Broken plans lead family to conference

By RENATO GANDIA
WCR Staff Writer
Lac St. Anne

They simply wanted to visit relatives and friends in Saskatoon, Edmonton and St. Albert and check out John Paul II Bible School in Radway.

Yet the people they wanted to see would not be available on the dates they planned to visit - they were all coming to the Catholic Family Life Conference.

The couple thought of a solution: Why not go to the conference so they could meet these people? They could visit with friends and participate in the conference.

So they registered over the Internet.

Getting to Edmonton was testy. They had car problems and arrived a day late.

But the Richmonds never regretted coming. In the talks, a lot of things resonated with Grace and Bill.

Bill said, "It's been worthwhile. The kids are enjoying it. Our daughter really wanted to come here. She really wanted to make this part of our holiday. She felt it was important for her."

It's important for their two other children to be with other children from families who are trying to live the Catholic faith, he said.

"We're not perfect. So it's good to be with other families that are also struggling in their faith and trying to do something about it."

Grace says, "This trip is definitely a bonus for the whole family. God's hand is in it. Everything fell into place. Even the car trouble did not stop things."

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