Graymoor Youth Day July 11, 2015

GARRISON, N.Y. - May 19, 2015 - PRLog -- The Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement invite all Catholic young men and women ages 16-29 to attend this summer’s Graymoor Youth Day on Saturday, July 11, 2015.  This day of pilgrimage, prayer and service is to celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life.

The theme of the day is to ask “What is God Calling Me to Do?”  Young adults will have the opportunity to learn how others have listened to God’s call and to see where they are in their own faith journey as young adults. Father Brian Terry, SA, Minister General of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement explains, “During this Year of Consecrated Life we wanted to help young people look at their lives and the lives of others to help them hear God’s call to wake up the world.  We also want to invite these young people to see Graymoor, with its history and tradition of pilgrimage, and to become acquainted with Atonement Society Founders Father Paul Wattson, Servant of God, and Mother Lurana White and their own calls to spread the gospel.”

The day will begin at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of the Atonement Retreat House located on the Sisters’ property at Graymoor, 41 Old Highland Turnpike, Garrison, NY 10524.  Young adults will have the chance to visit the various heritage sites at Graymoor, enjoy fellowship and service with others, and share lunch with the Friars and Sisters. An outdoor Mass will be celebrated at St. Anthony’s Shrine (weather permitting) and a time will be set aside for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Music will be provided by the popular Full Armor Band during the day.

Proceeds from the day will benefit St. Bridget’s School in Nairobi, Kenya, which provides education, healthcare and food to the community. Reservations in advance are necessary, and the deadline to register is July 1. The event costs $15 per person if registered by June 15 and $20 after this date. For an additional $5 at the time of registration, the Society of the Atonement can provide round-trip ground transportation from the Garrison Metro-North train station to Graymoor.

During the Year of Consecrated Life Pope Francis reminds us about the importance of service to evangelization. “To serve the poor, we are also conducting a food drive that day for the homeless at Graymoor,” said Fr. Terry. “We are asking each youth group, parish or ministry to conduct a food drive locally, and we will collect their donations of non-perishable canned or packaged items, such as rice, pasta, soup, vegetables (no glass jars please). Individuals are welcome to bring an item from home to feed the hungry.”

Contact the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center if you wish to arrange for a group to attend at (845) 424-2111. If you have any questions, email GSLC@atonementfriars.org.  Register online at AtonementFriars.org/YouthDay.

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The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are a Roman Catholic order of brothers and priests founded in 1898 by Fr. Paul Wattson, S.A., Servant of God, at Graymoor in Garrison.  Since that time, the Friars have worked for reconciliation and healing through “at-one-ment” — the unity of men and women with God and with one another —  so that the prayer of Jesus “that they all may be one” might be fulfilled.  Through their mission and ministries, they serve people of every race, religion, and walk of life. Their social ministries help the poor, the needy, and the homeless; people living with HIV; frail and elderly in hospitals and hospices; those in prison; and people seeking recovery from alcoholism and chemical addictions.  They are part of the international movement to heal divisions within Christianity. The Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement are engaged in diverse ministries on behalf of Christian unity and mission throughout the world. Today, throughout their missions in the United States, Canada, Italy, Japan, the Philippines and Brazil, the Sisters remain faithful to the ecumenical and vision of their foundress, Mother Lurana White, SA, who wanted her Sisters “to have many foundations, small and poor, but rich in charity toward God, one another and the souls of men.” For more information about the friars, visit AtonementFriars.org. To learn more about the sisters, visit Graymoor.org