by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
The second annual “Celebrate Young Adult Day” will be held from 12:30-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the College of St. Benedict’s Haehn Center in St. Joseph.
Kent Schmitz, Diocese of St. Cloud Consultant for Adolescent Catechesis and Youth Ministry, said the goal of the event is to reach out to young adults ages 18-27 and bring them together for a day of fun, fellowship, prayer and faith sharing.
“We recognize young adults have very diverse gifts and needs,” Schmitz said. “It’s believed our diocesan and local church becomes richer when we connect as a community of faith. We celebrate the blessing all young adults contribute to our faith communities.”
The event includes keynote speaker Mike Patin, musician Luke Spehar and Mass celebrant St. Cloud Diocesan Bishop Donald J. Kettler.
Patin has worked in a variety of ministry settings since 1984, was a high school teacher/coach, and worked with diocesan youth ministry in New Orleans. He has a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University of the South in New Orleans.
Patin has self-published two books, A Standing Invitation and This Was Not in the Brochure: Lessons from Work, Life and Ministry, and received the National Catholic Youth Ministry Award in 2006.
Patin uses energy, humor and stories when speaking to his audiences and has addressed audiences in more than 130 dioceses in the United States and Canada.
Spehar grew up in Minnesota. He began writing songs at the age of 16 and composed all of the music on his debut album and continued to write songs throughout his college years. In 2012, Spehar opened for Grammy award-winning musician Ben Harper on tour in both the United States and Canada, and released his third album in 2014.
His goal when leading worship is to perform, instruct and invite audiences to join him.
A 4:30 p.m. Catholic Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Kettler in the Sacred Heart Chapel.
An evening meal of chicken Kiev, roast beef, baby red potatoes, green beans, salad, dessert and beverages will be served in the Church of St. Joseph Heritage Hall after Mass.
About 100 people participated in last year’s event.
The registration fee for the event is $20. The fee includes refreshments and the evening meal.
For more information, visit stcdio.org/beliefmatters.
