United!
We are united in faith, in hope and in love!!!
As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, the theme for FEST 2025 is UNITED. For the past 24 years, after each and every FEST the overwhelming comment is how much people appreciate coming together…standing together…being united together as the Family of God.
Join us on Sunday, August 3 as we are united together in faith, hope and in the love of God at The FEST.
Memories!
We invite you to remember and reflect on the FEST themes over the years. As you read and reflect on the themes/messages of the years gone by, feel free to leave your favorite reflection, thought, and memory using the form below.
Jesus is the Best – He’s the Reason for the FEST
As God, He is the reason for every liturgical season, for every feast we celebrate. He turns our purpose-driven life into a mission-accomplished life. Bringing hope to our bleak and bustling lives, He gives fullness of life. He is the cornerstone of Christian life.
I Want to be Holy, Just like You
This is primarily a personal call to holiness. Certainly, we can never become as holy as God, but with that goal in our life, we could gradually, step-by-step make progress. Instead of a discouraging attitude – ‘I can’t’ – it is valuable to make a genuine and inspiring effort – each in her or his own way – on the path of holiness.
Saints… Yesterday…Today…Forever
Out of the hundreds of billions of Catholics that have lived, just over ten-thousand saints have been canonized. You and I can be one of them if we genuinely try towards virtuous flourishing of the soul. Even if we are not declared saints, just like Nelson Mandela, we can live an upright life.
Expect a Miracle
It is realistic to expect miracles. Once you start looking for them, you find more. Large or small, they occur all the time in the lives of everyday people. They happen in many forms and in many ways when we least expect them. The smile of a little child, a blossoming flower, a hug from a loved one, the bright sunshine, and the fact that we get up every morning are a few miracles all around us. Look for and expect a miracle!
Believe
Belief is nothing but getting in total agreement with God. There is incredible strength in believing; breakthroughs will be plenty. It can supersede any natural law or medical report. By believing, your today will be better than your yesterday and your tomorrow better than today. Believing gives strength when we are weak, healing when we are sick, and restoration when we have lost something.
Signs of Hope
Due to the global lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, only hope promises the world to resolve the challenges and overcome the outbreak. Amidst all this, there are signs of hope: the courage of people working on the front line, the heroism of key health workers, the kindness of volunteers helping the vulnerable, the hard work by police, the perseverance of those putting on the FEST, and many more. These are great signs of hope that unite us to overcome difficulties.
One
Teilhard de Chardin has the most telling and profound way of describing humanity and the universe. We recreate one another through love. God is one but has many faces. Humanity is one but has many nations. Truth is one but has many paths. Human heart is one but has many complexions. There is one light but has many reflections. We are all one.
Forever
Christian life is a warfare – the glad tiding is that our struggles will not last long. All the worldly titles, possessions, and human realities are fragile; they will wither like grass and fade away like flowers. This reminds us of human impermanency. Kingdoms have fallen, empires have vanished, presidents have died but God is unchanging.
Love Life
Life is ultimately a gift from God. God has control over life. Our desire to make our life better needs to be in accordance with the plan of God. Healing and justice are to be fully considered when one intends to go for palliative care, physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia. Trying to control our life under any circumstances and quickly making judgments about life is not fair. Whatever imperfections our life holds, we ought to still love it and cherish it.
Lead Me Home
The question “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” seems to be far from the concerns of many people today. Yet, the concept of “eternal life” returns at painful moments of the pandemic in our world or when we experience some personal loss. Jesus illustrates it as an exciting possibility of unending happiness, a definitive future that gives full meaning to human existence.
Hearts on Fire
The three very eloquent images: “rooted,” “built up,” and “established” indicate construction of a house. Grammatically, all three terms are in the passive voice indicating that Christ Himself is the one who takes active initiative. Firmly planted roots enable the tree to stand upright. Obviously, our families, educational institutions and the Church give us rooted personal identity and light our hearts on fire for God.
Joy to the World
A particular understanding of ‘Joy to the World’ is ‘cure to the world.’ In a world of sorrow and anxiety, one experiences tremendous joy after every healing. Jesus offers joy in abundance. In Him, we experience immense joy, communion, healing, friendship and transformation. Joy is at the heart of our encounter with Him.
Strength in Numbers
The largeness of the numbers matter. Numbers are very significant in the Bible. Accompanied by the Holy Spirit, the exhortation of the apostles bore much fruit. 3000 believers were added to the 125 disciples of Christ. Ever since, the numbers are being added to faith community across nations and cultures. We are strong, together.
Chosen
A day after He spoke these words, Jesus died on the cross. Although Jesus initially chose them, it was also a reciprocal response of the disciples. Jesus assures his full responsibility and encouragement. He promises to help them constantly, enabling them to bear fruit. His choice was resurrecting, recreating, and life-giving.
