August 7, 2012 // Local

Knights’ Faith Family Fatherhood Festival scheduled Aug. 17-19

Todays Catholic

FORT WAYNE — The Knights of Columbus will host a three-day festival celebrating faith, family and fatherhood at Headwaters Park in Fort Wayne, Aug. 17-19. The Faith, Family, Fatherhood Festival is being planned by 15 Fort Wayne area Knights of Columbus Councils and will include Mass, a parade, 5K run, food and entertainment for the whole family. This is the first festival of its kind in what is hoped to become an annual event.

Updates are available at www.kofcfestival.com, but event highlights include the following.

Friday, Aug. 17:

• 5 p.m. — Mass at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception with Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades;

• 6:15 p.m. — March or parade from the cathedral to Headwaters Park;

• 7:30 p.m. — Live evening entertainment by Popple.

Popple calls their music acoustic, humor and rock. They put on fun concerts, lead prayer and praise and worship, give great talks and can provide liturgical music for Mass. More information on Popple is available at www.myspace.com/poppleband.

Saturday, Aug. 18:

• 8 a.m. — Pancake and sausage breakfast and 5K Run (Headwaters Park Pavillion);

Pre-registration is suggested for the 5K Run and can be done by visiting the website www.kofcfestival.com or by contacting Chad Ware at (260) 744-0290. Registration on Aug. 17 is at 7 a.m. and the fee is $20, $15 for those preregistered.

• 11 a.m. — Family rosary and guest speaker Father Larry Richards will talk about the family.

Father Richards, who has a radio program on Redeemer Radio — Catholic Radio 1450 AM, is a gifted and captivating speaker, preacher, retreat master and author. He speaks from experience as a pastor of an inner city parish, a high school chaplain, a counselor and evangelist. Father Richards has directed hundreds of retreats, parish missions and conferences for young and old alike. His inspirational talks, presentations and books always authentic and enthusiastic, have changed the hearts, minds and lives of millions of listeners and readers worldwide.” For more information about Father Richards, visit  www.thereasonforourhope.org/index.php.

• 12-4 p.m. — The Knights of Columbus, with information and spiritual literature will offer displays. Other nonprofit representatives with displays will include pro-life organizations, Lighthouse Catholic Media, Redeemer Radio, Our Sunday Visitor, Bishop Dwenger High School, Bishop Luers High School, University of Saint Francis, CatholicTextMessaging.com, The Silence of Mary Home, National Society of Foresters, Catholic Business Network, Rekindle the Fire, Knights of Columbus Insurance, Office of Catholic Schools, Vocation Office of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Catholic Charities, Today’s Catholic, American Heritage Girls and Indiana Right to Life.

• 12-7 p.m. — Music, games, rides, food, vendors, archery tag sponsored by CrazyPinz, local high school performances and more.

The events will include a moonwalk, biblical story time, pop ring toss, crafts and give-aways provided by Bishop Luers High School, helicopter rides, traveling magician for kids, raffle (no other gambling), rosary making with Bishop Dwenger High School students and photos with “Tuffy,” corn hole, slushies, temporary tattoos, give-aways and autographs from Bishop Dwenger athletes. The Bishop Dwenger Marching Band will also perform. The CrazyPinz archery tag arena will be available for ages seven and up.

• 2-3 p.m. — Bishop Luers High School Show Choir will perform;

• 3-4 p.m. — Bishop Dwenger High School Show Choir will perform;

• 7 to 11 p.m. — Square dancing with Bill Werling and his five-piece band.

Sunday, Aug. 19:

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  — Breakfast brunch with bingo and games;

• 1-3 p.m. — Table displays from the nonprofits, father and children events and a pie bake-off, which will be judged by the Franciscan Brothers Minor;

• 2-3:30 p.m. — Fort Wayne Area Community Band will provide music from two summer concerts, “An Evening with John Phillip Sousa” and “Those Were the Days.”

The Fort Wayne Area Community Band is a member of Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne and is in residence in the Department of Music in Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne School of Visual and Performing Arts. Approximately 80 musicians, students, music teachers and professionals from all walks of life have participated in the band for nearly 33 years. The band is dedicated to bringing the highest level of performance to the Fort Wayne area community with a variety of music for concert band, including marches, show tunes, light classics, popular arrangements, Big Band and jazz. The band has both a winter and summer concert schedule with appearances throughout the area.

Ben Christy, dean of the IPFW School of Visual and Performing Arts, said, “The Community Band and IPFW enjoy a rich collaboration. The school is honored that this excellent ensemble is a company-in-residence. It has not only been an organization for adult musicians from the community, but for students who are unable to work the IPFW Wind Ensemble into their class schedule.”

• 2-3:30 p.m. — Exhibition ballroom dancers;

• 3:30-4 p.m. — Guest speaker Franciscan Father David Mary Engo;

Father David Mary Engo is a Queens native, raised on Long Island. He has been a friar since the age of 19 and a priest for the past 14 years. He has led a diverse life as a priest. One of his most difficult missions involved blessing bodies pulled from the rubble at Ground Zero during the first four days after the World Trade Center terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001.

Father David Mary eventually heard the call to lead and became the founder and superior of the Franciscan Brothers Minor, formed in 2009 under the authority of Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, then in Harrisburg, Pa. Father David Mary followed the bishop to the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in 2010.

Father David Mary speaks of love and charity, but always in truth. He is charismatic and sure to keep your attention. Learn more about Father David Mary and the Fransiscan Brothers Minor religious order at www.FranciscanBrothersMinor.com.

• There will be a special blessing for all fathers and closing ceremony with the David and Theresa Smith Family providing music and Gregorian chant;

• 5 p.m. — Festival concludes.