YFC Western Canada: Armed and Ready for the True North
This year, Canada was blessed with two victorious conferences, an Eastern and a Western conference.
On July 29th- 31st, over 500 young people attended the CFC YFC Western Conference held at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. During this weekend, attendees were armed with the tools to fulfill the calling embodied in this year’s theme, True North: Armed and Ready. The conference verse, Ephesians 6: 10-18, shows how we are equipped to become better Christians.
The Archdiocese of Edmonton was very welcoming and made the celebration of the Eucharist, the greatest victory, possible for each day of conference.
The gospel reading from John on day 1 was about Lazarus being given life and Martha accepting that Jesus is Lord. This led to a session about God helping extend the YFC mission from sea to sea. Each cluster had spiritual battles and got lost, but found the way back to the true north, Jesus Christ. Each person is called to be a compass pointing others to the true north.
Big Sky Region, YFC Winnipeg during Praise Parade (Photo by Ron Siy)
Never failing to amaze, brothers and sisters glorified God through poetry slam, original songs, show choirs, and even through dancing and rapping during the Coordinators’ Got Talent!
Day 2 started with mass and the gospel reading from Matthew about John the Baptist who demonstrates standing firm in faith though what God may be calling us to believe may be unclear.
Attendees were entertained by the brothers and sisters sharing their talents in band and dance competitions. Sports and fun competitions started soon after. At the Awake Fair, there were so much information on the different YFC clusters, Legion of Mary, Pro-life services, and other Catholic-based organizations.
Pacific Region, YFC Surrey, East Cluster during Junior Dance Competition (Photo by Francis and Marianne Colcol)
A collective workshop highlighted the importance of sacraments.
“Sacrament is a visible sign of invisible grace….Sacrament is the most profound source of grace.” – Father Jim Corrigan
Participants separated into three different workshops on mission, vocations, or blood donation.
Several creatives preceded each session for Day 2. One of the creatives clearly identified the target, Satan, and portrayed battlegrounds in life. The armour of God becomes useful in these battlegrounds.
Eucharistic celebration was celebrated by Archbishop Richard Smith on day 3. The multiplication of loaves and fish from the gospel of Matthew was really hopeful. If we give ourselves to God, what we have will be multiplied so that we will be able to serve others well.
Finally, the humorous FTPW Angelo Saludo gave a fruitful session calling each YFC to accept, believe, and have courage and confidence.
For each battle, God provides the armour and we become victorious. YFC Winnipeg brought 55 more YFCs to conference this year than last year! YFC Regina and YFC Kamloops came to conference FOR THE FIRST TIME! Praise God! There are much more victories in addition to those! We ARE victorious!
True North! Armed and ready! With that, may God be honoured and glorified.
This article was written by Tanya Uy, YFC Web correspondent in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.