Festival of Life 2024

This year, once again, the long-awaited Festival of Life has arrived! There is always immense joy in witnessing lives resurrected and families reunited after so much despair and death—it is nothing short of a miracle! 

On Friday morning, parents began with the Rosary prayer, followed by testimonies of healing and hope from both parents and young men and women in the community. These testimonies demonstrated how a living relationship with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist can transform the despair of addiction, depression, and family problems. Joyce and Don Marco led the parents in a moment of reflection, providing them with the opportunity to examine their consciences before the Blessed Sacrament and prepare their hearts for the reunion with their sons and daughters. For many families, it was their first joyful reunion after years of suffering. The evening concluded with a video from our missionary homes in Peru, Liberia, and the Philippines, sharing the joy born of sacrifice, love, and care provided to all the children. 

On Saturday, everyone was surprised by the unexpected arrival of Father Stefano from Italy! The parents had a profound encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist, during which they received a special blessing and the gift of venerating the cross of Mother Elvira, placing all their intentions in her heart. This day marked a significant milestone in the journey of faith for five of our young people in the community, who received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and for one who received their First Communion.  

This was followed by a blessing from Father Stefano, Don Marco, and Bishop Baker, who encouraged the faithful to ask the Holy Spirit to use them in God’s plan of salvation. The evening culminated with a theatrical performance titled “I Have Seen the Lord,” the theme of this year’s Festival of Life. The young men and women of the Community portrayed the reality of addiction, depression, and enslavement to social media, and how darkness is transformed into light through an encounter with Jesus when they “saw the Lord.” 

The final day of the festival began with the Rosary and a special adoration. Father Stefano invited all the parents and their children to embrace and say to each other, “Your life is a gift to me.” This exchange became a moment of profound healing and reconciliation for families. 

The young women of the community also had the gift of celebrating a sunrise Mass on the beach, facing the ocean, with Father Stefano and Don Marco, contemplating the beauty of God’s creation. This festival brought with it many special blessings, and we thank God for it! Truly, we can say, “We have seen the Lord!”