The eighth annual IVE Youth Festival was held this past weekend, May 23-25, at St. Patrick's retreat house in East Durham, NY.  Nearly 250 youth, seminarians, religious sisters and priests came from Washington DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Canada for the weekend.  This year's theme was taken from that of the Pope's recent visit to the United States:  "Christ, Our Hope." 

The weekend included talks and small group discussions, sports, a campfire, and entertainment as well as Holy Mass, Adoration, and two processions: a candle-lit Rosary procession on Saturday and a Eucharistic procession on Sunday to celebrate the solemnity of Corpus Christi.  Also during the weekend there were many opportunities for confession and consultations with the priests of the Institute.

We thank all of our speakers, chaperones, and sponsors and all who put in so much time and effort to bring the Youth Festival together.  We also give thanks for the many youth that attended and entrust them to Jesus and Our Blessed Mother.