Fear and forgiveness

Intermountain Catholic

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Glenmary Father Dan Dorsey led the retreat at Saint George Parish. IC photo/Marie Mischel

ST. GEORGE — ‘Do not be afraid’ is a recurrent message from God to the major players in the infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke; how Zechariah, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds each responded is a good topic of meditation for the Advent season, said Father Dan Dorsey, a member of the Glenmary Home Missioners, during the Advent retreat at Saint George Parish on Dec. 2.

Fear is a primary reason that people hold back, but Advent is a season of salvation and forgiveness, Fr. Dan said. "Advent is about salvation. It is for [Jesus] to come personally into my life and to say, ‘You are forgiven. You are loved. Be not afraid.’"

The Advent retreat at St. George Parish drew people from parishes throughout southern Utah and eastern Nevada. Held the day after the Diocese of Salt Lake City-sponsored retreat in Draper, it was a way for Catholics in southern Utah to "come and know their faith," said Father Martin Picos, St. George pastor, adding that sometimes it’s difficult for people in his area to travel the 300 miles to Salt Lake.

Fr. Dorsey said that as a Glenmary missionary, "I understand what it’s like to live in a community where your Catholicism is often questioned or challenged, and also what it’s like to be a small minority."

His order’s mission is to start Catholic churches in places where there are none, stay until they’re viable, then turn them over to the local diocese, he said.

The Advent season has many trappings such as family gatherings, gifts and songs, but its true meaning is "about your personal relationship with Jesus Christ," he said.

While on earth, people will never completely understand Jesus’ love, he said. "It’s a process. It’s a pilgrimage, and we’re invited by Jesus Christ in this Advent season more deeply to understand the power and the scope and the breadth and the width of that love."

Fr. Dan’s message hit home for many of those who attended the retreat.

"The core of his message was exactly what I needed," said Pat Schaller, a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Mesquite, Nev.

Likewise, Denise Richards, from Christ the King Parish in Cedar City, said, "I think Father Dan has really opened up areas like fear and salvation as being part of Advent; those are very special things that I take to heart."

"It hit me right between the eyes," agreed Bobbi Perea of Saint Christopher Parish in Kanab. "I think this was set up for me, personally."

The retreat marked a type of return to the Catholic Church for Irma Reyes, a parishioner of Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Overton, Nev. In 1973 she converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she served for 25 years. Then, four years ago, a Catholic friend invited her to attend a rosary, which she did. During the last year she has been active with her Catholic parish, and she attended the retreat to reiterate "the concept of forgiveness and love, and to know that we are children that he has picked to be out there in the community and to be examples," she said, adding that Fr. Dan’s message "seems like it’s directed to me."

Fr. Dan "made a couple of really good points," said Saint George parishioner Jim Diederich. After attending the retreat, he now plans to go to those scheduled at the parish for later in the liturgical year, he said.

For his part, Fr. Dan said he hoped the day would give participants "a different perspective than they’ve thought about with regard to Advent, the call to conversion and the relationship between forgiveness.