If you attended the Christ Our Life Conference last weekend in Des Moines, our planning committee would greatly value your feedback. Only through your input can we gain the insight necessary to maintain and improve the quality of the conference. Please take a few minutes to respond and forward this survey to others whom you know attended the conference.

If you were unable to attend the conference, but want to share comments or observations, please address those areas in the survey below.

What a blessing to have had Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, co- founder of Mary’s Meals, at the Christ Our Life Conference.  Magnus is in the running for CNN’s 2010 Hero of the Year Award. T his award recognizes ordinary people who are changing the world.  This honor has dramatically raised awareness about global poverty and lack of education.

If Magnus is chosen as CNN’s 2010 Hero of the Year, he will receive a $100,000 donation towards Mary’s Meals.  This money would make it possible for Mary’s Meals to feed an additional 7,055 children, in one of 15 countries, through 2011.

You can vote as many times as you wish. So please consider donating your time and click here to VOTE for Magnus!

God Bless,
Christ Our Life Conference Committee

Make a Donation to Mary’s Meals

In planning a major event, looking at the numbers involved may lead us to recognize the quality and value of what’s offered. That’s in addition to, or maybe despite of, all the promotion, testimonials and outreach through ads, billboards, public service announcements, media interviews and pulpit announcements. 

Sometimes, the “a-ha” moment occurs only after missing a wonderful opportunity such as this conference, Have you ever belatedly thought, “If only I had known it would be so satisfying and so fun?” Don’t miss out on this incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to benefit spiritually as an individual Catholic and as a church community. 

Two years after two women in the Diocese of Des Moines felt God’s calling, and with nearly 16 months of planning by a 22-member, all-volunteer steering committee, the Christ Our Life Catholic conference will take place in downtown Des Moines at Well Fargo Arena at the Iowa Events Center complex, Saturday and Sunday, October 16 and 17. 

Participating will be more than 100 choir singers, dozens of volunteers handling logistics and other onsite needs, and at least 15 priests and three bishops to administer the sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation. Some 33 donors have provided funding and/or in-kind support of products and services, valued in the thousands of dollars. 

Five renowned and inspirational speakers from around the world, in the same place at the same time for the first time ever, are worth far more than the admission price, which typically would cover only one featured conference speaker. Most importantly, each has a riveting life journey certain to engage and encourage us – even humor and humble us. There are an estimated 35 exhibitors and vendors as well, offering books, religious items and services. 

With great faith in October 2008, Ellen Miller of St. Thomas Aquinas in Indianola and Marilyn Lane of Sacred Heart in West Des Moines began the journey to this conference. Within two months, Fr. Joe McDonnell agreed to serve as spiritual director and   Bishop Richard Pates’ gave his blessing to undertake this conference.

And now with the conference upon us next week, the most important number is the Power of One – God – and His invitation to you. Experience the joy of Christ Our Life. Sign up now for tickets: www.christourlifeiowa.org  or 1-888-326-8033. For every ticket purchased, you will receive one free to bring a family member or friend.

Lore McManus Solo, Steering Committee Member

So I went to my priest and I said “Father, how many people were at the multiplying of the loafs and fish?” and he said, “5,000.” I thought, wow that sounds awesome.  Then he said “this is without women and children.” (Hmmm)!  And of course we don‘t want to leave them out. So call me crazy, but in my heart I’ve have been planning for 10,000. 

Now I have been asked by some very wise people, “Why bite off such a big agenda?  After all, smaller venues or conferences do exist and are very faith-inspiring.”  And I keep going back to what the Lord is asking: “Divide the fish and loaves and feed my people.”

I’m not sure – are we planning for a conference of men (5,000) or are the women and children attending (10,000)?  This last week and half are what I understand by my sources to be our biggest push (as if we haven‘t worked tirelessly enough.)  So I ask, “What more can we do Lord?”  This scripture, this whispering in my heart, pushes me to give my best.

