Our Senior Leadership Team (SLT), led by Fr. Paddy, just returned from a transformative four days at DR18, the Divine Renovation conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Over 650 clergy and lay leaders from parishes and dioceses around the world convened to become better equipped to lead their people forward on a path of missionary discipleship. Participants celebrated Eucharist together, listened to compelling, inspirational speakers, and heard personal testimony from lost sheep who had been accompanied back into the fold. There were also many opportunities to engage in small group discussion, where attendees learned from and prayed over each other. Supporting and being present to the large number of conference attendees were over 200 St. Benedict parish volunteers who joyfully served, assisted and fed the hundreds, even serving as shuttle drivers back and forth to the church.
"This entire event was, in a word, extraordinary! It was an experience that gave everyone great hope for the future of the Church! Seeing priests from all over the world on the altar, and hundreds of lay disciples in the pews was acknowledgment that we are not alone on our path of renewal – that leaders of parishes and dioceses far beyond our own are equally hungry to become more fruitful in leading our people to Christ." One of SLT members
Over the weeks ahead, as learnings are digested, the highlights of the experience and its content will be shared with our own parish leaders and the congregation. There is much to “unpack” and share as we move forward on our journey.
Click HERE for some pictures from their journey!