We have been profoundly moved by the way the Holy Spirit worked within the Face-to-face Mission Team and our entire parish to gift us with such a faith-filled and spiritually healing event. After tallying up all of the numbers, more than
270 people from every single age group enjoyed the lively music, comedic and thought provoking skits, and inspiring, faith building talks led by Ken Yasinski and the Face-to-Face team.
Saturday opened with a prayer and blessing for the Mission led by Father Antony and then exploded with music, praise and worship as Ken and his team led two action-filled songs to get our Mission off to a rousing start. From the very beginning the participation across generational lines was deeply moving. From 7-70 and beyond, not a single soul bowed out of full, active and joy-filled participation. These music moments would punctuate our activities throughout the weekend to the great and much anticipated joy of all participants.
Themes moved us from identifying that we have a created purpose and, how important it is for us to live out that purpose. As Ken began, "Using an object for something other than its intended purpose breaks the object", a line of thought illustrated by story from his own childhood involving a group of family members, a motor boat and a canoe...and no moms to stop the insanity that ensued!
These pearls of common sense wisdom and, often intimate sharing of true life experiences flavored the entire experience from beginning to end and helped to draw everyone into the deeply personal relationship the Face-to-Face team sought to forge throughout the weekend.
These themes led naturally to an examination of our individual and collective need for healing and restoration through the sacrament of Reconciliation. In ways both gentle and inspiring, Ken led all gathered into a deeper appreciation of the great gift of this Sacrament to the Church and to us, God's most beloved children. The subsequent opportunity for individual confession afterwards involved perhaps the highest level of participation that our parish has seen at a reconciliation event. nearly every single participant took part in the sacrament with one of the six visiting priests in attendance. For many, this was the first time celebrating this encounter with Christ's unconditional love in many years.
The evening began our examination of just what purpose God has created us for - that of no less than Sainthood - described by Ken as "the life goal that should trump all other life goals" who went on to remind that "it's one thing to have the goal of sainthood, but you also need a plan". It is a plan that involves visualizing the qualities of sainthood one would like to have, the practices or habits that would help foster those qualities, and the pledge to begin implementing those habits in the present rather than the future.
Perhaps the highest point for all involved was the deeply moving Adoration and Benediction held by candlelight, and interspersed with soft song, silence, and an invitation to make a dedication or re-dedication of one's life to Christ. This was perhaps one of the most beautiful, and emotionally moving parts of the entire weekend. Feedback was immediate, and continuous. For many of our participants, this was the first time they consciously and intentionally offered their lives to Christ. For most this Spirit-filled was simply too profound to put into words, "It has to be experienced, you just can't describe it to anyone", said one participant.
Sunday morning wrapped up with the formation of a step-by-step plan to realistically achieve our life's goal and mission, to be a saint through the disciplines of prayer, fasting, fellowship, formation in the faith, and participation in the Sacramental Life of Christ - especially in the Eucharist. A realistic, achievable plan that encourages us to develop new habits in order to change old ones and so grow in holiness and fulfill the only purpose that really matters, to be more Christ-like and in so doing, bring the face of Christ with us into the world.
Mass, with music led by the Face-to-Face team, was the perfect capstone to this perfect weekend filled with food, fellowship and faith all shared in and through the Spirit of Christ. We have been inundated with a stream of requests for more events like these in general and more events with the Face-to-Face team in particular. I can assure everyone that we will indeed be holding more Parish Missions and similar events and activities on a more regular basis here at Christ the King and are in fact in dialogue now with the team looking at other ways we might avail ourselves of their talents through our local schools and in our sacramental and faith formation programs.
We are so very blessed to have had this amazing opportunity in our parish. From my conversations with many of those in attendance it has been a faith changing experience for a number of our parish family members. Indeed, it has been like fresh water and a soothing stream for myself and an inspiration to my own ministry in this wonderful and remarkable family of faith. I continue to praise and bless God for having given me the opportunity to share it with you all.
If you would like to connect with the Face-To-Face Ministry team and/or offer continued support for their ministry the following links will be of great help;
F2F.ca - Their Homepage
Face to Face Ministries - Facebook
Face to Face Video Blog - Short, Bi-Weekly video clips on a variety of topics
Face to Face: Our Music - Loved the Songs? Want More? Support their on-going ministry by purchasing a CD of their favorite praise and worship songs.
Support Face to Face - Providing on-line opportunities to support their ministry work in Saskatchewan and Western Canada.
You can also keep up to date with Face to Face and a host of other ministries and resources through our own parish facebook page;
CTKRegina and by following us on twitter
@CTKRegina
Peace and God Bless,
Eric
6:00 AM
Christ The King Parish
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