By Mitch Narvasa
Guest Column
Young adult Catholics shared some of the moving encounters they experienced during last month’s QC Revival on the Mississippi Riverfront in Davenport.
“Before the event started, I was drawn to speak to a gentleman in a wheelchair who was already emotional,” said Zac. “After asking for his name and why he was so worked up, he told me he had been unable to forgive himself for something terrible he did over 20 years ago while deployed in the service.”
“When the Eucharist was exposed, he painfully removed himself from his wheelchair to get onto his knees. Seeing this man, who cannot walk, put in the effort to get on his knees for adoration deeply moved me. Later he got the chance to seek confession with a priest. Afterwards, I asked how the night was for him. He smiled, still a bit emotional, and told me ‘it is hard to be homeless, but even harder to be in a wheelchair. Still, I have started feeling some peace again tonight.’”
Young adults went out to the streets during the revival Sept. 14 to invite people to come light a candle for their intentions before Jesus. “There are so many things on (people’s) hearts, from work to sicknesses in their families,” James said. “We were happy to pray with them.”
Bianca shared how a Seventh Day Adventist came by a prompting of God and stayed the entire night in prayer. Families came as well, intrigued by the lights and the music. After one young adult told a family that the evening was an opportunity to offer up worries, stresses and anxieties to God, the mother turned to her daughter and said, “Hey! You need that!” Together as a family, they lit a candle.
The evening also transformed our team. Jacob shared how he came with doubts and left with confidence in God. A similar movement happened in my own heart. From missing sound equipment to gusty winds and the threat of rain washout, I felt doubt. However, seeing that homeless man from the stage weeping, I heard God whisper in my heart, “Stop worrying. I’ll take it from here.”
Many of the volunteers were not sure what they were getting themselves into but God’s purpose for the event was clear by the end of the night: to go out to the streets and invite all to the banquet of the Lord.
I would like to thank everyone who made this evening possible, especially Sarah Seele for dreaming up the idea, Connor Obert, who assembled the outreach team, Father Rich Adam, the first pastor to show great enthusiasm and support, and Fathers Thom Hennen, Dane Dickinson and Dale Mallory for hearing confessions.
(Mitch Narvasa planned the QC Revival event.)