspired to continue his work. The program now extends throughout the United States and Canada. "It's really fun, and it's hard to decide what part is my favorite," said 10-year-old ConQuest member John Paul Hare. "I've made lots of friends and it gives me a chance to spend time with my dad, telling him about the things I've learned. We always start with adoration and I like going because I can pray for people who've asked me to pray for them." "My favorite part is the skits we do, and I think the activities we do every week are fun," said his 9-year-old brother, James. "We've learned about different virtues and about Jesus, and I'm starting to see him as my friend." Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops