All Catholic youth invited to a Charismatic retreat

Friday, May. 16, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — “Nowadays our youth are getting rotten – access to the Internet, the games, the drugs, the bad influences are attacking them every day and we need to help them,” said Salvador Bautista, a member of the Diocese of Salt Lake City Charismatic group and one of the organizers of the youth retreat that will take place June 14-15.

All youth and young adults from 13 to 25 years of age and from all over Utah are invited to the  “Young People, Jesus is Here and Calling You” retreat at The Complex, organized by the Charismatic Renovation group in conjunction with the diocese’s Hispanic Ministry office and the Youth and Young Adult Ministry.

Jason Tinoco from Miami and Julio César Escobar from California will be the keynote speakers.

“They are two young men that are very involved with the youth and they know how to talk to them, how to treat them, and they make a lot of dynamics that will instruct our youth,” said Bautista.

Jason Tinoco preaches based on his own testimony. He was sexually abused at 7 years old, belonged to gangs, did drugs and “let the hater fill my heart,” said Tinoco in one of his presentations. However, his mother never gave up on him, and “with her intercession, Christ rescued me from the dark.”

“Both of the presenters are very prepared to help [the youth]; they know how to help them understand today’s world, with all the difficulties and distractions,” said Bautista, adding that the retreat will offer those who attend some guidance on  choosing friends and understanding their parents.

He said that this type of retreat is important because in today’s society young people are disoriented and feel that they have been left alone, so they take shelter in people and things that are not good for them, occasionally making devastating decisions.

“There is also lot of suicide in the youth. I live in Tooele and just last week they killed a young man here,” said Bautista. “It is very important that our youth get all the help and guidance that we can provide them.”

About 500 young people attended last year’s retreat; Bautista expects twice as many this year.

“We want to do something for them. We can’t let them go,” said Bautista. “We need to worry for our new generations; we need to prepare them and help them, but most of all let them know that we are here for them.”

Transportation will be available, Bautista said.

“A commitment from Charismatic renovation is that if the young people organize groups and they do not have transportation to get to the retreat, the Charismatic group will pay for it,”he said. 

The retreat will be primarily in English, but with a Spanish-language component.

For information, contact Salvador Bautista, 801-913-9906, Fr. José Barrera, 801-663-8734 or Samantha Almanza, 801-328-8641 ext. 313.

 

WHAT: Charismatic Renewal Youth Retreat “Young People, Jesus is Here and Calling You” 

WHEN: Saturday June 14, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.; and Sunday, June 15, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.  

WHERE: The Complex, 536 West 100 South, SLC 

COST: Free; $5 donation requested for the lunch