It couldn’t have been a better day.
Sunshine, little wind, temperature remained around 20c with just a little smoke in the air from the Fort McMurray fires but not enough to create a health hazard. It was the 7th annual Movement in Faith for the Regina Catholic School Division and this year, almost 1200, students staff, families and friends showed up at the Canada Summer Games Park to celebrate their faith, be physically active and just have fun. “It’s a testament to the work of the committee and the way that’s being advertised and word-of-mouth year after year people are understanding that it’s a great event for families and staff and faith building within their communities (schools) so its great to see our numbers increase,” said committee chair Graham Hayes, Physical Education and Health Consultant for the school division.
Each year, a particular charity is chosen for support and this year the Marian Centre, a downtown Regina soup kitchen, was selected. The Centre, part of the Madonna House Apostolate of Combermere, Ontario, is celebrating its 50th year in Regina. Three Marian Centre staff set up with a table near the park entrance were accepting donations and collected $1,563.00 which will go towards food purchases.
Activities included two and five mile walk/runs starting and ending on the games park track after following routes within the Games Park and surrounding Wascana Park. Covered, air-filled trampolines and an air filled slide entertained the younger children while Pat Roth Riffel High School’s chaplain showed off his skills as a balloon figures sculptor while students face painted young children’s faces in an adjacent tent.
Two “praise” bands, Elevation Axis, comprised of students and staff from O’Neil High School and Visions, an adult band, entertained the crowd prior to the Liturgy that opened the afternoon’s scheduled events. As, usual Reverend John Weckend led the brief service.
Deputy School Board Chair Donna Ziegler brought greetings on behalf of the Board of Trustees and made particular mention that it was the last such event Director of Education Rob Currie would be attending as Director. He becomes assistant Deputy Minister of Education August 1, 2016.
Twenty-eight sponsors provided a total of $12,500.00 in cash or in kind donations which provided for numerous draw prizes and helped pay for the event.
It culminated a week long “Faith Days” celebrated in the Division’s high schools. Each school constructed its own week with liturgies, faith walks around the school’s neighborhood and workshop sessions on various topics some with outside presenters.
Movement in Faith began in 2009 as Walk in Faith with about 40 students, staff and friends engaging in a five kilometer walk around Wascana Lake. It moved to the Canada Summer Games Park in 2010.
