Recently youth from our Diocese participated in a two-day retreat/pilgrimage, Bike For Christ, that was led by accomplished youth leaders in scenic Eastern PEI.
Seminarian Sam was present both days.
There were four different formation talks given over the two days on the theme of beauty:
The Beauty of Nature, by Eli Grant;
The Mystery of Beauty, by Sam Vail;
The Transcendence of Beauty, by Matt Dunn; and
The Beauty of the Journey to Calvary, by Nate Shaw.
The youth began the two-day pilgrimage on Saturday morning by attending Mass at St. Theresa, The Little Flower in Morell celebrated by Fr. Brian.
After Mass, our serene and kindly priest, Fr. Francis, SDV, biked with the youth 30 km to arrive at St. Cuthbert’s Church.
At St. Cuthbert’s, Fr. Francis and Sam led the youth in Eucharistic Adoration and prayer.
The youth also celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation with Fr. Francis.
The youth then biked 15 km more and took a much-needed break in Cardigan Park where they gathered together for a dinner of barbecued burgers and hot dogs cooked by Nate Spidel and Nick Brown.
After dinner, they continued biking a short distance to the Brudenell Campground where Bishop Joseph met up with everyone! Bishop Joseph blessed the youth and happily chatted with them and listened to their experiences that day. After Bishop Joseph’s visit, the youth soon began pitching their tents to sleep under the star-lit night!
On Sunday morning the youth continued biking and reached St. James Church in Georgetown and attend Mass celebrated by Fr. Kishore.
After Mass, there was a tasty brunch that provided fuel for the remaining 18 km bike ride to St. Mary’s Church in Montague to end the two-day event in which the youth biked over 80 km.
The youth from our Diocese experienced so many grace-filled moments, especially while celebrating the Sacrament of the Eucharist and Reconciliation.
There were lots of conversations while biking side by side, times of prayer with their peers, laughter, and a sense of true fellowship with one another!