Ignite Your Torch 2009

Sorry it has taken so long to write about Ignite Your Torch. I have been very busy with a lot going on.

IYT 2009 was very different this year from any other year. We held it at St. Catharine's College http://www.sccky.edu/. On top of that, the conference was a Saturday to Tuesday, instead of the normal Thursday to Sunday. Because of this, we couldn't pray at the abortion clinic, but not to worry, other great things happened!

It started off a little slow. Most of the time we didn't have air-conditioning and it was hard for people to pay attention. It wasn't until on Sunday that the mood changed! We had the Arch-bishop of Louisville come and celebrate Mass with us, and then led the Corpus Christi procession.

Later on that Sunday, I gave a very brief testimony of how this conference helped me convert and helped me discover my vocation to the priesthood. I also realized, that it was 3 years ago from Corpus Christi Eve that I was at my first "Ignite" and I met Jesus for the first time in the Eucharist! It was less than a year later that I entered the Catholic Church!

We had Adoration, Confessions, Mass, Workshops and much more this year at Ignite. It really was a powerful conference! After talking with a lot of the youth and chaperones, I felt that many of them have taken their relationship to the next level with our Lord and Savior!

For more info on Ignite Your Torch please go to www.igniteyourtorch.org you will be able to find some slide shows of past Ignites and information on future ones!

IGNITE YOUR TORCH 2009 IS ALMOST HERE!!!

Starting this Saturday Ignite Your Torch 2009 will be here! It is the conference that has brought me home to the Roman Catholic Church! It is also the conference where I first started discovering my vocation to the Priesthood!

We are actually overbooked for this year, and some of the priests are actually pitching tents and camping out (this is how little room we have)!

You must come next year if you haven't signed up for this year. Check out the website here: www.igniteyourtorch.org

Please do keep the conference in your prayers. Our biggest day is going to be Sunday, most of our activities are going to be outside on Sunday and it is supposed to rain. Please pray for good weather!

1st day of work

Yesterday was my first day of work at Splash Moraine. This is my 3rd year working at Splash, but it will be my 7th or 8th year working for the City of Moriane.

It was a very easy and fun day (as most days are). I am not a life guard (encase you were wondering), no, instead I am Guest Relations. It is my job to sell and collect tickets, pick up trash, rent out inner-tubes, and assist customers with whatever they need.

Today I was able to spend time talking to old friends from work, high school and just from customers who swim a lot. It was very nice to see them all again! It seemed as if we never left from last summer.

It is very interesting working there because most of them know that I am a religious person and that I want to be a priest. They all started asking questions about Christianity and Catholicism and why would I want to be a priest (some are nominal-Catholics, atheists, Protestant-Christians, and I am sure some other beliefs).

It is here at Splash Moraine where most of my summer ministry happens. I don't preach to them with words, but instead with my actions. Over the last 5 years I have had people from all over the city come to me for advice and for someone to just listen to them. This is such a great ministry that God has blessed me with, and I am forever grateful for it!

A year ago from today...

It is hard to believe that it has been only a year ago from today that I was on Marcus Grodi's "The Journey Home". That was such a great experience! The only thing that would have made it better, would have been if my dad made it down with me.

For those that don't know, it was a rough day and I barely made it down there in time for the show. Trust me, if you haven't read the story, you have to read it: http://christopherosgood.blogspot.com/2008/06/power-of-prayer.html

And if you are interested in purchasing it, you can buy it from EWTN's website for only $15! Just go here: http://www.ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/JOURNEY+HOME+JUNE+9+2008+DVD/keywords=Journey+Home+June+9+2008/page_no=1/edp_no=17054/shop.axd/ProductDetails

What a story!