OREM — Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish in Orem, will open its doors May 13 to welcome the Catholic youth of Utah to celebrate a Charismatic youth retreat that will focus on the Holy Spirit.
Youth from 13 to 20 years old are invited to participate in the retreat, titled “Working with God’s Spirit.”
“This retreat is important because we want to get the attention of the children of the Charismatic Renovation people,” said Fr. Jose Barrera, administrator of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, who is also the spiritual advisor of the diocesan Charismatic Renovation.
Most of the time, parents bring their younger children, but not their teenagers, to the Charismatic retreats throughout the year, Fr. Barrera said.
“In the Charismatic Renovation we have the message that the families need to walk together, and youth most of the time don’t go to the retreats, so we created this retreat so they have the opportunity to live it first hand,” said Fr. Barrera.
All the youth from the Confirmation classes that are part of the religious education programs in all the parishes throughout the diocese also are invited to the retreat, he said.
“They will find friendship, prayer, worship and learn Christian ways of guiding their lives,” Fr. Barrera said. “The youth are a pillar of the Church and the Church is a pillar for the youth. … Our Church needs to focus on evangelizing the youth more than educating them. We have to consider their strengths so we can help them in their visions and that they feel that they are main agents of evangelization in the Church and in their families.”
During the daylong retreat, which will be bilingual English/Spanish, the youth will have the opportunity to hear and enjoy the testimonies and talks of Jesse Demara and Tavo Godoy.
Demara was born in Yuma, Ariz., in 1989. When he was 8 years old, he felt for the first time Jesus transforming his heart and he became part of the music ministry, he said. His family went through very difficult times: His father was a drug addict, they lost their home and everything else, but despite his young age Demara never lost his faith in God, he said.
As he grew older he founded the “Alianza Juvenil,” a music youth ministry in Yuma that evangelizes through music. Demara recorded an album produced by Son by Four. He is the youth representative of the Charismatic Renovation Region 8, which encompasses Arizona, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Utah.
Godoy is from Guadalajara, Mexico. He now lives in Yuma, Ariz. and is part of the Region 8 Charismatic Renovation. He studied philosophy and is Damara’s business partner and manager.
The retreat is organized by the Charismatic Diocesan Renovation group and supported by the Region 8 of the Charismatic Renovation.
The retreat has requested $5 donation to cover food costs. To register, youth should contact their parish youth group or religious education director.
“Because they are minors, each parish will provide chaperones,” Fr. Barrera said, adding that signed parental consent forms also are required.
WHAT: Charismatic Youth Retreat
WHEN: May 13, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
WHERE: Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 65 East 500 North, Orem
COST: $5 per person
To register, contact your parish youth group or director of religious education.
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