Apologhetti

"To Thee be all glory and thanksgiving, Who fillest the earth with Thy manifold mercies."

In joyful obedience to God's will, three of the Sisters spent several delightful days at the Apologhetti Youth Camp in Idaho at the beginning of August. Its name a combination of the spaghetti dinners with apologetics discussions that it sprang out of, the camp was a terrific combination of practical apologetics, beautiful liturgies, and hearty fun.

Bonfire with S'mores

Sean Forrest with Dr. Peter Kreeft

In a few understated, but Truth-packed, conferences, Dr. Peter Kreeft totally dismantled the arguments for moral relativism, gave a strategy for winning the culture war (personal sanctity), and defended true femininity and the masculine character of the sacred priesthood. With humor (and magic!) Patrick Coffin championed the value of suffering, defended marriage as it has been since the beginning, and answered the wide-ranging questions raised by the intensity of the topics raised. Sean Forrest of Haiti180 spoke of the need for the corporal works of mercy along with the spiritual and shared a compelling presentation on the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fr. James Moore, OP, spoke directly to our charism in his powerful conference on Sacred Music and its role in the Liturgy, and spoke to the men about the vocation of priesthood, while Sr. Faustina Maria and Sr. Philomena Maria of the Children of Mary shared with the women about vocation, particularly the beautiful call to consecrated religious life.

Fr. James Moore, OP

Teaching a few young ladies to sing "O Sanctissima"

Great care was taken in the celebration of the sacred Liturgy throughout the camp and our Lord was exposed in adoration for the teens and leaders. A number of priests came to hear confessions and to be a priestly presence, complementing the presence of the three communities of women religious. Our Sisters offered a morning prayer hike for the ladies, taught folk dancing during recreation, and enjoyed talking with the many attendees, leaders, and speakers.

Most pictures (the best ones!) by Mike ​Abbondandolo