Saturday Evening Recap

Afternoon Keynote – Tim Jara

“No storm is stronger than the Savior.” Tim spoke to us this afternoon about prayer and our relationship with God, especially in times of stress and anxiety. In our fallen world, we can sometimes succumb to negativity and doubt that God even cares about us, much less our problems. But just as He did 2,000 years ago with St. Matthew and again with the disciples in the storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus draws near. He loves us; he calls us. Jesus was sleeping in the boat when the storm popped up. The disciples woke him, fearing for their lives. Jesus calmed the storm. He has power over any storm in our lives. So “who do you take your cue from when life gets crazy – the storm or the Savior?”

Tim also invited us to pray using the ARRR method.

• Acknowledge – What’s going on? What are you feeling? Acknowledge His love for you.
• Relate – Share these things with Jesus. Talk to him like a friend.
• Receive – Who does Jesus say that you are? What does He want to say to you about this situation? Pray with the Gospels.
• Respond in Gratitude – Is there anything Jesus is asking you to do? Resolve to do it.

Finally, Tim suggested several scripture verses to reflect on:

• Mark 4:38-41
• 1 Peter 5:7
• Mt 6:25-34
• Philippians 4:6-7

Saturday Evening Keynote – Sr. M. Karolyn, Nunes, SFGM

“For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”” (Dt 4:24)

Tonight Sr Karolyn opened up the scripture for this weekend in a deeper way. “Everyday He wants us to give Him a little bit more of our hearts.” She explained that He knows what’s best for us and what’s best for us is that our hearts belong totally to Him. God is always refining us and burning away the false idols in our lives that we place before Him. When we surrender those idols, we become more ourselves.

Sister guided us through the seven last statements of Jesus. From His forgiveness of those who were actively crucifying Him to the feeling of abandonment on the cross and ultimately His death, Jesus shows His love for us over and over again. The all-consuming love of God that will explode from the tomb on Easter Sunday morning brings new life and new freedom for us.

Sister showed several images of sacred art, but one of the most beautiful was that of the Sacred Heart. “The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the chief symbol of His love for us.” He offers us His Sacred Heart, if we want it. All He wants to do is love you. Will you let him? Will you let him burn away everything that is not of Him so that you might become radiant?

Adoration

Tonight we had the opportunity to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist in a personal and profound way. Fr. Rufino Corona, TOR processed through the arena filled with over 4,000 people, offering teens and volunteers the chance to worship the risen Lord closely.

Watch the livestream here.

Consumed by the Love of God

Women’s Session – Sr. M. Karolyn Nunes, FSGM

Sr. M. Karolyn started women’s session with the statement, “Sometimes we fight battles we’re not meant to fight.” She continued on to explain that so many battles in our lives are not ours, but His. They are not ours to “figure out, fix, or fight.” And yet it is important to go to battle with Him.

Sister continued on to explain the effects of the fall: darkened intellect, weakened will, and disordered passions. It can be difficult to choose the good because of these effects. We need a renewal of our minds. “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good, pleasing, and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) God wants to consume us with His perfect love, to bring us into true freedom. He can enlighten us with His wisdom, strengthen our will through the Holy Spirit, and order our passions correctly.

Finally, He wants to give us rest and freedom, something we can struggle to receive. He wants us to live our true identity as his daughter who is free and delighted in.

Men’s Session – Tim Jara

As men, we carry a question, “Do I have what it takes?” Often, we can base our worth on our performance and the things we are capable of doing. But what happens when that’s taken away? Through a gymnastics accident and the subsequent discovery of multiple back injuries, Tim had to learn what it meant to live without his identity as a gymnast. He explained the importance of truly internalizing the scripture, “You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased.”” (Luke 3:22) Our worth isn’t based on what we can do or how we are labeled, but on how the Father sees us and loves us. Tim said that “If we don’t know the truth about who we are, we’ll buy the lies that hold us back.”

Next, Tim spoke of his first retreat experience, his first time hearing of a God who loves us completely, of reconciliation that offers freedom through His mercy, and of the real presence of Jesus in Eucharistic adoration. He gave the men a list of challenges:

1. Move without motivation.
2. Put down your phone and pray.
3. Consume Jesus in Scripture and in the Eucharist.

Each session ended with the litany of all-consuming love and a time of adoration. God speaks to us in prayer. 

What part of the litany does God want you to focus on?

Watch the men’s and women’s sessions on our livestream.

Saturday Morning Keynote and Mass

The highest form of worship is praying the Mass.

We started this morning with an impactful talk from Sr. M. Karolyn, FSGM, about our capacity for receiving God’s love at Mass. She asked us to reflect on what distracts us at Mass, noting that we all get distracted. How do we show up for Mass? Do we show up with our hearts open and ready to receive? Are we expanding our capacity to enter into the greatest mystery of our faith? “There’s a receptivity that’s anticipatory,” she says, “Someone is coming.”

Next, Sr. M. Karolyn invited us to pray this Mass in the way many priests are reminded to celebrate it: as if it is our first, last, and only Mass. How would our participation change if this is how we entered into Mass, with reverence, intentionality, and joy?

Finally, Sister explained some of the “why’s” behind what we do at Mass, down to the offertory procession, that seems so simple, yet is significant. Those bringing up the offertory are representing us all, bringing our raw materials to God to transform them into something only He can create. What are we bringing to the altar today to be transformed by God’s love?

Homily – Fr. Rufino

His mercy endures forever. Do you ever feel like that’s not true for you? Like God will eventually get tired of you? Or maybe you’ve thought that you have to make sure to check the boxes and earn His love? What if you don’t ‘feel’ loved? Through personal experience and prayer, Fr. Rufino spoke truth into all of these lies. Fr. Rufino’s prayer to God was, “I just want people to see how good they are.” God responded, “Why don’t you believe it about yourself?”

How would you respond to this? Fr. Rufino reminded us that God’s love will always show up, no matter who else does or does not. It’s not dependent on our emotional response. God’s love will always show up. It endures forever.