Ogden parishioners celebrate 'A Journey with Jesus'

OGDEN – From March 24 to March 27, Saint Joseph Catholic Parish received a very special visitor from the Diocese of Yakima, Wash.

Bishop Carlos A. Sevilla, S.J., Bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Yakima, presented a Lenten retreat titled "A Journey With Jesus," in which the bishop spoke about all the things that deacons, priests and bishops do during a Catholic Mass, and he gave explanations of each of the rites.

"You have come to us celebrating the beginning of the season of spring," said Father Kenneth Vialpando, pastor of Saint Joseph Catholic Church, thanking Bishop Sevilla for his service at the parish. "Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us. It has been a great honor and pleasure to have you here, and we want you back."

"I am very thankful to have the opportunity of being here. This is a wonderful and large community," answered Bishop Sevilla.

The bishop’s retreat was done during the course of the parish’s daily 7 p.m. Mass.

The service started normally, but after the first portion Bishop Sevilla paused to explain the importance of celebrating and attending Mass. "The necessity of the Mass is explained by the words of Christ, who ordered his disciples to ‘do this in remembrance of me,’" he said.

He explained that the Mass has two parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

"The Mass begins with the Penitential Rite, which includes several symbols of repentance and cleansing of the soul, including the striking of one’s own chest as a sign of acknowledging our guilt," said Bishop Sevilla. "Anyone may – and should – attend the Liturgy of the Word, but only Catholics in good moral standing may receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist," said Bishop Sevilla adding that other people may receive a blessing from the priest at Communion.

"The Mass involves a personal encounter with God, and everyone should experience this encounter," said Bishop Sevilla. "Our faith posits that the Sacrament of the Eucharist contains the actual body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, and that receiving him therefore unites all Catholics throughout all time and space."

Bishop Sevilla also spoke at the Masses on behalf of Cross Catholic Outreach which was founded to create a meaningful link between parishes in the United States and the priests and nuns working in the Church overseas in the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Central and South America.