Hundreds of families gather to celebrate a diocesan Encounter

Friday, Feb. 26, 2016

DRAPER — Around 1,000 people gathered at Juan Diego Catholic High School to celebrate a family encounter.

 On Feb. 20-21, the Lenten Family Encounter (Encuentro Familiar Cuaresmal), organized by the diocesan Hispanic Ministry in conjunction with the diocesan Charismatic Renovation Group, presented a variety of talks based on the theme “Families healed by God’s Mercy.”

Father Javier Virgen, pastor of Our lady of Lourdes Parish in Magna, and Father Mauricio Alexander Diaz and Cesar Marius from the Diocese of Arlington, Va.,  presented themes such as “The Main Family Problems that Destroy God’s Mercy,” “Mary, Mother of Mercy,” and “The Eucharist, Marvelous Symbol of God’s Mercy,” among many others.

The Encounter was very important because this is a Jubilee Year of Mercy, as well as it being the Lenten season, said  Father Jose A. Barrera, parochial vicar of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, who is the spiritual director for the diocesan Charismatic Renovation.“During Lent we need to live an encounter with God, and this Encounter has prepared us to live what Easter is,” said Fr. Barrera, adding that he thinks that the Encounter was a step forward in the preparation to be able to live a better Lent and a better Easter.

Families from all over the diocese, from Logan to St. George and Wendover to Vernal, participated in the encounter. About 1,000 children also participated in a mini-encounter that was prepared and guided by volunteers from the Charismatic Renovation who, wearing costumes and organizing different games, evangelized the children.

“This Encounter was important because we need to have a direct encounter with God’s mercy,” said Alvaro Martinez, a Saint Therese of the Child Jesus parishioner who attended the event. “Sometimes we have no idea about it, even when we have it in our hands we don’t realize it. ... this Encounter has opened our eyes so we started seeing it.” 

Besides the talks, there was a Holy Hour, healing prayer in front of the Eucharist, worship, music and reflections. Also, seven priests offered the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

“We learned about the Word,” said Rosa Lara, a Saint Marguerite parishioner, adding that sometimes people have their eyes closed to the Word and just walk through life blindfolded, but “here is where we learned how to walk along the right path.”

“The Encounter was an opportunity to deepen our spirituality,” said Fr. Barrera.