I have learned LOTS on this journey. This Catholic Church we celebrate and live our faith in has many passionate people in ministries and outreach programs to keep us close to our faith within our parishes. Many times I have thought to myself:  “Lord isn’t this enough? (After all, it looks pretty good to me.)”  What I believe we are being called to do is come together in a bigger format not because it was my Jesus moment, but because it’s what He has invited us to share.

Why an Arena? I honestly don’t know. I’m just trying my best to be a faithful servant up to the end. I pass Our Lord’s words on to you: “Divide the loaves and fish and feed my people.”

God Bless and Persevere!

Ellen Miller
Co-chair of the Christ Our Life Committee

Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow outside the Mary's Meals headquarters Photo: CHRIS WATT

Christ Our Life Conference speaker Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow has been named by CNN as one of their 2010 CNN Heroes.

The founder of Scottish International Relief and Mary’s Meals, MacFarlane-Barrow has turned his scriptural dream of service into reality, and shows how each of us can make a difference as Christ’s hands and heart in this world.

He will speak at the Christ Our Life Conference on Sunday, October 17 at 10:00 am.

For more information on Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow’s nomination as a CNN Hero, see his story on the CNN website or watch the video below.

As Christians we are all called to evangelize. These tickets will benefit:

• Those who might be feeling the financial pinch but want to bring a spouse, family or friend.
• For outreach to someone who’s interested in exploring their faith.
• Those who might already have a commitment for part of the weekend but still want to attend the Conference.

This is a very exciting opportunity for all of us to hear international speakers who are passionate and committed to their faith  and yours. You never know what might touch someone’s soul – after all, Christ always meets us where we are at. 

So let’s load up our vans and buses to pack Wells Fargo Arena. Let’s Believe, Live and Celebrate our Faith!

Thank you and God Bless.

Ellen Miller
Christ Our Life Iowa Co-chair

*******

TOP 8 MOST ASKED QUESTIONS: (besides “Ellen are you crazy?”)!

1. If I bought my ticket at my parish how do I go about getting my free ticket? Get you free ticket from your ticket seller at your church/parish! If your ticket was bought online we are mailing those out by the weekend.
2. Can I buy one ticket for half price? No this offer is a buy one get one only offer, evangelize!
3. If I’m a volunteer or musician do I get a two for one. Yes you do, but make sure you collect this free ticket where you bought your ticket.
4. If I have a group code do I get a kick back from the free ticker? No, groups with codes earn money back only from the initial paid ticket.
5. How does this affect the 6 pack? Because one free ticket has already been given you will get 4 more free tickets this makes a total of 10.
6. What if I don’t want my extra ticket? You can donate your free ticket back to your parish or the Christ Our Life Conference.
7. What If someone is upset because they would have waited if they had known the conference was going to do a two for one ticket sale. Explain to them that we set the price to honor our role in paying the bills. We have been blessed thanks to a generous benefactor to almost make our financial goal. Now it’s our turn to give back and share the Arena. It just wouldn’t look the same half empty, and when the Lord Blesses you with Wells Fargo Arena you do what you can for the Lord to fill it! (even if it is the ridiculous)!
8. When I get my free ticket can it be offered to an adult or student? YES!

Scotsman Magnus Macfarlane Barrow founded Mary’s Meals, an international humanitarian organization that currently feeds over 412,000 children a day at their place of education.

Renee Bondi is a popular youth speaker who suffered a bizarre incident that left her a quadriplegic. Renee holds audiences spell-bound with her story of faith and hope through trials.

A Student pass for the conference is only $30 until October 1, and will include the Youth Luncheon. Students can come and go to the conference as their schedule allows. To purchase student passes go to www.christourlifeiowa.com or call 1-888-326-8033.

