Students took away joy, hope and sense of belonging at Kenora Catholic's first Youth Rally Event hosted on October 26th and 27th. International entertainer, storyteller, musician and evangelizer, Jesse Manibusan was brought in to lead the Youth Rally events and talked about the theme. "The main theme, which is a Catholic core teaching, is all are welcome, all belong. God's house is holy because all are welcome but they are welcome because all belong. It's a radical theme that requires a mustard-sized seed of faith."
Over the two-day celebration, Jesse Manibusan entertained and delighted groups of students from across the board. Jesse inspired students through humour, multimedia, singing, storytelling and songs instilling that it's cool, it's great and it's important to be a community of faith where everybody belongs.
Some of the students talked about their experience.
"Jesse was really good," says Kylie Camire, Grade 6 student from Pope John Paul II School. "I loved when we all sang together. It brought me joy to sing together. I am going to bring hope forward with me today."
"I enjoyed the singing," says Jack Reimer Grade 6 student from St. Louis school. "The memory that I will take away from this experience is that no matter what you do or where you are, you always belong."
"The whole event is uplifting. The songs were uplifting," says Ty Wolke, Grade 6 student from Pope John Paul II School. "I will take joy with me from this event."
Manibusan said it was a great experience to perform for the students at the Kenora Catholic District School Board.
"The kids were fun, energetic, and just willing to jump all in. This goes with all age groups, that you aren't going to get everyone to jump all in, but a significant amount of students and teachers were participating and that is always rewarding. To know you have a group receptive and open to receiving and trying new things that is always invigorating and exciting."
Religious Education and Family Life Coordinator, Mariette Martineau talks about what message she wanted students to take away from the experience. "I want kids to believe that faith is important, that it matters, that it can make a difference in their lives. That their wholeness, health, their wellbeing can be better with faith and a relationship with god.
Manibusan also provided a public concert at St. Thomas Aquinas High School for the community on October 26th as part of the Youth Rally event. The proceeds from the concert were donated to the Saakaate House Woman's Shelter.
This short video shows just how much fun the students had with Jesse: