Hundreds rejoice in the Lord

Friday, Jun. 20, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY – More than 700 young people from ages 13 to 25 gathered June 14-15 at The Complex in Salt Lake City for a two-day retreat that was filled with emotion, testimonies, worship, music, dancing and prayer, and ended with the celebration of the Holy Mass by Father José Barrera, parochial vicar of the Cathedral of the Madeleine and spiritual advisor of the diocesan Charismatic group.

One of the speakers, Julio César Escobar, narrated how, after he spent several years in prison, he found Jesus.

“I was going to Christian groups there [in the prison.] Imagine how it was to walk with chains on my hands, with chains on my legs. … Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom, but if you know Jesus, if you feel the Holy Spirit in your heart, now is the time to praise him, to thank him, to ask him to forgive you,” Escobar said. “Ask Jesus to forgive you for being angry at your father when he comes back home all drunk, ask Jesus to forgive you for being angry and yelling at your mother, ask Jesus to forgive you for hating your father because he abused your mom, ask Jesus to be with you to guide you.”

Many of the youngsters started crying and hugging each other as Escobar spoke.

Escobar invited one person in the crowd to share his life experience. That person, Benny, said that he was born in California and by the age of 5 he was using drugs and alcohol. Then he moved to Utah but things kept going down the hill.

“At 14 I was distributing drugs. I thought I was doing so good ... I had money. I  was doing whatever I wanted, but one day when I was with my parents [who were also drug addicts and dealers] the police raided my house … Suddenly I was on the streets by myself with nothing, with fear. But then I met Jesus. It was not easy nor simple, but I let him guide me, and I understood his promises and they are true. Jesus has always been with me. Jesus has forgiven me,” said Benny, who doesn’t do drugs nor drink anymore and now lives with his aunt and uncle and his siblings in northern Utah.

“The retreat has opened my eyes,” said Virginia, a parishioner of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who attended the retreat with several friends.

“Now I am sure that no matter what I have done and what I have thought and how I have felt about my parents, God has forgiven me and He is with me. I have to be truthful to Him,” said Virginia, who declined to give her last name.

The retreat was organized by the Charismatic Renovation group in conjunction with the diocese’s offices of Hispanic Ministry and the Youth and Young Adult Ministry.