ANACORTES – The Faith on Fire Catholic Family Weekend at St. Mary Parish Aug. 11-13 will be a “joyful, spiritually transformative celebration of Catholic fellowship, family, prayer and vocations,” organizers say.

“We set the stage, and then the Holy Spirit shows up,” said Miranda Blake, a Faith on Fire leadership team member and St. Mary parishioner.

This year’s Faith on Fire, held on the campus of the Anacortes parish, is billed as a conference for everyone. The event draws between 250 and 400 attendees, from “young ones to grandparents,” Blake said. Participants come from around the Archdiocese of Seattle, as well as Oregon, Eastern Washington and Canada.

“Your joy and spirit is truly a blessing to see and revives our spirits!!” Adelaide Goldberg of Canada wrote on the Faith on Fire Facebook page in 2019, after her family’s fourth year attending the summer event.

Faith on Fire started as part of St. Mary’s centennial celebration in 2010, and the encouragement of attendees and faithful volunteers have kept the momentum rolling, Blake explained.

“It began feeding the people at our parish and surrounding parishes, and people were willing to share in that work,” she said.

Even during the pandemic, the group hosted a one-day, online spiritual renewal called Sparks of Faith.

“Over the years, the planning team was made up of people who saw their own faith (or that of family members) greatly impacted by the speakers they heard, the community of participants, and the atmosphere of the space,” said Heather Leahy-Mack, a former St. Mary parishioner who was involved in planning and coordinating the event in the early years.

Leahy-Mack, her husband and their six children moved out of state more than a year ago, but “the impact of Faith on Fire came with us,” she said.

Mass is celebrated under a tent during the Faith on Fire Family Catholic Weekend at St. Mary Parish in Anacortes. (Courtesy Miranda Blake)

‘Living for God’

“Living for God” is the theme of this year’s event, which kicks off Friday evening with the Finkbonner family from Ferndale.

The Finkbonners will share their faith journey as their family, friends and many others prayed for the intercession of then-Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha when their young son, Jake, was suddenly struck with a flesh-eating disease. The healing of Jake, who is half Lummi Indian, was the second miracle needed for the canonization of Kateri, the first Native American saint.

Their presentation will be followed by a candlelit Eucharist procession, the singing of the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the start of a 24-hour adoration.

Friday night’s presentation by the Finkbonners is open to the public, giving people an opportunity to “taste” Faith on Fire and hopefully encouraging them to return Saturday and register for the rest of the weekend’s activities, Blake said. The registration fee ranges from $30 for a college student to $200 for a family with four or more children. Scholarships are available and participants can save on registration by volunteering.

Saturday includes workshops, small group discussions and special activity lineups for teens, tweens and children.

Speakers will include Sarah Swafford, founder of Emotional Virtue Ministries, who will present two sessions — “Emotional Virtue for a Drama-Free Life” and “How Heroic Virtue Can Change Your Life.” Also scheduled to speak are:

  • Father Justin Ryan, the archdiocese’s vocations director, and Father Tyler Johnson, associate vocations director;
  • Margi Conant of Catholic Community Services;
  • Brothers of the Merciful Jesus Father Julian Gonzalez, a former St. Mary parishioner;
  • Sister Moira Debona of the Sisters of Mercy on Shaw Island.

Daniel Oberreuter of Portland-based band The Thirsting will perform praise and worship music. Organizers have factored in break time to explore the parish grounds (which include an outdoor rosary path), enjoy lawn games or view the extensive artwork throughout St. Mary Church.

Saturday’s Mass with Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo will be followed by dinner and a healing service that Blake said will be “pretty incredible.” Faith on Fire wraps up Sunday with breakfast, recitation of the rosary, reconciliation and a closing Mass.

For those wanting to save the cost of a hotel or commuting, St. Mary offers dry camping for RVs, trailers and tents on its campus (restrooms and showers are available). Campers are asked to register in advance to reserve a spot. Participants can bring their own food or order meals (deadline is by Aug. 5) through the registration link.

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