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MIDLAND— More than 40 middle school students from across the Diocese of Saginaw gathered at St. Brigid of Kildare Catholic Church and School on Saturday, March 11, for a day-long retreat.
The retreat's theme, Using your Gifts of the Holy Spirit, focused on helping youth discover their gifts and talents and determine how to use them for the glory of God.
Youth played games, met new friends, discussed Bible verses about the Holy Spirit's gifts, took an online inventory to help discover their strengths and participated in an evangelization workshop with José Cervantes. As a service project, they also filled 50 knapsacks with personal care items, shirts and socks, a copy of the New Testament and water bottles to be given to teenagers at the Saginaw Juvenile Detention Center. Youth painted small crosses and signs with words of encouragement to include in the care packages.
Bishop Cistone celebrated a Feed the Fire Mass at St. Brigid of Kildare with the retreat participants and the Midland Catholic community. JAM Jesus and Music Praise Band provided the worship music for the liturgy and Adoration. After Mass, Bishop Cistone joined the youth and their families for pizza. The evening ended with motivational speaker Brian Pruitt sharing his story of finding faith and dedicating his life to Jesus. He encouraged everyone to live as a "Thirteenth Disciple" — ”to radically change their lives by following Jesus, just as the Twelve Apostles did. Bishop Cistone then led those gathered in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament."