Young adults retreat to focus on living faith daily

Friday, May. 16, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — “Hearts on Fire: Living Faith in Daily Life with Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola” is the title of the young adult retreat that will be held at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish in Salt Lake City June 20-21. 

The retreat will begin Friday evening in a coffeehouse setting with live music, and will continue Saturday with presentations from the national Apostleship of Prayer team of young Jesuits on living faith and methods of prayer in daily life for young adults 18 to 39, single or married. 

This retreat will offer some practical ways of connecting faith with everyday life.

“This event is for those who are new to prayer or are just looking for new ways to pray and to live a more meaningful life,” said Samantha Almanza, Youth and Young Adult Ministry director for the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

Through their presentation, a Saturday vigil Mass and Eucharistic adoration, the team will lead the group in exploring a simple way of life and how to come closer to the heart of Jesus.

The Apostleship of Prayer Jesuit team travels around the country offering this retreat, and “I thought by having them we could bring something new to this diocese,” Almanza said. “This group will bring a new perspective to us because their focus is on the spiritual exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, something many of the young adults have not been exposed to. The presentation will focus on how the spiritual exercises can influence our friendship with God, and also explore authentic commitment in our relationships, discernment on what we are being called to do, offer different types of prayer practices and service to others. I think these are things that young adults are really passionate about and have an interest in. Being a young adult myself, I need some guidance in thinking about these things in my daily life.”

Meditation and quiet time is necessary, but often not a priority, said Almanza. “In scheduling a retreat, they become a priority,” she said. “From the conversations I have had with some of the young adults, I can see that they are searching to see if they are with the right partner or on the right career path.” 

Saint Vincent de Paul parishioner Michael Golenewski is among those planning to attend the retreat; he is a member of the young adult group in the Diocese of Salt Lake City and is helping to coordinate the retreat. He likes being a part of the young adult group because he is able to meet other young Catholics who share his beliefs and who like going to church on a weekly basis, he said. 

“It is a challenge in Utah, being of a minority religion, to meet Catholics between the ages of 18 and 30, who I really enjoy interacting with and talking with and who share the same interests as I do,” he said. “The group provides that for me. We share our faith together and do group activities. The retreats have helped increase my faith.” 

Golenewski is especially looking forward to learning new methods of prayer, he said. “I pray, but it is hard to take time and easy to get busy during the course of a work day, with daily responsibilities and commitments,” he said. “This retreat is such a fantastic idea.” 

WHAT: Hearts on Fire: Living Faith in Daily Life with Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola retreat 

WHEN: June 20-21. The retreat begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. Participants return home overnight, then return Saturday at 8 a.m., and end with the 5 p.m. vigil Mass.

WHERE: Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1375 E. Spring Lane, Salt Lake City 

Cost: $20 donation

For information or to register, visit www.apostleshipofprayer.org/heartsonfire.