Source And Summit Retreat Welcomes
In every generation there are people called by God in an extraordinary way, and given extraordinary graces to bring his people back to him. This year on Divine Mercy weekend, the Diocese of Evansville will be showered with extraordinary graces through the amazing witnesses participating in Source Summit Retreat – a Eucharistic centered retreat answering the challenge of Pope Francis: "We need to implore His grace daily, asking Him to open our cold hearts and shake up our lukewarm and superficial existence."
Presenter Immaculée Ilibagiza huddled with seven other women in the 3-by-4 -foot bathroom of a home of a family friend and local protestant pastor, silently praying and clinging to her rosary as she heard Hutus shouting her name outside the door.
“Every time they came looking for me,” she said, “I thought I would be found. I thought I would die.”
The Hutus never found her, and she didn’t die. Ilibagiza — a member of the Tutsi tribe — survived for 91 days in the hidden bathroom, while genocide raged outside the pastor’s home and throughout the small, central African nation of Rwanda. “The only thing that got me through was my faith in God,” she said.
13 years before the massacre began, our Blessed Mother appeared to 3 young visionaries in Kibeho, Rwanda, under the title of “Our Mother of the Word” – warning them that if they did not cleanse their hearts of hatred and fill their souls with God’s love, evil would win out and a genocide would sweep across the land. Ilibagiza is a herald of the messages of these Vatican approved apparitions.
Today, she is the author of the bestselling books, “Left to Tell” and “Our Lady of Kibeho,” and will share her story of survival, the power of prayer, miracles of the Rosary and living the message of Divine Mercy at Source Summit.
“The Source Summitretreat is a special opportunity of grace to deepen your own faith
understanding and belief in the Most Holy Eucharist as the very real presence of Jesus Christ,” said Bishop Charles C. Thompson in an open letter to young people, inviting them to be part of the event. “Your participation in this special time and space is sure to leave a lasting impact upon your life. There is nothing more awesome than a personal encounter with Jesus Christ!”
This year’s theme is “Jesus, I Trust in You!” No one will leave this retreat the same as when they arrive.
Other presenters
Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio, gifted with the ability to reach and teach young people in a convincing and challenging way, is well known in Catholic media for his regular appearances on the Eternal Word Television Network and a variety of Catholic radio programs.
He also is a New York Times bestselling author who has appeared on Fox News' Geraldo Rivera At Large and Bill O'Reilly's syndicated radio show. Few Catholic speakers have the ability to speak on such a wide range of topics and hold the attention of such diverse kinds of audiences – from teens to religious educators to businessmen. Dr. D’Ambrosio, also known as Dr. Italy, is founder of Crossroads Initiative, a ministry in the forefront of Catholic evangelization.
Franciscan Friars of the Renewal Father Augustino Torres, Father Terry Messer and Brother Maximilian Mary Stelmachowski also are presenters this year. Father Augustino has been part of past Source Summit retreats. He serves as evangelization director for the order, and is Superior of St. Michael’s Friary in the diocese of Paterson, N.J. Father Terry and Brother Max serve at San Juan Diego Friary in Albuquerque, N.M.
Father Claude “Dusty” Burns, pastor of St. Phillip Parish in Posey County and Corpus Christi Parish in Evansville, also will present at 2015 Source Summit. Known across the Catholic and music landscapes as “Father Pontifex,” he has released two albums of Catholic spoken word and hip-hop – “Ordained” and “The Symphony and the Static.”
Source Summit will be held April 10-12 at Mater Dei High School for youth and young adults ages 13 – 24. Cost is $45.
A Source Summit retreat for adults – featuring the same speakers – will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 11 at Resurrection Catholic Church in Evansville. Cost is $20.
For registration information, to volunteer as a team member or to donate, visit www.sourcesummitevansville.org; call Kathy at (812) 490-0289; or email Gail at sourcesummit@evdio.org.
