Photo Caption: Deacon Michael Pica, who will be ordained to the priesthood next May, and seminarian Brian Bibb (right) speak with Emmaus Days participants prior to an outdoor activity at St. Bede Abbey in Peru.

More than 160 boys and young men spent part of their summer exploring God’s will for their lives during four sessions of Emmaus Days 2015.

The sessions, sponsored by the Office of Priestly Vocations at either St. Bede Abbey in Peru or Nazareth House in Henry, are led by diocesan seminarians and also feature vocation stories and talks by priests of the diocese and Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC.

While there are games and recreational activities, many participants say devotions such as adoration before the Blessed Sacrament become the most memorable part of the experience, according to Danny McShane, a diocesan seminarian who served as prefect for Emmaus Days 2015.

“It’s always so powerful to sit in silent adoration with them and to see them encounter Jesus Christ in the Eucharist,” he told The Catholic Post.

McShane said 10 young men who were high school graduates and older attended Session 1 at Nazareth House from June 5 to 8, and 35 high school juniors and seniors took part in Session 2, also at Nazareth House, from June 26 to 29.

St. Bede hosted 45 high school freshmen and sophomores July 5-8 for Session 3, and 75 seventh- and eighth-graders July 8-10 for Session 4.

The LaSalle Catholic parishes were the best represented with 19 participants, while St. Jude and St. Mary’s Cathedral parishes in Peoria sent about 15 each.

Provided photo