Grafton youth host Renew 2000 mission

"First Night of Mission 2000," an evening designed to help Catholics find their own spirituality, used prayers, Scripture readings, personal reflections and skits to explore faith. Attendees included parishioners from St. John Francis Regis, Sacred Heart in Berlin, Immaculate Conception in New Lebanon and its mission, St. Joseph's in Stephentown.

Gathering together

Dana Farrell told how going on retreat made her realize that God is always with her, and Chris Allain talked about receiving his Confirmation and being an adult in the Church. The stories led some adults to discuss moments of faith:

* Barbara Messenger described her transformation while visiting the Holy Land. Walking where Jesus and His disciples walked made her faith seem more real, and she now knows God is with her in her daily life.

* Jay Nash spoke of his involvement with the Church as a youngster, straying from religion and reawakening in faith after marrying and raising a family. "The day my son was born, the Holy Spirit came into my life, and my life has been drastically changed from that point on," he said.

* Father Gregory tried to dispel the myth that "priests have all the answers. I rediscover my faith and discover God in a new way every day."

When he distributes Eucharist, he noted, "You can't imagine what it's like to see the people come forward in such deep faith, knowing that what they are doing is really important for them."

Retelling parables

Finally, a group of teens stopped to help the homeless man and invite him to come with them for a meal. He accepted and then lit the Easter candle before joining them.

Light of faith

* Kathleen Dolan reflected upon her Confirmation retreat, a time when she realized just how much God loves her. "At your highest points, God is with you, and at your lowest points, He carries you," she said.

* Megan Gagnon, a student at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, said she has questioned her faith lately because a friend asked why she believes what the Church teaches. She has even talked it over with her mother, and this helped to increase her faith.

* Kierstin Darling noted that she "always had a good relationship with God," but it wasn't until she attended the Christian Leadership Institute that she realized "you need to work on your relationship with God every day and put your heart into it fully."

Finale

Sister Mary Kenan McGowan, RSM, parish life director of St. John Francis Regis, was moved by the youths' skits and reflections, and said they didn't disappoint in the first big event they hosted for the parish.

"The kids haven't done anything like this on such a grand scale. They did a great job," she said.

(Immaculate Conception Church, New Lebanon will host the second part of the Renew 2000 mission at 7 p.m., Oct. 3.)

(09-30-99) [[In-content Ad]]