Ignite: Sunday

Early morning choir practice by the snack machines: Sister Servants, a Sister of St. Joseph the Worker, Dominican Sisters, student brothers of the Fathers of Mercy, a couple of lay people.....

Br. Athanasius does a Dominican rap routine, and the Sisters try to help him

Fr. Ambrose receives over 100 new members into the Angelic Warfare Confraternity (see http://www.angelicwarfareconfraternity.org)

Then it was time for Mass with Archbishop Kurtz.

Here is our archbishop after Mass and lunch with the teens.

That was the end of the conference, and it was time to go home... but nobody seemed to want to leave. 

We just kept clowning around.....

...and clowning around.....

...and clowning around. That is, until Padre Tim unfortunately had to leave. 

Then we could get serious.

Cleanup time. Do we have all the fobs?

Finally, after we had cleaned and packed everything, we organizers went out to relax and eat 

at this nearby restaurant.

+++++++++

After Mass we had said a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving, which I think is a fitting closing to this series of posts about the conference, which is a huge grace to each person who can attend:

Thanksgiving After Mass

My good Jesus, I ask you to bless me; keep me in your love and grace; grant me the gift of final perseverance. Help me to become a saint. Guarded by you in soul and in body, may I never swerve from the right road, but surely reach your kingdom, where we shall look upon you face to face. There you will satisfy me with yourself and fill me with such sweetness that 

I shall neither hunger nor thirst again. Amen.

O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, pour down your blessings abundantly upon your Church, upon our Holy Father Pope Francis, and upon all the clergy; give perseverance to the just; convert sinners; enlighten unbelievers; bless our parents, families, friends, and benefactors, especially the benefactors of Ignite Your Torch. Help the dying, free the souls in Purgatory, and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of your love. Amen.

May the Heart of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, until the end of time. Amen.

Ignite: Saturday

On Saturday morning, we were up before dawn. A long line of eight school buses snaked along the road and up to Lourdes Hall where we were awaiting them. We were going to Louisville to pray at the abortion center.

It took a long time to get everyone situated, but them we settled in for the hour and a half ride. 

Once there, all 350 of us (including speakers, organizers, etc.) prayed and witnessed peacefully from across the street. We prayed 3 rosaries and the Chaplet of Mercy.

Former "Igniters" (Bryan and Siena, who were green shirts a few years ago) and future Igniters (their children) joined us to pray.

After this, we boarded the buses again for the short ride to St. Louis Bertrand Church, 

where we had Mass.

Mags making sure the people from her bus find their way back to it

Once we arrived back at the conference location, we had lunch and a rest time, then more workshops, a short period of Eucharistic adoration, dinner, and a general talk. 

Attentive listeners

John Sohl, our busy media man

A light moment of "jousting" between 

the Dominican Sisters and Brothers

After supper and a talk, recreation began.

Marty with his mother, Mia

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to ......the FAMILY FEUD!"

Oh Joseph, you're just so cool.

Olivia keeps things lively

"So, if Moses had a yard sale, name something you might find there." 

Narrowing down the teams until there was a WINNER!

Teddy does his famous ribbon dance

We had some special little people who decided that they wanted to joust with the Sisters, too.

Guess who won?

Cuteness! Another future Igniter, Nathan 

(who wasn't even around yet when that nice blue shirt was made)

With his daddy, who was a chaperone

A great time was had by all!

The Conference: Friday

After breakfast, the day began with morning prayer in the gym.

Then there were various talks to choose from.

Sr. Amelia, OP

Fr. Tim talks about the kerygma (his favorite topic)

Fr. Joseph Mary Brown finds a rather original place to prepare for his workshop!

After lunch, there was Mass......

We had the loveliest music during Mass!

Here are three of the organizers of the Washington State Ignite Your Torch, to be held in August.

Fr. Tim, the conference's spiritual director, with Matt Sohl, one of the "green shirts" 

without whom we would really be lost.

 Sr. Joseph Marie and her brother Andrew

Sr. Mary Anthony and her sister Mary

After Mass and more workshops, there was recreation with the religious.

Corn hole with the Dominican brothers

Somebody wanted religious to sit at their table!

The day concluded with a very special holy hour, in which the priest (Fr. Tony Stephens of the Fathers of Mercy) brought the monstrance to each person individually, and confessions.