Catholic Congress: 'My Family and I will serve the Lord'

Intermountain Catholic

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Members of the Charismatic Renovation Catholic group praise the Lord during a song as part of the gathering at the Skaggs Catholic Center.IC photo/ Laura Vallejo

DRAPER — For two days, Aug. 18-19, the Charismatic Renovation Catholic group together with the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City celebrated a family congress ‘My Family and I will serve the Lord, (Mi Familia y Yo serviremos al Señor)’, at the Skaggs Catholic Center in Draper.

The program included different presentations in Spanish. Among the presenters were the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, who celebrated the event’s closing Mass; the Most Rev. José Elías Rauda, Bishop of Saint Vincent, El Salvador; Father José A. Barrera, parochial vicar of Saint Joseph in Ogden; Father Javier Virgen, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Magna; Remigio Moran, a member of the charismatic group; Father Germán Umaña, parochial vicar of St. Mary of the Assumption in Park City; Father José Inés Bermúdez, from El Salvador; Deacon Ricardo Arias, director of the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s vocations office; Mariquita Ibarra, a speaker from California; and Deacon Honorio Romero.

"This congress is very important because it’s a family encounter," said Fr . Bermúdez. "Our Church has always believe that families are the foundation and, as John Paul II said, ‘The future of the humanity relies on the families.’ That’s why we believe in this congress, to reinforce the importance that families have."

Fr. Bermúdez presented the topic ‘Vocation within the family environment (La Vocación desde el seno Familiar),’ which talked about how to use reason when making decisions.

"This [the presentation from Fr. Bermúdez] made me see a lot of things. When I had a problem, I thought that my life was over. I didn’t know what was next and here I have found a lot of answers," said Carlos Rodriguez, a Saint Francis Xavier parishioner.

Hundreds attended the two-day congress, which included music, worship, prayer and meditation.

"These events are made so all the people from all over the diocese can come and participate," said Filemón Bautista, a Saints Peter and Paul parishioner. "This unity is important because we are the minority and with our union we become stronger."

"This is such a beautiful experience that there are no words to describe it. You feel joy, peace," said Felipa Márquez, who is from Chihuahua, México and has been visiting her daughter here in Utah but took the opportunity to attend the Congress. "Jesus was the one that brought me here."

"Here you take that bandage from your eyes and start healing, start enjoying," said Rosario Medina, part of the Charismatic group.

"We feel how the Holy Spirit talks to us. The importance of people coming to this event relays that people can learn to be more patient, to listen more, to be better," said Jose Alberto López, a Saints Peter and Paul parishioner, who attended the congress with his wife, María Esther.