Most kids who go to Spirit Day get there by bus, but not Nguavase (Avase) Tsevende, who travelled all the way from Kenora, Ont., with her mother, Natasha, to take part in the annual conference.
Nguavase was born in Vancouver, but her family moved to her mom’s hometown of Kenora in 2016. It’s a small town of only 15,000 people, with the closest city being Winnipeg. It’s not exactly the middle of nowhere, but it’s close.
“Other than a Bible camp, there isn’t a large group of kids practising [their faith] in our town,” said Natasha. “I was excited to have my daughter be a part of [Spirit Day] and see that there are lots of young people who are active in their faith.”
She reached out to the organizers to see if they could attend. Then she said a prayer and managed to buy cheap plane tickets.
Apex Ministries, one of the annual headliners for the conference, was a major selling point for Natasha. Having worked in youth ministry herself, she hoped Apex’s approach would resonate with her daughter—and she was right.
“I think that she was really inspired by it,” said Natasha. When they returned home, Avase “immediately started to find the music and sing the songs. She was able to connect with the messaging that Apex had and loved how fun it was.”
Another highlight was the sense of community. None of their Vancouver friends attended the second day of the conference, but that didn’t matter. Students from Blessed Sacrament Elementary in Vancouver welcomed them warmly, especially after learning Avase, like them, was enrolled in a French immersion school.
The whole trip was a whirlwind—they arrived on Friday and flew out Sunday—but Natasha said, “It was an adventure; it was totally worth it.”
Reflecting on the importance of choosing saints for their upcoming confirmations, Archbishop J. Michael Miller told the 1,700 Grade 7 with some heavenly advice. “The saints are urging you on by their prayers and by the example they have left us.”
The annual event took place at Chandos Pattison Auditorium in Surrey on Nov. 16 and 17. Supported by more than 100 volunteers from across the Archdiocese of Vancouver, the event took place on two separate days to accommodate the large numbers.
The Archbishop pointed to the parallels with Pentecost for Jesus’ disciples. “Confirmation will be for you, dear young people, what that first Pentecost was: the descent of the Holy Spirit on Mary and the disciples.”
Through prayer, the imposition of hands, and anointing with chrism oil by the Archbishop, “you will receive an abundance of the gifts of the Spirit – that Spirit you first received at your baptism,” he said.
“Dear young people: your presence here, together with so many parents, catechists, teachers, and volunteers who love and support you, is a real cause of hope for me and for the Church here in Vancouver,” said the Archbishop.
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