ROME CITY AND A FUTURE PRIEST?

Well I went to Rome City along with my sisters and their families. It was a very special day for me especially meeting Fr. David Link and going to confession to him. He is so kind and compassionate! We all had the opportunity to be prayed over by Patti's Uncle Irvin. We had a wonderful presentation on the Shroud of Turin by Alex who travels all over giving his presentation. I want to write more later and share some pictures but her is what Patti had to share. The Pictures above are of Patti's son.

On June 13, 2009, about 80 people set out for a day of organized talks and tours at Sylvan Springs in Rome City, Indiana. More than half of the group was children. I love telling people about what happened during the days that we go to Rome City, but today I am focusing on what we take with us. Of course I will touch on the days experiences filled with pictures of small miracles as well as testimonies of those present that day, however I also have to focus first on today is the impact that Sylvan Springs has on our family and any family that visits there. On a day to day basis, we as parents develop a "norm" for our kids. Depending on the day to day activities and what our kids see and hear, they will grow up to be adults that have been formed by these things. No wonder there is a shortage of priests! There are no Catholic Wii games, PS2 games or DS games. There are very few tv shows that uphold our Catholic faith and certainly a lesser number of those that promote it. All of these things I think are okay in moderation, but I do not want "Josh and Drake" or "Sponge Bob" to form my children. Yesterday, Michelle and Ken Newcomb, the makers of "The Priest Game" were present in Rome City, bringing along another family and 4 of their 6 kids. They have recognized the dilemma that we as Catholic parents have and have answered the call to provide us with games and activities so that we have options for our kids to choose in lieu of spiritually empty electronic games or tvhttp://www.innsofcourt.org/Content/Default.aspx?Id=3995 shows. So, I gladly handed over a check for "The Priest Game" and spent the 2 hour drive home keeping my curious 5 from opening it! We had a leisurely morning today and around 11:30 my oldest son announced that he wanted to be a priest and asked me to come up to the boys' room where he had "mass" set up. Using the hosts from "The Priest Game" and every Catholic article that he could find, he had made an alter with the old Thomas the Tank Engine play table, set up a lectern with his music stand and had talked his younger brother into being the deacon. He used his mass book to conduct mass and announced that we would be saying the family rosary at 4:00pm. On the way home, all of the kids commented on how much they loved Fr. Link and wished that he would be sent to our church! I can't help but think that our oldest was touched deeply by Fr. David Link and the hour or so that he devoted to being with us in Rome City. What if his decision to be there yesterday was the clincher for Aidan's decision? Now I know that there are years ahead and Aidan may decide to fulfill another vocation with his life, but there is always the chance that he may stick with it. What a wonderful example of how following God's call to be a priest by Fr. Link may have change my son's life forever! The Holy Spirit led Fr. Link to Sylvan Springs yesterday. He also led us. Our family has taken several trips to Rome City now and I now see the impact that it is having on them. They WANT to say the rosary, they WANT to practice the mass, they WANT to learn more about their faith. This is our "norm" now. They are building friendship bonds with other kids that are also there and so are my husband and I. Many of the people that I have asked to go to Rome City have come back and with huge momentum. They come back as families. They come back bringing many of their family members and friends. They come there with the same yearning that we do. The spiritual gravity that exists at Sylvan Springs is phenomenal. I know that every time anyone answers the call of the Holy Spirit to go there, they are blessed abundantly. While at Sylvan Springs, you can feel the peace of Christ, the love of the Father and the warmth of Mary Our Mother. There are many little miracles that happen when you are there, little spiritual boosts, if you will. We have witnessed the miracle of the sun and have had "orbs" of light appear in our pictures. While these little nuggets are not necessary, they serve as a confirmation of our faith that no one can deny. So, I leave you with this thought. Think about the "norm" that you are creating for your family. Think about the eternal implications your "norm" may have on them. Think about how your "norm" can improve and what you can do to change this. Pray about visiting Sylvan Springs. You will be blessed abundantly. God bless you on your faith journey!