Cathedral to host parish mission on Gospel of Luke

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Cathedral of the Madeleine will host the parish mission “Uniquely Luke” June 6-9.

Fr. Bartholomew Hutcherson OP, from Western Dominican Preaching, will give morning and evening presentations each day. These will be accompanied by the Sacrament of Confession and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

“Part of the Pastoral Plan of the diocese is adult faith formation, so this event is to answer this request by the people,” said Father Martin Diaz, the cathedral’s rector.

The main theme of the parish mission will be the Gospel According to Luke.

The subtitle of the presentation is “looking at Jesus through the eyes of the beloved physician.” Fr. Diaz said the event will present a little bit of theology and a little bit of spirituality.

A mission allows parishioners “to take a couple of days to step back from their normal activities to reflect on the Gospel and their relationships with God and to one another,” he said.

Everyone is welcome to attend the retreat. It is an adult event in the sense that activities for children will not be offered.

This particular mission will examine how the Gospel of Luke “speaks to the people so we know the Holy Spirit is as active today as it was the first day of Pentecost,” Fr. Diaz added.

 The parish mission is also an opportunity to take time away from the business of life “in order to reflect and pray, to listen a bit more deeply to God; it’s important,” Fr. Diaz said.

 The event is planned at the same time that the diocesan priests will be on their annual retreat.

“The priests will be taking and offering a time of reflection to the people of God while the people of God are in this parish mission,” Fr. Diaz stated.

Attending this event is a great opportunity because, “people are always looking for spiritual direction and for the Church’s wisdom,” said Lorena Needham, the cathedral’s liturgy and music administrator.  “We are offering this mission on Luke hoping that people will receive the wisdom from the Gospel of Luke.”

A similar parish mission will be offered in Spanish in October.