First Faith Festival draws a large crowd for Webster County

By Bob Wood, Globe correspondent

FORT DODGE - The first of four Faith Festivals for the 2003-2004 church year drew an amazing crowd for both sessions Sunday, Oct. 26 and Wednesday, Oct. 29 in Fort Dodge. The Webster County Team Parish hosted nearly 900 participants who experienced a community of people in faith.

Children, parents, grandparents, teens, young adults, and singles were treated to a catered meal and then an enlightening period of learning about saints and strengthening of faith. Sunday's festival participants, numbering around 250, met at the Corpus Christi Parish Center in Fort Dodge. The second night, Oct. 29, almost 700 participated in the first ever Faith Festival at St. Edmond High School.

The theme of the All Saints Faith Festival centered on the history and lives of celebrated saints in the Catholic faith. Parents accompanied their children as the hallways of both sites were teaming with people of all ages going from large group to small group gatherings.

Sister Margaret Kruse, who led both Faith Festival sessions, began the evening with all children gathered together and singing. Guitarist Rick Fulker led songs and a skit about how pottery is like a human vessel. St. Edmond art teacher, Barb Lilly, and other volunteers demonstrated the making of pottery as their group acted out the "vessel of life." This was a rousing introduction to the festival's theme as parents and people of all ages joined in the joyous celebration of the saints with song as all sang Oh When the Saints Come Marching In!

Then parents accompanied their children to small group sessions, and other age groups gathered to learn more about the saints. The 40-plus age group was so large at the Wednesday night Faith Festival session that a new place had to be set-up for their small group gathering. Even with the number of parents who accompanied their elementary children to their session, all small group gatherings were well attended.

While children learned music and how to make musical instruments used by some saints, others were treated to a quiz on the lives of various saints. The 40-plus group saw a video on the life of Mary Copeland, the founder of Mary's Place in the Twin Cities. The facilitators used Copeland's life as example of "saints living among us today." Copeland's life was also used as an example of what it means to be a saint in today's world. Though not a saint yet, Copeland's example as an advocate for the hungry, poor and homeless, was received as a great inspiration of what faith can do for so many people in need. Home kits for family and individual study were handed out to participants at the end of the smaller group gatherings

Webster County Team Parish volunteers helped serve the meals and gather a free will offering for the food. At the end of the festival more church members were asked to volunteer and help facilitate the second of four Faith Festivals in late November. The next Faith Festival theme will be Advent.

The enthusiasm shown by volunteers and the large number of participants provided team parish members with a celebratory atmosphere and great promise for the future Faith Festivals of Advent, Lent and Pentecost. The mood was upbeat and the lessons were fun and well learned by all. The first Faith Festival for Webster County was a unique educational experience and a successful faith sharing event.

The final chapter of the first Faith Festival was played out in the Webster County Team Parishes this last Sunday as kids, dressed as their favorite saints and carrying homemade instruments, led the processional and recessional at church services. The young "saints" also brought food for the needy as part of the monthly food drive and brought them to the front of the churches with the gifts.