It is that time of year again for our annual God squad men's conference. This year we have chosen the theme The Power of Redemption: Our Father’s Love, the Ultimate Reality. Redemption is something that many of us struggle with saying that we don't deserve to be forgiven for what we have done. This goes for both young and old. Our kids don't think that mom and dad will ever forgive them for something that they've done wrong. Many of us can’t fathom how God, Our Heavenly Father, can forgive us for the things we have done.  Love overcomes all.  Then there is the other group who have bought into the philosophy that it doesn't matter what you have done, there is no need to ask for forgiveness saying, “ I'm basically a good person; everybody goes to heaven”. For the first group please know that God's loving mercy does not seem to have an end. It does not matter how far gone you think you are or what you've done. If you returned to him it would be like the parable of the prodigal son whose father is waiting at the end of the road. He is all too quick to come running when he sees us on our path back. To the second group, hopefully they wake up before descending, as the prodigal son did, to the point where he was in envy of what the pigs had to eat (Luke 15:11-32). God has so much better of a life plan for you but sin must be recognized, repentance experienced with true contrition and sorrow for that sin must be felt before forgiveness can happen.

It is interesting how many of us see some of our mistakes as un-repairable, and this is passed on to our young people who think there is no way back, whether it be from sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll.  With no hope how is one supposed to move forward? How is one supposed to share hope with the young people that tomorrow is going to be a better day? How much of our guilt do we pass on to our children? When they come to us after making a mistake, are we firm but fair, do we balance justice and mercy? Many of us have no problem seeing the faults with our spouses, with our children, and with our coworkers. Do these people know that they will be able to repair the relationship with us? Are they able to see the love that is behind the discipline or concern for the direction that they're going in?

This year we are blessed to have speakers that exemplify this redemptive love of God the father.   Joseph Pearce was a radical young man who was brought into a hate filled organization called the National Front.  He was opposed to the integration of different races into his home country of England. He became an active writer espousing these hateful views in this group's publications.  He was extremely anti-Catholic, going as far as opposing Pope John Paul II visiting England. It was through reading the literary giants like GK Chesterton, CS Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and Oscar Wilde that this young man's eyes were opened to understanding that there was a loving God who would welcome him and forget his past transgressions. In 1989 he joined the Catholic Church and has since been a prolific writer and speaker who currently holds a position at Ave Maria University as a writer in residence.

We are also blessed to have Sean Dalton who brings his experience of past struggles of growing up with an alcoholic family. He talks about the healing and redemption that he found through Christ Jesus. He will share his college football experience, his power weightlifting plus the work that is done with FOCUS.

Police Chief Rick Hanson will also join us this year to share how we can make a difference in our society by looking out for those that are less fortunate and doing our part to create a peaceful and safe society for our children. He will do this by challenging us to be the men God has called us to be as role models for our families and neighbours.

Please join us at St. Albert the Great Parish on March 18 and 19th as we come together for our 14th annual conference. I look forward to this conference every year to see all of you but more so to see the new people that you bring with you and the people we draw. It is exciting to see how this experience is able to touch the lives of these men and improving relationships with their families.  As I told a bunch of young men recently, it doesn't matter how many show up, it matters how many are willing to make the difference!  A lot of the great things that we've seen within the church are due to one or two individuals who are or who will be saints in the future.  Please attend and bring a friend, family member or a co-worker to see that power of redemption which is most evident in the sacrament of reconciliation. Father Myles has supplied his brother priests to assist in the sacrament for years and we continue to be thankful for the work that the priests do for us.

In all you do, remember the end of your life, and then you will never sin. (Sir 7-36)

Keeping the Faith
Sean Lynn