Jesse Manibusan — lay Catholic evangelizer, singer, songwriter and storyteller — will be in the St. Cloud Diocese Oct. 26-29.
“Jesus is the mission, and the mission has a church!” Manibusan said of his message. He will present to three different groups: youth, young adults and religious education leaders.
“We are the church,” Manibusan said. “We are not a building. We are not a history lesson nor a canon of sacred texts. We are a people of God: beloved, blessed, highly favored and full of grace. The only difference between the early church and the church today is we are taking our turn.
“My work is to encourage and invite the people of God with joyful participation and service, through singing, prayer and proclamation,” he said.
He will be featured at four events:
- At “An Evening with Jesse Manibusan,” he will offer a keynote and prayer for the Diocesan Middle School Gathering on Friday, Oct. 26.
The evening, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church, 219 2nd St. N., Sartell, features supper, games, music, prayer and fun. The suggested donation is $5 per person or $50 per parish. - Manibusan will keynote and present sessions at “Hold Onto Love,” the first St. Cloud Diocesan Senior High Youth Conference at Young Life Camp near Detroit Lakes.
The conference, for youth in grades 9 through 12, runs from 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, to 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, and includes workshops, reconciliation, adoration, recreation, music, food and fun. Bishop Donald Kettler will celebrate Mass at the end of the conference. The fee is $75 per person; after Oct. 22, it will be $90. - On Sunday, Oct. 28, from 3:45 to 8:30 p.m., young adults (ages 18-30) will come together at St. Mary Church in Alexandria for “Called to Belong.”
Participants will celebrate Mass and have a meal with Bishop Kettler, pray and engage in small group discussions. Manibusan will offer a keynote and interactive sessions. A suggested $15 per person free will offering will be accepted at the door. - Finally, Manibusan will present “Ministry and the Power of Music” for those involved in faith formation and youth ministry on Monday, Oct. 29, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 2875 10th Ave. NE in Sauk Rapids. The day will feature discussion about best practices regarding music in the multifaceted world of ministry and simple, common sense ideas and techniques.
For more information about each event, or to register online, visit http://cem.stcdio.org; find “Upcoming Events” and click on “View All Events.” Contact Kent at kschmitz@gw.stcdio.org, or call Catholic Education Ministries at 320-251-0111, ext. 4.