FRESH FIRE brings prayer, worship and evangelization together

By Marty Denzer

Adecade ago, Dana Epperly was living in Texas and discerning what God wanted her to do with her life. One day, while at Eucharistic Ad oration, she had a vision of people sitting out in the cold, not knowing there was warmth within the Church. She prayed that the people of God would know the warmth of Jesus’ love.

She had a vision of a “burning fire of love” and thought while in prayer, “Lord, how can I help those who don’t know this love?”

As Jesus says in Luke 12:49, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” And so, she began.

Through prayer, Epperly was moved to relocate to Kansas City several years ago. About the same time, Maureen Dierkes, who had started a prayer and evangelization program at her parish in Michigan, also moved to Kansas City. They connected at St. Thomas More Parish.

Epperly invited Dierkes to join her in Adoration and pray about their call to evangelization. Shortly thereafter, she invited Dierkes to join St. Thomas More’s evangelization ministry, and Fresh Fire was lit.

The women approached Father Justin Hoye, pastor, with the idea. He responded, “This is great news, the best I’ve heard!”

With his assistance and oversight, in January 2022, the first Fresh Fire event was held. The event entails a candlelight worship service, with prayer teams, music and Adoration, with Father Hoye processing through the church to the altar with the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance. Epperly recalled, “This was an opportunity for people to be awakened to the Lord, and it’s how we help them enter in.” Dierkes added, “It is special and should always be special!”

A year later, Fresh Fire is still burning. At the last service in November, 85 people attended — men, women, children and teenagers (Father Hoye said Fresh Fire is required as part of eighth graders’ Confirmation preparation) — and some of different faith traditions. A number of non-Catholic Christians have become regular attendees, the women noted.

Father Hoye said, “Fresh Fire is the exposure of a truth non-Catholics haven’t been exposed to, the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It is evangelization at its purest.” personality lights up a room, and it is impossible to not be happy when talking to him. It is easy to see how much he cares for everyone at St. Michael’s and makes sure everyone is included and happy.

Editor’s note: As our U.S. Catholic Church prepares to enter the parish year of the three-year National Eucharistic Revival, we’d like to highlight parishes with unique or especially strong devotions to Eucharistic Adoration. If your parish has a story to share, fill out the contact form with your details at catholickey.org.