Thousands celebrate Charismatic Renewal's 50th anniversary of Family Encounter
DRAPER — The Charismatic Catholic Renewal of the Diocese of Salt Lake City presented a Charismatic Family Encounter at the Skaggs Center from August 18- 20.
Thousands of people from all over the diocese and other states attended the invitation to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Charismatic Renewal.
“We wanted the families to feel happy about belonging to this graced movement; that they use this joy to keep on in their work and service in their parishes. And for those who are not part of the Charismatic Renovation, we wanted them to learn about how God expresses himself in an extraordinary way through our history,” said Father Jose Barrera, administrator of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, and spiritual advisor of the Charismatic Renewal.
The speakers at the Encounter were Father Luis Toro, from San Cristobal, Venezuela; and Father Jaime Villegas from the Archdiocese of Manizales, Colombia; the Encounter also presented the ”Promise Choir” (El Coro de la Promesa) from the Diocese of Las Vegas.
Fr. Toro is an International Merciful Missionary sent by Pope Francis to preach and teach about the Bible. Fr. Villegas is the national advisor of Youth for the Charismatic Renewal of Colombia.
“The retreat has been great. As an individual in these harsh times, is very difficult to understand and believe in God … but this Encounter has helped me find that spiritual hope and learn more about the Catholic faith,” said Norma Avila, an Our Lady of Guadalupe parishioner who went to the encounter with her mother and daughter.
“As a family we wanted to come together because I wanted to teach my daughter to believe in God,” she added.
Her daughter Daniela participated in the children’s retreat that took place in conjunction with the adult sessions; she said that was fun to participate. “I wanted to learn more about God because I can feel he loves me,” she said.
The children’s retreat presented themes based on Mary, the Virgin Mother.
“[By] evangelizing our children we evangelize the whole family,” said Veronica Vazquez, from St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Logan; the importance of this relies on the fact that “day by day our Church becomes better; when we plant the seed when they are little they will recognize him.”
“In our Catholic Church we learn that our first community is our family, our children are our future,” added Rogelio Gonzales, coordinator of the Charismatic Renewal in St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.
“In Charismatic Renewal it is very important for us that our kids know what this means, to renew day by day. … We are celebrating our 50th anniversary and it is super important that our children know about this movement and what it means to be a Charismatic,” he said.
As parents and children attended the diverse talks, the Sacrament of Confession was available for those who wished it.
The days were filled with music, prayer, worship songs and dances, lots of learning opportunities, reflection, a Holy Hour, Masses and readings, among other activities.
“We wanted to make a call to live the New Pentecost and the Baptism with the Holy Spirit,” said Fr. Barrera.
“One of the purposes of this Encounter is to help people to awaken the love for the Word of God by studying the holy Scriptures,” said Fr. Toro.
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