CHARLESTON — Catholics will be able to stoke the flames of their faith during the Fire at the Beach celebration in Myrtle Beach Sept. 14-15.
The two-day gathering will be a wonderful opportunity to bring Catholics together and ignite a fire in them so they may go forth and evangelize, according to Father Ronald R. Cellini, from St. Peter Church in Beaufort, director of the planning committee.
Event coordinators, who represent all areas of diocesan life, met in Charleston April 24 to hammer out details of the weekend.
The theme is “Called to Holiness, Called to Family” and will be highlighted by a variety of speakers, workshops, liturgy, prayer and music.
The keynote speakers are Mike Patin and Father Richard Fragomeni.
Patin has worked with teenagers and adults since 1984 and is a speaker and consultant to Catholic parishes and schools. He recently led a retreat for youth ministry directors at Camp St. Christopher on Seabrook Island. Participants at that event had high words of praise for Patin and his particular brand of humor.
Father Fragomeni is a priest of the diocese of Albany, N.Y., an associate professor of liturgy and homiletics, and the author of two books. His discussions often focus on liturgy, the sacraments and spirituality.
On Sept. 14 the conference will include Mass celebrated by Father Anthony Bozeman, associate pastor at Our Mother of Mercy and Our Lady Star of the Sea parishes in Houston, Texas. Father Bozeman served in the military for 16 years before being ordained to the priesthood in 2000. He is a revivalist and resource specialist for youth and young adult black Catholics for dioceses across the United States.
The liturgy will be followed by “An Evening of Jazz under the Stars.”
The closing Mass with Eucharistic procession and benediction will be celebrated by Bishop Robert J. Baker Sept. 15.
Bishop Baker said Fire at the Beach and the National Catholic Men’s Conference are the two premier events planned on a large scale to support family life.
“Both of these will help foster family togetherness in the spirit of the teachings of both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI that the future of humanity passes by way of the family,” the bishop said.
This is the second Fire at the Beach. The last one, also in Myrtle Beach, drew over 600 people.
A few changes have been made to the upcoming event, chief among them being new accommodations at the Landmark Resort. Organizers have dedicated more time to liturgy and prayer, and included a stronger educational component in response to feedback from the last conference.
Lisa Rawlins, diocesan planning director, said that comments from last year included praise for the fellowship, spiritual presentations and the planners. She said one person noted the success of the event with the comment that the “Fire is lit.”
Registration is $55 per person, or $65 after Aug. 1, and includes continental breakfast and lunch. Hotel reservations are separate.
For more information call (843) 402-9115 ext. 20, e-mail NFrederick@catholic-doc.org, or visit www.fireatthebeach.org.