Together
The Hebrew article gam, means unity, better expressed altogether. The common idiom, gam shenayîm, refers to “all two” (i.e., both), the French tous deux, and the German alle beide, render togetherness. The purpose of this allusion is to express togetherness in Jerusalem. This uniquely pleases God and constantly delights those who practice it. There is consistent welfare, happiness, strength and security. The beauty of the brotherly concord is a blessing.
Everything
“Totus tuus” (all yours) is the most perfect of all devotions because it unites, conforms, consecrates, and unites. It is not quarter or half of our heart but everything like the disciples who “left everything” and followed Jesus (Luke 5:11). Mary’s immense charity when she expressed “fiat” (yes). Pope John Paul II’s apostolic motto was Totus Tuus (completely yours).
A Full Life
A full life signifies a dynamic spirit: the vital charismatic attitude of a leader. The Greek word Jesus uses is perissón, meaning “superabundant,” “overflowing,” “superfluous,” “over and above a certain quantity.” It is an animated life full of vigor, fun and enthusiasm. It is uplifting, awakening and stimulating. The abundance of life is physical, spiritual and eternal. One who has it gets going with confidence, feels happier and stays calm. Christian life is an exciting full life.
Be the Light
“Transformed by this love, we gain fresh vision, new eyes to see; we realize that it contains a great promise of fulfilment, and that a vision of the future opens up before us. Faith, received from God as a supernatural gift, becomes a light for our way, guiding our journey through time.” (Pope Francis, Encyclical Letter Lumen Fidei, 2013).
Generations of Faith and Family
“This is a strength in young people, a strength that all of you possess. It is a strength that can change the world. It is a revolution that can overturn the powerful forces at work in our world. It is the “revolution” of service.” (Pope Francis, 34th World Youth Day, Panama, 2019).
Glorious
The phrase “the glory of his grace” is distinctive because it refers to God’s grace, which is unmerited favor, and His glorious grace, which is uniquely wonderful and exceptional. It is regularly revealed through brilliant light and His saving actions. His glory is manifested us. We ought to make every effort possible to keep God’s name high and glorious.
Take Courage
At times, life challenges us. We lean into the Lord – into His strength. We take courage. It is a reminder that God is with us on the journey and as we walk with the Lord and each other, we will find the strength and hope we need to walk into a bright and hopeful future.
Homecoming – Take HOPE Home
Take HOPE Home. Christ is the LIGHT stronger than the darkness. He is the LOVE that rolled away the stone. His MERCY is greater than our sin, struggle and challenge. Christ is the HOPE that does not disappoint.
More than ever, we need to take HOPE home. The Great Commandment calls us to “Love God and Love our Neighbor.” Neighbors are more than just those we live next to, or those we ‘get along with.’ We need to allow God to stretch our mind and heart to understand that we are called to love one another in the same way Christ loves, accepts and forgives each of us. This is the path to building a better community, country and world. This is the source of our HOPE. This is the way to Christ and the HOPE that we, together, can build a better world for all.
ARISE
“Jesus took Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light…and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.”
The FEST is a moment where we, together, climb the holy mountain to spend time with the Lord. Jesus calls us out each of us to “Rise, and do not be afraid.”
Our FEST theme, ARISE, is to give us the hope and promise that Jesus is with us on our journey. As we climb God’s holy mountain, it is the Lord who wants to lift us up to a fullness of life in Christ.
Instruments of Peace
As we enter into the Lenten season and prepare for Easter, we are going to hear in scriptures over and again to return to God. To seek God. To find ways to be merciful and forgiving. To seek peace. The theme for FEST 2024 is “Instruments of Peace”.
We live in a very difficult world. We can be faced by confusing times. We have to work every day for peace. We have to seek the peace, that is Jesus Christ. We do that by forgiving, by returning to the Lord, by prayer and fasting and taking care of our brothers and sisters in need.
Together we will be building God’s kingdom…as instruments of peace!
United!
In Faith. In Hope. In Love.
As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, the theme for FEST 2025 is UNITED. We are united in faith, in hope and in love!!! For the past 24 years, after each and every FEST the overwhelming comment is how much people appreciate coming together…standing together…being united together as the Family of God. Join us on Sunday, August 3 as we are united together in faith, hope and in the love of God at The FEST.
FEST Themes through the Years
2000: Home from Rome
2001: Jesus is the Best, He’s the Reason for the FEST
2002: I want to be Holy, Just Like You
2003: Saints…Yesterday…Today…Forever
2004: Expect a Miracle
2005: Believe
2006: Signs of Hope
2007: One
2008: Forever
2009: Love Life
2010: Lead Me Home
2011: Hearts on Fire
2012: Joy to the World
2013: Strength in Numbers
2014: Chosen
2015: Together
2016: Everything
2017: A Full Life
2018: Be the Light
2019: Generations of Faith and Family
2020: Glorious / The FEST @Home
2021: Take Courage
2022: Homecoming – Take HOPE Home
2023: ARISE
2024: Instruments of Peace
2025: UNITED
