Catholic Woodstock' will Rock the Prairies

When Roman Catholic priest Father Krystian Golisz moved to St. Rita's parish in the Rockyford area about a year ago, he was struck by one thing.

It was the open spaces found in the village located northeast of Calgary, about halfway between the city and Drumheller.

"I was looking at the parish and I saw the open space. I said 'what a great idea to have a Woodstock here -- a Catholic Woodstock in Rockyford.' I was sharing it with other people and others started to think about it," says Golisz.

From there was born the idea of having the One Rock festival out there on Saturday, Aug. 21 -- in the open space where people could gather and celebrate their faith together with music. The first-ever Young Adults Catholic Music and Concert Festival in the Calgary area is geared toward 17 to 35-year-olds and features 12 hours of music, fellowship, worship, speakers and seminars.

"We always look for new ways of evangelization. And today I believe the louder music is speaking the loudest," says Golisz, of reaching youth and young adults.

"When you keep in mind Jesus Christ Superstar and the youngsters don't want to have the traditional understanding of faith, it is not anymore the time just to ask them to come and to sit and to listen. They rather hope for something else. They like to be together to see each other and to celebrate and to know they are not alone."

One Rock takes place Aug. 21 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. It includes eucharistic adoration, taize prayer and a mass with Bishop Fred Henry. Musicians performing include Matt Maher, Steve Angrisano and Ceili Rain. There will also be speakers. For more information, including ticket info, go to www.onerock.ca.

Thanks to Jim Logue of www.grapevine.net for sharing this story.