ACTS Members Launch Monthly Meet-Ups

 

ACTS Members Launch Monthly Meet-Ups

 

By Mary Waite

 

     The Diocese of Dodge City ACTS retreat attendees, in an effort to keep the friendships strong that were formed during their retreats, will be starting Monthly Meet-ups.  The purpose of these monthly gatherings will be to foster worship, fellowship and community.  The hope is to schedule monthly get togethers at various parishes in the diocese in which members will attend Mass and enjoy a meal together.  Past ACTS retreatants will be the ones to volunteer for hosting and organizing the event at their respective parishes.  It will be up to different parishes to plan the gatherings at either a Saturday vigil Mass or Sunday Mass.  

    The first such Meet-Up was held on Sunday, May 19th at St. Joseph Parish in Ellinwood.  The Ellinwood ACTS community welcomed about 40 people to celebrate Mass at the 9 a.m. Mass.  Following Mass, the group moved to the St. Joseph Parish Center for coffee, cookies and a time for visiting.  This coffee time provided an opportunity for ACTS attendees to reintroduce themselves, introduce their guests, and share their ACTS story.  Ellinwood's Historic Wolf Hotel was the site for the ACTS groups' dinner, where they enjoyed the delicious fried chicken and pie served once monthly on the 3rd Sunday.  Jill Schmitz and Cathy Stang, Director and Co-Director of the upcoming Women's ACTS Retreat to be held Oct 24-27th, 2024 in Great Bend at the Heartland Center gave an overview of their plans and theme for the retreat.  Steven Polley, Director for the Men's Retreat to be held on January 23-26th, 2025 at the Heartland Center, also gave some insight into plans for the retreat.  He introduced Bob Schneider as his Co-Director.

    The second monthly ACTS Meet Up is scheduled to be held in Olmitz on June 9th.  Bob Schneider will be making Schnitzel for all to enjoy.  ACTS attendees should check their e-mail for information concerning this event and future Meet-Ups.  The first gathering was very well received and enjoyable.  As Judy Ochs, a 2023 ACTS retreatant remarked, "It was really a joy to see everyone and listen to their ACTS stories."  

We encourage ACTS retreatants to meet with others ACTS members in their parishes and organize and event.  We invite all ACTS members to attend a future Monthly Meet-Up.  We hope to see a nice crowd in Olmitz and future destinations.