MISSION TRIP: DAY 6

Today was a great day!

First off, we said goodbye to the SHINE Staff (SHINE is the organization who planned the trip forus to Milwaukee and then re-planned it to Kansas City). We were definitely here for a reason and we could feel the Holy Spirit through all of the changes!

Next we got to spend some time at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, a world class art museum that is home to some of the greatest artists in the Catholic tradition such as Peter Paul Rubens and Caravaggio. They also are blessed to have some Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Monet collections! When I asked a group of our students if they saw any of the above artists’ paintings they, in large part replied, “Oh, we don’t know, we just looked at the paintings we didn’t check to see by whom they were painted.” Sigh... there were some though who appreciated the greatness, and we may have cried a little bit!

After some lunch (many chose to go to Winstead’s, a local favorite, for hamburgers and shakes) we were given more free time to explore Kansas City.

Then we made a pilgrimage to the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help staffed by an order of priests named the Redemptorists. I grew up in a Redemptorists parish in North Minneapolis so it felt a little bit like coming home! It is a beautiful Church, we cannot wait to show you pictures. To top it off the parish was celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (June 27) since she is the patroness of the parish they were granted the permission to celebrate her feast this weekend at their Masses! We were blessed to learn a little bit about and participate in venerating the miraculous image (honoring and seeking her intercession). What a beautiful way to begin the wrap up of this grace filled retreat. 

After Mass we feasted on some Kansas City bar-b-que at Jack Stack, and we mean feasted! It was nice to break bread together after a long and hot week. 

Finally we ended the night in reflection by looking back at the week and praying together for continued blessings and graces as we begin the journey home. We were invited to continue to practice three things: 1) Look Up, to Jesus Christ each and every moment of our lives; 2) Continue to Give, serve others and serve God; and 3) Give Thanks Often, for everything is gift. 

We have been annointed to bring glad tidings, Good News, to every single person we meet... after serving, praying, and growing this week we are coming home with courage to be the young men and women we have been created to be. We know now after these 6 days together that if anybody encounters us or even sees us and fails to see Jesus Christ that it is a great tradgedy. Please help us to remain convicted of this upon our return, we will need the help and we will need the continued graces of the Sacraments to ensure this. We will look to our families to support us and nurture all that has been planted here in our hearts in Kansas City. Those hearts are forever changed, and dare I say have been replaced, in part, with the heart of our redeemer.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us, that we might turn to your intercession when we fail to be immitators of your Son. Pray for us, that we might always look up, always give, and always be thankful. 

Peace,

Zach Rawson