Festival looks at holidays' significance

Activity centers explored various aspects of prayer, almsgiving and fasting.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
HUBBARD -- The Generations of Faith Festival explores the biblical, spiritual and liturgical significance of religious holidays and observances.
Re-enactments and engaging activities prompt conversations and exchanges of ideas of a religious nature for children and adults. Resources in a home kit serve as a practical reinforcement.
About 280 people attended a Lessons of Lent program Tuesday at St. Patrick Church, 225 N. Main St. Another 250 attended the same program Feb. 19.
"We're highlighting liturgical events such as All Saints [Day], preparation for Ash Wednesday and Lent and Pentecost," said Karen Bartos, coordinator of religious education at St. Patrick. "Other ideas might be sacraments or social justice."
Bartos said she attended a workshop in last July at St. Columba Cathedral, Youngstown, on the Generations of Faith project spearheaded by the Center for Ministry Development in Naugatuck, Conn. The program is being implemented in churches throughout the United States and Canada, she said.
"The project promotes understanding, interpretation and knowledge of religious events," she said. "It's a good experience for everyone ... there's a nice blend of people. We have a large church, and this is a way for people to come together."
Hands-on activities
The Generations of Faith project provides hands-on participation. Some people may think of Lent simply as a time to give up something -- being reactive to the season. This program addressed positive and uplifting activities that are pro-active. That's where the activity centers came in.
For the Lessons of Lent on Tuesday, centers focused on these elements:
Prayer. The prayer activity center prompted participants to think about what prayer is. The "five-finger" approach helped children zero in on who they might pray for. The thumb signifies family and loved ones; the index finger, teachers, instructors and healers; the longest finger, leaders; the fourth finger (ring finger), the weakest among us; and the little finger (pinkie), who we are in relation to God.
Pauline Nagy, a St. Patrick parishioner for 30 years, led the prayer segment. She said there are four kinds of prayer and people can remember them by the acronym ACTS. There are prayers for adoration, contrition, thanksgiving and supplication.
She said that children may have the traditional "God bless" prayer at bedtime and the table prayer at mealtime. "But it doesn't have to be asking a blessing for food. We can talk about what we're thankful for ... having a good day, doing well on a test at school," she said.
Fasting. "It's not so much about making sacrifices in our lives but as a way to grow in our personal lives," Bartos said. "There are good things to feast upon while you fast ... like prayer, kindness service and charity to others."
Sisters Debbie Cooper and Terri Lopuchovsky, parishioners and Confraternity of Christine Doctrine teachers, presented the segment on fasting. They asked participants what words were associated with fasting and responses included "giving up, hunger, without food, not eating, no Ho-Hos and commitment."
They noted that fasting is "a prayerful gesture that shows us how much we need God" and fasting is not "a way to earn God's mercy. They led a game in which participants held up cards that indicated whether to "fast" or "not fast" from a certain activity. Some examples were: fighting, fast; cookies, fast; and Mass, not fast.
Almsgiving. Highlighted was Operation Rice Bowl, a project of Catholic Relief Services. The project collects money to feed people, and the almsgiving makes a real difference in their lives. Parishioner Chris Trinckes dressed as a coffee farmer from Nicaragua, talked about her life and struggles and help from Operation Rice Bowl.
Almsgiving leaders were Mary Ann Augustyn and Barb Carbone. They mentioned the importance of "putting faith into action" by helping those not as fortunate.
Bartos said a home kit that families received will reinforce the lessons and ideas of the program. The kit contained information on Operation Rice Bowl, prayer guide, lessons of Sunday Gospels and Lenten customs.
What participants said
"It's a nice family gathering," said 12-year-old Brendan Burdette, who was with his parents, Molly and Jamie Burdette of Hubbard and siblings, Katie, 10; Colin, 7; and Bridget, 5.
"It benefits us to learn as a family," Mrs. Burdette said, and her husband added, "It's a way of passing on our faith to our children."
"The experience is a good way to share our faith," said Tony Pesce of Hubbard, who attended with his wife, Lisa, and children, Anthony, 12; Gianna, 9; and Salvatore, 6.
Paula Romano of Hubbard participated with her husband, Tim, and children, Miranda, 9, and Sabrina, 5. "I'm not sure they understood what fasting is, but this helps explain [it]," she said.
Sandy Kerr of Hubbard, who teaches CCD, attended with her family. "The prayer finger idea is something easy to remember," she said.
Pam Byce of Liberty, whose son, Nicholas, 10, attends CCD classes at St. Patrick, said, "It gave a new perspective on prayer and reflection," she said. The activities, she said, not only imparted the importance of values but focused on the significance of respecting and helping others.
The event began with a dinner and a live re-enactment of Jesus' temptation in the desert, taken from Mark 1:12-15.
"It takes about two months of preparation and from 50-60 people to do this," Bartos said. "It's demanding but people have been open to it."
She noted that parishioners pitched in at the dinner, as actors and leaders at the activity centers. A festival in October focused on saints and an upcoming festival in May will deal with Pentecost.
linonis@vindy.com