Lift Jesus Higher Adult Rally April 19, 2008
Walking into the ground floor lobby of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on April 19, 2008, you would have encountered a show called “Total Health 08”; but to find the event which promoted heavenly health, you would have had to take the escalator to the second floor where the sixteenth annual Lift Jesus Higher Rally was taking place.
Always a day of great spiritual depth, this year’s event was no different. Following the crowning of Our Lady by the Heralds of the Gospel, the soaking blessing of the auditorium by six deacons, and the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, Bishop Richard Grecco warmly welcomed the thousands gathered from across
Canada
and the States, especially the people attending for the first time. He noted that the theme, “Empowering Your Life,” combined the truths that a strong, committed relationship with God not only helps each of us with our daily struggles but also strengthens us in our Christian witness.
In his talk, Father Frank Pavone, the noted pro-life priest, proclaimed that, as followers of Christ, it is our duty to stand up for life in the face of the culture of death. He cited the fact that Mary, immediately after the Annunciation, did not hide away in prayer but ran in haste to help
Elizabeth. As we grow in our walk with the Lord, we are more aware and more responsive to the needs of others. We can’t say that life issues are not our business.
At an abortion clinic, Father Pavone was confronted by someone who accused him of being self-righteous. His answer was something all pro-lifers should remember, “We have been praying the Rosary, and 150 times we have asked our Blessed Mother to ‘pray for us sinners.’” During that same time, none of the pro-abortion forces were admitting that they were sinners.
Father Pavone witnessed to two strong elements which are beacons of hope today. First, there is great upsurge of pro-life commitment among the young, because they realize, “It could have been me.” In addition, the “Silent No More” campaign of women who regret their abortions gives lie to all the falsehoods which the pro-abortion faction has promulgated. No longer do abortionists use the argument that abortion reduces child abuse and strengthens the family. They have even replaced the statement that abortion is a decision between a woman and her doctor with the statement that it is a decision between a woman and “her god.” In truth, God abhors abortion.
The abortion industry has hijacked the media, the U.N., political parties, even the Gospel of Jesus Christ—“This is My Body.” To fight that, Father Pavone has begun to use YouTube with videos of abortion procedures, and he suggested that we ask our politicians, “Is this what you mean by abortion?” Our governments are meant to serve the public, not kill the public.
Peter Herbeck of Renewal Ministries gave the second talk, “Empowered Living” and spoke about the fundamental fight that begins in our mind. Although the core of our being knows the truth that our hope is in Jesus, we are beset with anxiety, temptations, and isolation.
Gethsemane was the Garden of Eden all over again, and the apostles were afraid of the dark. The fundamental lie of both gardens is that God and His plan for us cannot be trusted. And that is what our culture today says–religion binds us. But the truth is that God is love, God is life. Peter challenged the attendees to surrender radically to God no matter what. Eternal life is the promise. Peter then recounted his coming to the Lord at age 19. Much like Monica with
St. Augustine, his mother had prayed for Peter’s conversion all his life.
The Spirit of God speaks to us as sons and daughters of God, preaching to our broken hearts, recreating us from the inside out. We are healed, freed, and empowered by God, who says to us that it is good that we exist, that we are His idea, and that He has never had a bad idea.
Following an overview of the Renewal Ministries’ evangelization and mission efforts by
Ralph Martin, Sister Ann Shields spoke on “The Power of God’s Word,” using the theme from Psalm 119 that scripture is “a lamp to my feet, a light to my path.” Too often, we have a disconnect between our daily life and God’s Word. Instead, the Bible is a love letter from God, converting, challenging, convicting, and comforting us.
John 15:9 changed Sister Ann’s life. “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.” To know that we are infinitely loved is totally comforting and puts suffering in perspective, since it is not meant to alienate us but to bring us closer to the triune God.
Sister Ann said that God calls us to be a light in the darkness of the increasingly despotic man-centred culture. The Church is the West’s last hope, and it is essential to soak up God’s Word each day—to read, reread, ruminate on it, and to squeeze the “juice” out of it—irrigating the soul. She asked, “What is your house built on?” in these days of recession, limitation of freedoms, and politicians who don’t lead. Catholics need to remember that we have infinite dignity and to say, “Here I am, Lord. Send me.”
With those triumphal words still echoing, Father Marcos Faes led a prayerful Eucharistic Procession and Divine Mercy hour prior to the Mass concelebrated by Archbishop Thomas Collins and Bishop Pearse Lacey along with twenty-two priests.
In his homily, Archbishop Collins pointed out that our faith is profound, not complex—Jesus Christ is Lord. Experiencing the risen Lord transformed the apostles in their hearts, heads, and the service of their hands. Jesus is the cornerstone, and we are the building blocks. Through Him we have contact with the Living God. To be totally connected into the source of life, we need a profound prayer life including adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and moments of silence. Archbishop Collins said that the liturgy of the ordination to the diaconate sums up our life of the Good News—“Believe what you read. Teach what you believe. Practice what you teach.”
Filled with beautiful music, inspired teaching, and profound prayer, the attendees left the rally with a renewed sense of God’s presence in their lives and a great willingness to fully live the Gospel message of evangelization.
Lift Jesus Higher Youth Rally April 19, 2008
While 4,000 adults were in one hall at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 900 youth, ages 12-20, were in another hall with sessions including talks, testimonies, skits, and worship music to help them respond to God’s call in their own lives and to face the challenges of the increasingly secular culture. In his speech to the youth, Fr. Pavone encouraged them to fearlessly fight for the unborn as they realize, “It could have been me.”
Here’s what some of the youth had to say about the day:
“The Youth Rally was awesome again this year! Although I have heard many pro-life talks, I found Fr. Frank a very passionate and engaging speaker.”
“The day was awesome, uplifting, very motivational…Our faith was strengthened and renewed, and we had fun at the same time!”
“I was thrilled to witness other young people on fire for God!”
