March 6, 2009
Source and Summit: A Eucharistic-centered retreat
Father Chris Forler, associate pastor at Holy Redeemer Church in Evansville, talks to participants during the annual Source and Summit weekend. (Message photo by Mary Ann Hughes) Click for a larger version.
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
Last Saturday, when she was asked how many were attending the Source and Summit retreat, Gail Shetler caught her breath and said, “Well, the Men’s Club from Good Shepherd is preparing 500 hamburgers.”
Gail was a very busy woman last weekend. She was the key organizer of the annual Eucharistic-centered retreat for youth which offered the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the weekend. There were also talks about Jesus, Mary and the sacraments, and because this is the Year of St. Paul there was also a special focus on him.
The retreat was held at Memorial High School in Evansville, and Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger designated the building a pilgrimage site “so that our attendees would have the opportunity to receive the plenary indulgence for the Year of St. Paul,” Shetler said.
Father Chris Forler is the associate pastor at Holy Redeemer Church in Evansville. He spoke to the group on Saturday morning. During his presentation, he asked, “How can we have a relationship with Jesus?” and then suggested “offer yourself to him in adoration.”
He told the young adults, “My advice to you is, ‘Do not be afraid of following Christ.’”
Bonnie Wink, the DRE at St. John Church in Daylight, brought a group of young parishioners to the retreat. “It’s a great opportunity for young people to come to an appreciation of the Eucharist,” she said. “I think that’s paramount. It gives them a sense of church too — that it’s bigger than their own parish.”
More Photos (story continues below)
Click on each photo to see a larger version.
Over 90 young adults and chaperones traveled from four parishes in Gibson County to attend the retreat, including St. James Church and Sts. Peter and Paul Church, both in Haubstadt, Holy Cross Church in Fort Branch, and St. Bernard Church, Snake Run.
They were accompanied by Father Tony Ernst and Father Gary Kaiser who noted that several young adults had attended the weekend in years past, and had invited their friends this year. “They were really excited about it,” Father Kaiser said.
Shetler, who is already lining up speakers for next year, said, “What impresses me the most is to have this many young people come to this and use their free time. It must be as exciting to God as it is to us.”
Guests and speakers included members of the Community of Franciscan Friars for the Renew-al from the Bronx in New York, the Community of the Brothers of St. John from Orange in New Jersey, the Dominican Sisters in Nashville, Tenn., Benedictine monks from St. Meinrad, and the Little Sisters of the Poor.
This year, parents were invited to attend their own retreat day on Saturday at the nearby Little Sisters of the Poor home, and then to join their children for Mass on Sunday with Bishop Gettelfinger. They heard a talk by Christina Rosario from Cath-olic Charities, said the rosary, and attended a Eucharistic/healing service.
Deacon Vince Bernardin and his wife, Mary, facilitated the adult retreat. “It was awesome,” he said, noting that about 50 parents attended. “They were great. It was an awesome day.
“Family counselors from Catholic Charities offered a great new dimension to the parents’ component. It was a very sacred time.”
The sacrament of reconciliation was offered to groups during both retreats.