Imagine what I saw - a car quickly approaching behind me. As I do my best to get outta the fast lane (because obviously my fast wasn’t fast enough), a car full of people whiz by decorated with Hawkeye flags and Hawkeye side door bumper stickers. And it dawns on me, “Oh my Gosh! It’s the Iowa / Iowa State game, Yikes!”   As you can imagine I spent the next 1 1/2 hours dodging cars speeding down the road, donned in red, yellow, black and white  – after a while the colors just seemed to blurr together!  I’m seeing people holding out the “We’re number one finger” or was that the OTHER finger?  Anyway, I started to think: Wow I have to hand it to those fans – they are loyal, enthusiastic, and defiantly over-the-top excited to be spending the day celebrating with thousands of people their passion …football.

And now you might know me well enough to imagine what I’m thinking: Hmm… what about us as Catholic Christians? Are we that enthusiastic? Would we load up a van full of people, spend whatever money it took, while sporting Jesus bumper stickers and flags and speed down the highway to an arena that holds 17,000 people? Now’s our time, our opportunity to gather on October 16-17 to celebrate God’s Infinite Love and our Lord’s Divine Mercy.  What’s our game plan? With 4 1/2 weeks left before the big Christ Our Life conference, I believe we have a few more plays left to execute….Stay focused!

God Bless and persevere!

Ellen Miller
Co-chair of the Christ Our Life Committee

You are welcome to view, download, and share this promotional video with your friends, contacts, and church group members.  It is another example of how this conference is moving forward with the energy and joy of the Holy Spirit!

Marino Restrepo

Marino Restrepo was born in the Andes Mountains of Colombia in a small coffee-growers town. His family was one of strong Catholic faith, endorsing all of the Catholic traditions and teachings. Marino was the sixth child in a family of ten. At age fourteen he moved to the capital of Colombia, Bogotá, where he achieved his high school education. He got married shortly before he turned twenty, and moved to Hamburg, Germany, where he attended the University of Hamburg and studied arts. His two sons were born there, and after spending six years in Germany, he moved to Los Angeles, California, where he has lived ever since. He engaged himself in the entertainment industry as an actor and musical composer.

In 1985 he was signed to Sony music of New York as an exclusive artist with his band Santa Fe. They released a number of albums worldwide and toured throughout the world following the release of their records. Marino lived in this world of entertainment for twenty years, and he spent all those years away from the Lord. He had started to drift away from Catholicism ever since he moved to Bogotá in the sixties. He then became a pagan, and his life took a sharp turn towards the life of a worldly human being, focused on shallow materialistic matters such as money, fame, and pleasure. He involved himself in Eastern pagan religions and all kinds of esoteric sciences, such as astrology, crystals, candles, aromatherapy, flora therapy, card reading, I-ching, runes, psychics and all kinds of superstitions.

Marino’s life took a drastic turn during his visit to his hometown in Colombia at midnight on Christmas Eve in 1997. While he was driving into the ranch of one of his uncles where he was to spend the night, he was kidnapped by the Colombian rebels of the FARC (Revolutionary Arm Forces of Colombia) and taken to the jungle as a hostage for six months. During the first fifteen days of his kidnapping, he was kept in a cave with bats and different kinds of bugs while the captors were waiting for the rebels to pick him up. In that very cave, and after finding out that he was sentenced to death by his captors, he went through a mystical experience with God that changed his life forever. Five and a half months later, Marino was miraculously released from captivity after a miracle of God, and after his release he went back to his catholic faith. Eighteen months later he became a full time missionary for the Catholic Church leaving all of his past, and his worldly possessions behind. constantly on the road of the mission around the world. Marino’s testimony has been put into a book that he wrote and he is currently developing other teachings in writing, video and audio formats.

Marino will be speaking at the Christ Our Life Catholic Conference in Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday, October 16, 2010 at 2:00 pm and at 8:05 pm.   Come and listen to Marino talk about subjects that really matter:

• why we should treasure the Catholic Church
• what we need to know about spiritual warfare
• how sin affects us and how Christ cleanses us
• the great significance of the Mass and the Holy Eucharist

__________________________

Watch the video below for a preview of Marino’s testimony: