Memphis Hosts Friarfest Youth Retreat

 

More than 425 teenagers from over 30 parishes jammed a Memphis parish school gymnasium for the Sixth Annual Friarfest, held on Divine Mercy Sunday weekend, just after Easter. Friarfest is a three-day, Eucharistic-centered retreat for junior high and high school students, organized by the Memphis Region.

 

The gym was converted to a chapel for the weekend, with a consecrated Host in a monstrance  atop a burning bush of candles, serving as the focal point of the weekend. Offering daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, rosary recital, conferences, and a healing service, the retreat was aimed at deepening deepen each student's relationship with Christ in a fun but Christ-centered setting.

 

Memphis region Members took charge of planning, registration, food serving and cleanup, as well as full funding so as to provide for free admission to all retreatants. Several Members also took part in leading retreat conferences and small groups.

 

This year, as in the past, the Memphis region invited the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, a community that specializes in evangelization, to lead the retreat. The theme this year was the Mercy of God. All participants are provided t-shirts displaying the Maltese Cross.

 

Below is a link to a four-minute professional video taken at this past Friarfest.

https://youtu.be/7vdJIFfGsKg