Sometimes it’s hard to live a joyful, Catholic life in an un-Catholic world. That’s when you reach out and bring Catholic Culture to your own little world!
And that’s what we did years ago when we had our first Traditional Family Weekend. Yes, it’s been 15 years, we have had our bumps and made our mistakes but we have seen very good fruit come from these weekends. Couples have met, families have interacted, good times have been had, our souls have been nourished.
Here are some pictures and videos (look for the videos underneath the gallery), of our Family Weekend this year in June. It was very hot but it didn’t stop the young people from playing volleyball outside, doing water balloons and playing soccer!
We were blessed this year to have Fr. VanderPutten with us from Nigeria. We had not seen him for a couple years….last year he spent his vacation in Fatima for the 100th Anniversary of the apparitions. So it was great to have him! He always adds spice to wherever he goes. He brought his Nigerian friend, Edwin Mary Akadu, who stayed with us for the week they were here. We got to know him well and grew to love this holy, African man.
Below is the gallery, click on the first picture to view, then look for the videos underneath the gallery…
-
- Set up for the weekend has begun. Here, Vin and Gin are bringing in one of the three parts of the stage that Vinnie built.
-
- This year we made a special niche for the children. Our good friends, Dale and Natalie, brought their train tracks, etc. and we blocked it off with haybales making a fence of sorts.
-
- All the little people could have fun in their little makeshift playroom.
-
- Waiting in line to practice for the Talent Show.
-
- Two of the ladies in our parish were such a huge help! Natalie and Isabel.
-
- “Hanging out” after the decorating.
-
- Talent Show practice is the night of the decorating.
-
- Our son-in-law, Mike, and Magdalene.
-
- Smiling faces…
-
- Practicing…
-
- Our wonderful sound and light crew….Rob and Cheryl!
-
- 3 sisters…Cecilia, Rebecca and Joan.
-
- Practicing…
-
- I raided our zinnia patch and made 30 bouquets for the tables!
-
- The hall is ready!
-
- Good times…
-
- Chivalrous Mike helps his mom who fell and broke her ankle while visiting here from Maine. She was in a wheelchair.
-
- Son-in-law, Vin with our son, Dominic.
-
- Visiting…
-
- Father VanderPutten tends to give us the evil eye if we snap a picture!
-
- Fr. Kodet
-
- Fr. Flood, Fr. VanderPutten and moi
-
- Gemma, Father Vdp and Margy
-
- Birthday!
-
- Gin and Nathan
-
- Avila is wildly impressed!
-
- Guys chatting…
-
- The weekend is dedicated to Fr. Kenneth Walker, R.I.P.+
-
- Gin and Jeanette have a table to sell their wares.
-
- Games
-
- Parents sit on the edge of the haybale niche
-
- Father talking intensely with Zaelie.
-
- Priests and little people….
-
- A father and five of his boys came to sing for us on Friday night.
-
- Live entertainment!
-
- Grandaughter, Rita
-
- Our coffee nook…
-
- Games to play!
-
- Gin and Sarah
-
- Rob (our sound man) helps Joe set up his video camera.
-
- Joe, the Camera man.
-
- Praying the rosary
-
- Conference
-
- Thomas, a good friend…
-
- Hannah
-
- Father Kodet
-
- Talent Show
-
- Talent Show
-
- The party after the party….
Below are some pictures of the Talent Show. Father Kodet, who has been with us for three years, will be leaving us soon to bless another parish with his winning and fatherly ways! He was always willing to spread the love of Christ to others….and often had his concertina in the back seat of his car to pull out and entertain those around him. Here is a video of Father playing at the Talent Show.
What a pleasure to have these young men perform! The kids loved the vibrant sounds of the fife and drum!
Hannah and Gemma are up to their antics again as they assure people that life is not perfect at the VanderPutten home….hehe
Wow! Skillful drums!! Take a look!
The girls practiced this song with Ernie…a lot. They finally got it down and when they got on stage, Ernie accidentally had the capo on the wrong fret of his guitar. Threw them all off and….well, let’s just say….this is not that video. Blah.
Anyway, this is their practice of the song…
John and Gemma never cease to amaze us with their talents!
Virginia (Gin) and Rosie sing “All I Ask of You” from the Phantom of the Opera
Absolutely wonderful! It is such a joyful ministry that you put on this weekend.
This is so inspiring! I’d love to do something like this in our area.
Looks like a wonderful and blessed weekend!
Looks like it was a lot of fun, fun, fun! 😀 Did Jeanette have her baby that weekend? 🙂 And is she doing well?
Hi!!!! Is this happening in 2019?!