Deacon Jody Madden of St. Benedict Parish in Atchsion processes in to the St. Andre Orchard in Atchison with the Blessed Sacrament. Leading him is Isaac Trotter, a senior at Maur Hill-Mount Academy and member of the North East Kansas Rural Youth Council (NEKRYC), which hosted the event. LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
The great outdoors provided the setting for an afternoon and evening of faith and fun.
NEKRYC members Jesse Lies, left, of St. Joseph Parish, Flush, and Will Lueger of St. Marys Parish, St. Benedict, help travelers navigate the roads and find parking. LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
The rural youth outreach office and the North East Kansas Rural Youth Council hosted the Atchison Regional Adoration and Shindig on Oct. 27 at St. Andre Orchard in Atchison.
NEKRYC members Jesse Lies, left, of St. Joseph Parish, Flush, and Will Lueger of St. Marys Parish, St. Benedict, help travelers navigate the roads and find parking. LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Last year the rural youth outreach office and NEKRYC offered an outdoor adoration and dance in Atchison that was very successful. This year, hoping to provide more opportunities to more kids, three shindigs were planned. This was the second of three. The first was in Garnett on Oct. 20 and the next will be held on Nov. 12 on the grounds of St. Patrick Parish in Corning.
Deacon Jody Madden of St. Benedict Parish in Atchsion processes in to the St. Andre Orchard in Atchison with the Blessed Sacrament. Leading him is Isaac Trotter, a senior at Maur Hill-Mount Academy and member of the North East Kansas Rural Youth Council (NEKRYC), which hosted the event. LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
“This event offered something that was simple and reproducible for parishes. It provided an opportunity to, first, spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, then enjoy a beautiful fall evening full of celebration and community with dancing, games and s’mores,” said Angie Bittner, rural youth outreach coordinator.
From left to right, keeling, Francisco “Pato” Cano, a student at Maur Hill-Mount Academy, Catherine Welte, a member of St. Benedict Parish, Atchison, and Genevieve Sienkiewicz, a member of St. Benedict Parish, Atchison, kneel before the Holy Eucharist. LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
The event drew more than 100 participants. Bittner thanked the Rziha family, who owns St. Andre Orchard, for providing a wonderful setting for the event.
Participants at the Atchison Regional Adoration and Shindig show off their line dancing skills. Front row, from left, are: Kirsten Smith, St. Leo Parish, Horton; Hailey Bunck, St. Leo Parish, Horton; Edith Riches, St. Benedict, Atchsion; and Lucy Sienkiewicz, St. Benedict, Atchsion. Back row: Jezzy Keehn-Alshahri, St. Teresa Parish, Perry; Leanne Shoup, St. Patrick Parish, Osage City; Chloe Bunck, St. Leo Parish, Horton; Teresa Welte, St. Benedict Parish, Atchison; Joe Rziha, an Atchison native; and Julia Ramage, St. Benedict Parish, Atchison. LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
“It was a beautiful opportunity to step away from ‘busy’ and celebrate the beauty of God’s creation in the sunset, autumn leaves, children’s laughter, teen’s line dancing, and perfectly roasted marshmallows,” she said.
