Awakened by Zeal: A Church Quiz That Stirred The Soul

I recently participated in a youth quiz competition organized by a passionate Catholic community within one of the dioceses in Ghana. I had expected a simple afternoon activity, which turned out to be a spirited exercise of zeal, faith, and mission.
There was tension in the air. The youths, so full of life, didn’t just go to the exercise as a game but as a mission. Every time they responded correctly, their faces beamed with joy—and darkened slightly with each error. It wasn’t about winning. It was about making their units proud, their Church proud, and part of something higher than themselves.
One tiny but profound fact moved me: the team manual instructs a Crusader on how to lose with humility. And that was the attitude that pervaded. They cheered each other’s wins even after losses. It wasn’t the result that characterized them, but the love and camaraderie that they had.
What clinched the deal for me was the final round – the “clash of the titans” between the Christian Soldiers. The passion, the brains, the passion – it was hot and at the same time so respectful. For a fleeting moment, I envisioned what every organization and nation could someday become: a community where passion is fueled by love, competition is tempered by grace, and victories are achieved with humility.
This led me to have the profound realization: the Church is hopeful, and most importantly so through its youth. Its passion is not fleeting—it’s where the foundations of greater days for our people and faith will be laid.