ST. CHARLES—About 6,000 people are expected at this year’s Hear I Am Lord vocations conference at St. Patrick Parish, here, March 5-8.
Juggling, puppets, a 5k race, and music are just a few of the activities scheduled.
Of those attending, half will be high school age or younger. They’ll be joining 140 religious nuns, sisters, brothers, seminarians and priests.
In its 13th year, it has become the largest annual parish-based vocations conference in the nation.
The conference will kick off March 5 with a parish event for middle school youth and parents. John Donahue-Grossman will present “Ray” and Sister Mary Gianna will give her story of survival and perseverance after being at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, the day 14 of her classmates and one teacher were killed.
Friday’s grade school workshop is full, but will welcome almost 900 Catholic school students. They’ll hear the stories and keynotes of Sister Marianette, a Salesian puppet; Father Keith Romke, Rockford Diocese vocations director; Sister Mary Gianna; John Lamperis; and Deacon Bill Johnson.
On March 6 at 6:30 p.m., APeX Ministries will perform their vaudeville-style of evangelization followed by a Holy Hour and Healing Prayer Service led by Father Andrew Dietz, parochial vicar of St. Patrick. This event is free and open to the public, but will accept donations.
Only 200 spots remain for the March 7 faith enrichment day for high school students. Sean Forrest and Father Ryan Browning, a parochial vicar at St. Patrick, will be speaking.
At 7 p.m. March 7, former Wall Street stockbroker Carolyn King will present “Transformed: The Power of Faith and Love.” This is also free, but again offerings will be accepted.
On March 8, those at Mass will be able to meet and converse with the representatives of religious orders attending the conference.
Also, March 8, HIAL will offer its first ever “Nun Run 5K” with proceeds benefiting the religious order of a race participant and the Casa Guadalupe Drug and Rehabilitation Center in Tijuana, Mexico. The center was founded and is run by Father Jon Jensen, a graduate of of St. Patrick School.
Info: Julie Rasmussen, HIAL Conference Coordinator at 630/338-8050; HIAL@stpatrickparish.org, for tickets or sponsorships; www.hereiamlord.net for schedule.