Retreats on the Eucharist to be offered this month

Friday, Jan. 19, 2024

SALT LAKE CITY — As part of the ongoing Eucharistic Revival in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, two parishes will hold retreats that will focus on the subject of the Real Presence of God in the Eucharist.

Both retreats will be on Jan. 27; one at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Orem, the other at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in West Jordan.

The St. Francis of Assisi event will offer talks on three different aspects of the Eucharist. Speakers will include Father Omar Ontiveros, pastor, and Father Gustavo Vidal, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Layton. 

“There seems to be some confusion; people need clarity” about the Eucharist, said Gabe Torres, a Knight of Columbus, who is organizing the retreat. “Catholics and other people that are very interested in the faith need to really understand what this really is and how to look at it, and why and what do we need to do in order for us to take it more seriously, to take it more in-depth in our faith and how are we to do this, how does this work.”

“We thought that with this year’s focus on Eucharist and the revival, that this would be right in line with the focus of the Church,” Torres added. “We are also targeting people outside of the Catholic faith; there are a lot of people looking for truth.”  

Presentations at the retreat will be “The Eucharist: Is It Symbolic or Real?,” “The Eucharist: Source and Center and Summit of the Catholic Faith” and “Encountering Christ More Deeply in Our Faith Through the Eucharist.” These will be followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and a Q&A session. The day will conclude with a Mass.

Members of the Knights of Columbus Council, which is sponsoring the retreat, hope that participants will gain a deeper understanding of their Catholic faith, grow closer in the faith, and “for everyone to take it to another level in their faith journey, to get out of what can sometimes become the normal, stagnant routine of our spiritual life and keep moving forward,” Torres said.

At Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, the “Christ in You” retreat is being sponsored by the diocesan Cursillo group. It will provide inspiration and information on how to nourish and grow a stronger Catholic spiritual life with the power of the Eucharist.

The schedule includes presentations on “The Call,” “Piety: Eucharist,” “Study: Eucharist,” “Action: Eucharist” and a podcast: “Is the Holy Spirit Dormant in Your Life,” along with discussion sessions.

The speakers will be Father Jaya Penugonda, parochial vicar at the Cathedral of the Madeleine; Father Dominic Sternhagen, pastor of Saint Ann Parish in Salt Lake City; and Deacon Tom Tosti, who ministers at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City.

“We want to emphasize how the Eucharist is the center of the [Cursillo] movement,” organizer Rita Stelmach said. “It’s for everyone; we all need to know more about the Eucharist and how to strengthen our spiritual life.”