Rockyford “Rocks Out” at annual Christian music festival

Times Contributor

 

One Rock, a Christian music festival, descended on the Village of Rockyford and put on some stellar music performances over the weekend.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary, along with local parish St. Rita’s in Rockyford, worked hard at bringing One Rock back to the community after last year’s inaugural debut. 

Many volunteers came together to book Christian artists and prepare for celebrating various masses throughout the jam packed weekend agenda.

Saturday morning started off with an opening address and welcoming prayer by Father Krystian Golisz, who serves locally at St. Rita’s parish. 

“I extend an especially warm welcome to the youth and young adults who have come to participate. For many of you, this will be the foretaste and send off with Bishop’s blessing to the World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain.” said Fr. Golisz.

Saturday was a busy day with lots of very impressive entertainers, including such groups as FX of Grace, MashetiMoses, Unity Gain, Fanny Magnificat, Janelle, Michael Chiasson and John Angotti. Every group was great with the crowds really getting involved. There was a stage set up in the rodeo grounds, as well as a stage set up inside St. Rita’s church. 

In the arena there was a trade fair with many different venues geared toward youth and what is available to them for increasing their faith journey.

The crowd was a little smaller on Saturday, but the weather was much better than it was on Sunday. Sunday was a more spiritual day with the Stations of the Cross, the mass and then the Eucharistic Procession, all very well attended. The whole weekend was a very inspirational and entertaining, even if the weather didn’t cooperate as well as it could have.  

Two years ago Father Krystian (St. Rita’s current Parish Priest) arrived in Rockyford and right away had this vision of hosting a Christian rock concert right in Rockyford. He talked to Bishop Henry in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary and was immediately supported and encouraged to proceed with the planning. 

An organizational group was formed in the diocese with many participants, and the first One Rock concert weekend was held in Rockyford last summer and was huge success!

This year it was a two-day event whereas last year it was only a one-day event. 

The event was held in June so the youth planning on attending the World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain in August 16-21 could come and get prepared and inspired by One Rock before they continued on there journey. 

Dorothy Geeraert (a prominent member of the local parish and resident of Rockyford) stated “How great for Father Krystian to see his vision become a reality.” 

Geeraert also said that “all of us in Rockyford feel very fortunate and proud to have this caliber of event in our town and hope that it continues to be a success.”