Over most of last week and weekend, I joined priests and religious from around the country for Ignite NW, a youth conference here in the Pacific Northwest at the University of Portland. Though not a new experience for me – I was able to go a couple of times several years ago when it was held at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey – I had forgotten how awesome an event it is. Some 400+ youth, mostly from Washington & Oregon (though some from other parts of the country), gathered together to explore & celebrate their faith is not just a blessing for them, but for all of us who accompany them!
Speaking at least for us here in the Archdiocese of Seattle, there is a great desire among Catholics young and old for the joy & vibrancy of authentic faith. Too often we hear about – and sometimes see firsthand examples of – how Catholics or Catholicism is rigid, constraining, boring, or irrelevant. For five days, we had an opportunity to see how the opposite is true: our faith brings us life – and it is alive and well across generations, vocations, and the many, many miles that brought us together for this conference! Though oriented towards youth, I count it as a particular highlight of the summer to have been able to have rich conversations with high schoolers, sisters, brothers, priests, and dedicated laity, to pray with them, and to revel together in our shared dignity as God’s children and members of the Body of Christ. I hope to be able to Ignite NW again next summer – next time with more youth and adults from each of our communities! In the meantime, I thank God that this event continues strong in our region. May the Lord bring many fruits in the lives of all who attended & the benefactors, staff, and volunteers that made it possible.
P.S. Among many others given by lay leaders, religious, and priests, I gave a talk at Ignite NW. It was titled ‘Finding – or making! – community at my parish’. Some of the attendees were called away for a leadership meeting just as it began….but I recorded the thing! I’ve included both recordings below, but the only major difference is in the Q&A at the end of each. If you’re choosing between them, I recommend the second one, where I feel like I hit my stride in making my presentation 🙂
P.P.S. If you’d prefer to download the MP3 file for yourself, right-click on one of these links:
- ‘Finding – or making! – community at my parish’ workshop recording #1
- ‘Finding – or making! – community at my parish’ workshop recording #2
Your session was informative and helpful. Strong recommend to all readers to take a listen.
This year, we had 11 folks from Clallam Catholic attend this event. Next year, let’s set a goal of at least 20 attendees! YAHOOOOOOOO!
In the interest of full disclosure, I am on the Board of Ignite NW and am the conference nurse every year, so yeah, biased without a doubt. It is so powerful not only to be around youth on fire for Catholicism, but also to engage with priests, seminarians, brothers, sisters, and lay leaders – all glory to God!
https://www.ignitenw.org/