Welcome to Encounter
Two's first blog in ages! Our team has been busy travelling around southern Ontario covering ground all the way from Windsor to Peterborough and everywhere in between.
Two's first blog in ages! Our team has been busy travelling around southern Ontario covering ground all the way from Windsor to Peterborough and everywhere in between. Recently we have been giving a lot of Confirmation retreats...On a particular retreat, Before moving to the church for prayer, we played a video for the students on the mercy of God. Once moving into the church for prayer ministry, the youth saw a drama on confession in which a student, not wanting to go to confession, begins making up ridiculous lies to confess. The priest sees through the youth's lies, and assigns a penance that eventually has the young man standing before a crucifix and marveling at the mercy of God. After this touching drama, Emily shared an amazing testimony on how she came to know God through going to reconciliation. From there we moved into a time of quiet prayer for the students, with the sacrament of confession available.
At first, only a couple of students lined up. In a matter of minutes, the line began growing. It continued to grow, and eventually, the students were lined up all around the church. Seeing
so many students line up in so quickly at time, all armed with examination of consciences in hand, moved my heart. I was nearly brought to tears as a began to count the number of students in the line that now stretched around a quarter of the church. Twenty five... thirty... thirty five... forty. I traveled around the line to remind the students to be quiet as they waited, even informing the students near the back of the line that they probably wouldn't have a chance to go due to time restrictions, and yet they chose to remain and wait. It was amazing to see so many youth desiring to come closer to God and reject sin in their lives.
so many students line up in so quickly at time, all armed with examination of consciences in hand, moved my heart. I was nearly brought to tears as a began to count the number of students in the line that now stretched around a quarter of the church. Twenty five... thirty... thirty five... forty. I traveled around the line to remind the students to be quiet as they waited, even informing the students near the back of the line that they probably wouldn't have a chance to go due to time restrictions, and yet they chose to remain and wait. It was amazing to see so many youth desiring to come closer to God and reject sin in their lives. Praise God for such a beautiful witness to this amazing sacrament. Please continue to pray for our team as we continue this journey. We also ask for prayers for all the youth that we encounter, especially the confirmation candidates as they prepare to receive an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
God Bless!
Katie Foster
Encounter Team Two
(Top photo - Matt Sullivan gazes out over the city; Bottom photo - Matt Scott and Eoin reenacting the defeat of Satan at the hands of St. Michael the Archangel)
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