+JMJ
Blessed be God! I have just recently had a rather wonderful weekend. I didn't think I would have anything to post here, but it seems that I have a rather ineffective memory. This weekend was a confirmation overnight retreat for the high school freshmen that will be confirmed this year. Things certainly did start off on the not so nice foot. The youth were rather kinda rude, sleepy, and all together, very very disinterested and much too cool to participate in such a retreat. It was rather disheartening to see this rather pathetic display of 'being cool,' but God works in His own way.
By the end of the first evening, we had a communal celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation. It is nights like that which give me such hope for the future of our Church. It was so wonderful to see so many going after years of maybe never going to Mass or even understanding or wanting to be involved. They waited in some long lines and we had many good priests there as well. It was a real blessing. I hadn't been to confession in at least 6 months and Lord knows how badly I needed it. I felt as though 6 months of grace rushed back into my soul that night. It was truly a blessing to be there.
We also had adoration from Saturday morning after Mass until our afternoon Mass on Sunday. Another blessing I am so thankful for. I also met a seminarian there who I am very sure will be a very holy priest someday. I talked with him well into the wee hours of the morning and I ended up suffering from sleep deprivation all weekend anyways. God worked so many wonderful things for me this weekend. I need to get to work in paying Him back and giving Him thanksgiving and praise. He even gave me the Epiphany hymn at Mass I had asked for from our musicians and been refused many times!
The Lord is so good to me and I have been so awful in return. May this new year give me new life and help me back on the path to Christ for all eternity in Heaven. Amen.
God bless you all abundantly and may He work wonders in your life this year!
