Charismatic Lenten Encounter will focus on healing relationships; youth retreat also will be offered

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SALT LAKE CITY — ““If you are willing, you can make me clean” (Mark 1:40) is the title of the diocesan Charismatic Renovation’s 2020 Lenten Encounter.

The speakers for the encounter, which will take place Feb. 29 – March 1, are Monsignor Ramon Albino Guzman of the Diocese of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; Fr. Sebastien Sasa, parochial vicar of St. George Parish; Julio Evangelist from the Archdiocese of Miami; and the Charismatic Youth leader group.

This is the first year that the Charismatic youth leaders will actively participate in the encounter. Local charismatic youth leaders are from St. Jerome Newman Center from Utah State University in Logan, and the parishes of San Andres, St. Francis Xavier and St. Therese of the Child Jesus.

The Utah youth team has been preparing for almost two years. Supported by Evangelist, they will present a youth retreat simultaneously with the adult retreat.

“This is the time for our youth to step up and be leaders among the youth in Utah,” said Fr. Jose Barrera, the charismatic group’s spiritual advisor.

This is also the first time that a local priest will participate in the encounter as a guest speaker.

“We wanted to recognize and hear from our local priest, who gives so much to the community,” said Fr. Barrera Hernandez, adding that having Fr. Sasa is also a way to encourage people from St. George Parish to participate in the encounter.

“He [Fr. Sasa] has a lot of experience with the charismatic renovation, and not only in Utah,” Fr. Barrera Hernandez said.

This charismatic Lent Encounter is also a response to the diocesan Pastoral Plan, which has faith formation as one of its five priorities.

“So we want to encourage families to spend a special time, especially during Lent, in a special spiritual journey through this encounter,” Fr. Barrera Hernandez said.

Juan Gutierrez has been part of the Charismatic group for more than 10 years. The first retreat that he ever attended was a Charismatic retreat, and his life changed forever, he said.

“The first time I went, my mind was closed. I was there just out of curiosity … and then they showed me Jesus,” said Gutierrez, adding that when a person has an encounter with Jesus, their life transforms.

 “Parents can educate better their kids, their youth. As parents we become better guides. … If a family doesn’t have Jesus as their center, they are not going to be a good family,” he said.

Attending the Charismatic Lenten Encounter gives people an opportunity to realize “that Jesus is the center of everything,” he said.

The theme of the encounter was chosen because “families need a lot of healing; healing of their feelings, healing of their friendships, healing among their family relations, so we are focusing on that the healing takes you to peace and to conversion,” Fr. Barrera Hernandez said.

Bishop Oscar A. Solis will officiate at the Encounter Mass.