Salem bewitches Catholic youth

National Catholic Reporter, August 29, 2003 by Dennis Coday

SALEM, Mass. -- Live 2B Holy, the third annual all-day Catholic music festival, created by Proud 2B Catholic, attracted hundreds of Catholics from around New England--most of them young adults and teens--with a unique blend of prayer, piety and music.

Peter Campbell, founder and coordinator of the free music festival said, "Anytime you have a gathering like this, it gets people excited about their faith."

White tents--including a eucharistic adoration tent and a confession tent with six priests and queues of youth--lined Salem Common for the Aug. 6 event. In the center, throngs of teens danced to the beat of the music from live performers such as Tony Melendez, Steve Angrisano, Jesse Manibusan and the Irish Christian band Ceili Rain

"Just to see people getting together to worship the Lord like this is amazing. I am truly blown away by the entire experience," said Pat Sullivan, a 17-year-old from Bellingham, Mass., clad in a T-shirt with the words "Just Live It" emblazoned on the front.