Seneca parish hosts two-day event for youth and families

by Marc and Julie Anderson
mjanderson@theleaven.org

SENECA — St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians includes a verse that reads: “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then, your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness” (2:7).

That verse served as the theme for a two-day event held the weekend of March 22-23 in Seneca at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish. Each day focused on a different audience and featured different activities, although both days began with Mass and included a eucharistic procession from the church to the Knights of Columbus Hall a few blocks away, eucharistic adoration, a meal and the music of Jeremy Rodriguez.

A resident of Shiner, Texas, Rodriguez has written songs with Catholic artist Matt Maher and opened for Christian bands such as Mercy Me and The Newsboys. His band, toLoveand Rescue, includes three men who encourage others to “remember that our lives are not measured by what others think about us, but how we take every day toLoveandRescue.” Rodriquez has performed at Catholic HEART Workcamp events across the country, including several in the archdiocese, events which helped inspire the parish event.

Susan Stallbaumer, one of the event’s adult coordinators, said planning began for the event in November.

Calling it the fruit of prayer, Stallbaumer said the theme and much of the planning was the idea of the parish youth, many of whom have attended Catholic HEART Workcamp in the past.

“They come back on fire,” Stallbaumer said. The challenge was to “keep those fires going.”

It was input from the youth who had attended the workcamp that the parish evangelization team started with.

“From that, all of this was born,” said Stallbaumer.

The first part of the event was an evening of worship for those in grades 8-12. Hailing from six different parishes — including Sts. Peter and Paul; St. Mary in St. Benedict; Sacred Heart in Baileyville; St. Bede in Kelly; St. Gregory the Great in Marysville; and St. Michael in Axtell — approximately 75 attended the evening, during which there were opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation.

The teenagers could also pray about, write down and then pin their burdens to a large cross, among other activities. The evening ended with a worship dance party.

The next day, the Ambassadors of Christ ran the family worship day for around 100 parishioners. After the potluck meal, children were immersed in faith-based activities, all inspired by the theme of “Rooted in Christ.” Activities included planting a seed while their parents listened to Rodriguez speak about the domestic church.

Olivia Ganstrom, one of the youth ambassadors, shared her testimony both days.

To the youth, Ganstrom said, “They always talk about how you get this spark at Catholic HEART Workcamp that starts this fire within you and you come home and you just want to tell everybody how much fun you had and all the things you did and how you connected to Jesus.”

“Tonight, I really want you guys to feel that same kind of spark — even if it’s the tiniest little glow,” she continued. “It will start a fire in you that makes you want to come back. . . . Take that little spark. Plant it deep down in your soul and start a fire.”

Following Ganstrom both days was Sam Nordhus, another ambassador, who shared how he drifted from his faith after breaking his leg this past year.

To his peers, he said, “I lost who I was. I turned to a lot of different things, God not being one of them. I pushed God out of my life. I asked myself a bunch of times and I asked God, ‘Why me?’”

Nordhus said his family, especially his dad, encouraged him to return to Mass and participate in eucharistic adoration.

“At the start, it was really difficult to go and see Jesus and to try and get him to help me. In the end, I did find God, and he helped me through it because he helps us through the toughest of times,” said Nordhus. “I’m really honored that I was able to help plan this because I want all of you guys to find that same thing I did — that God is always there for you.”

Near the beginning of his remarks during the family worship day, Rodriguez pointed to the cross, asking the adults, “Do you love like this? Do you love your kids and grandkids like this?”

Later, addressing the men, Rodriguez said, “It is your responsibility as dads, grandpas, to bring your family together to pray together. . . . Dads, it is your responsibility to protect the domestic church. I challenge you to speak of faith with your kids. . . . Ladies, look to the example of our Blessed Mother. Look to her. Turn to her. Ask her to cover your family with her mantle.”

“The domestic church is needed now. It is needed now more than ever to fight against evil. Let your home be that place where God’s love is truly transformative.”