By Remee Vargas
Every year, youth and young adults from across Northern California and beyond converge at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo for a day filled with faith, fun and friendship.
ONFiRE has been bringing young Catholics together at Six Flags since 2010. The event includes Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Sacrament of Reconciliation and opportunities to explore vocations; as well as roller coasters, music and park food. It has become one of the largest annual gatherings of Catholic youth and young adults in Northern California.
From the Archdiocese of San Francisco, approximately 150 young people and leaders from more than 10 parishes and high schools joined the 2,300 people at ONFiRE this year.
It’s a great way to kick off the school year, say goodbye to summer and be reminded that the Church is bigger than a youth group, parish or diocese.
“I used to come to ONFiRE as a kid, and now I get to come back as a leader with my youth group,” said one youth ministry leader who attended. “Every year, I can’t wait to come together and be with other Catholics freely, openly celebrating our faith.”
What was ONFiRE like this year?
A youth group summed up the event in one word. When asked, “What’s it like being here?” they yelled back as they ran past on the way to their next activity, “FIRE!”
Before the rides even began, the youth gathered for praise and worship and prepared to celebrate the Mass together. Six Northern California bishops joined for Mass as a visible reminder that the Church is much bigger than where each attendee came from that morning.
The homilist, Father Edwin Leonard of the Diocese of Dallas, challenged the young people with three action items:
- Talk more about Jesus.
- Invite others to Mass, youth group, community and Church events.
- Ask someone if you can pray for them, then actually pray for them as a public witness of your faith.
After Mass, it was time for lunch and rides!
The Vocations Carnival also opened, and anyone could stop by throughout the day to meet seminarians, religious and others living out their vocations and to discern where God might be calling them.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation was available all afternoon. It was a gift to have so many priests make themselves available so attendees could encounter Christ through the sacrament.
After a few hours of roller coasters, food and time with friends, the youth gathered for the evening program with Joe Melendrez who helped prepare them to enter into Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with Father Leonard.
The park closed to the general public during Adoration, but ONFiRE wasn’t over. For the final hours of the evening, Six Flags remained open exclusively for ONFiRE attendees. The youth took full advantage with a few more rides and perhaps a funnel cake or soft-ice cream before heading home.
It was a full day: Mass, music, prayer, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and roller coasters, as well as a whole lot of faith, fun, and friendship.
Mark your calendars. Next year ONFiRE is October 9, 2027. See you there!
Learn more at https://www.onfirenorcal.com/ or on Instagram @norcalcatholicyouth.
Priests who are interested in helping with the Sacrament of Reconciliation next year, please contact Jennifer Campbell (JCampbell@scd.org) from the Diocese of Sacramento.
