Week 1: Sunday Recap

Discipleship Panel

We began Sunday as we ended Saturday, with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration.

Following Adoration, the Discipleship Panel provided insight on living our faith when we return to our everyday lives.

Fr. Brian Fallon suggested prayer. Prayer is your relationship with God. It’s not about getting it right, it’s about building a community. He suggested finding a saint and talking to our Mother, Mary. And he said, “Don’t give up. Keep showing up.”

Lisa Cotter told us to take advantage of receiving the Sacraments. The Sacraments are ties when God is most closely with us, during those moments. She encouraged us to take advantage of receiving Eucharist and Reconciliation often.

Matt Regitz suggested service. He reminded us all not to just serve out of duty, but as an extension of God’s love for us. We should live out our faith through service. He encouraged us to do something with no expectation of anything in return.

Lauren Wright encouraged us all to form a community that brings us closer to God. She reminded us that community is reciprocal and the purpose of our community should be to remind you who you are and who you belong to.

Holy Mass

Bishop Rice once again joined us from the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. His homily was a message of encouragement. We all  have an intense hunger in our hearts for God, an innate desire to be in communion with God. And, like Bishop Rice, many of us may feel frustrated to feel this desire but not quite be able to give it all to God. He called on all of us to be constantly striving to give ourselves fully to God.

Vocations Call

Sr. M. Karolyn and the other women religious present, addressed the young women at the conference. Sr. Karolyn called forward those who were considering a vocation as a religious sister or a nun. Young women flooded toward the stage. Sr. M. Karolyn offered some words of wisdom for them to consider in their discernment journey. “Learn how to receive Jesus’ love more deeply into your heart,” she said, “that you might follow Him more freely.” Please pray for all young women that they may discern well God’s plan for their lives.
Fr. Brian Fallon stepped forward before the final blessing and dismissal to remind the participants that as God has illuminated our hearts, we are now called to go out and serve as we live out our vocations.. In a particular way, he spoke to the male teens present who have had even just an inkling on their hearts that God may be calling them to discern priesthood. As several young men moved into the aisles of the arena, Fr. Fallon urged them to do something about it and not be afraid to respond.

Conference Ending

Hearts and minds were illuminated this weekend! Our Sunday session provided time to pray before our Lord in the Eucharist, receive Him in Holy Communion, and give witness to the way He has moved throughout the conference.

To watch the livestream click here.

Written by brigeetekurtenbach