By Denise Richards, and Carole Drake Special to the Intermountain Catholic
ST. GEORGE — Liz Dudas, a consultant for Ministry Development of Glenmary Home Missioners in Nashville, Tenn., presented an Easter retreat on April 28 at Saint George Parish in St. George. Catholics attended from throughout the area, including Christ the King Parish in Cedar City and Saint Paul Mission in Hurricane.
Dudas began the retreat by identifying the different personalities of those gathered with "The Oreo Cookie Personality Test." The personality types were determined by the way each chose to eat an Oreo. The group laughed at the analysis of the way people bite, nibble, dunk and twist the cookies. This ‘test’ also connected those at the retreat to one another.
The faith journeys of St. George parishioners Rebecca Emerson, Yvonne Millae, Lisa Lyngle and Cindy Long were sprinkled throughout the retreat. Also, the testimony of Samuel and Daniela Vallejo, a young couple new to the area, was a reminder of the need to share God’s goodness through one another.
Dudas’ subject was ‘The Joys of Easter,’ which she broke into several segments.
The segment ‘The Joy of Saving and Being Saved’ challenged those present to think of a time when they were saved by someone, or when they themselves saved someone.
Moving on, Dudas listed the seven principles of Catholic social teachings, demonstrating new ways to view programs that seem to be perpetually without real results and stressing the importance of learning the real story behind the headlines and how it can be viewed through Catholic social teaching.
Concluding her remarks, Dudas asked those present what difference the risen Jesus makes in their lives, and whether that makes them different from non-Christians or atheists. When overcoming bigotry or listening to another’s heartbreak, "then Jesus is risen in us," she said. "Easter is every day."
Carole Drake and Denise Richards are members of St. George and Christ the King parishes, respectively.
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