Diocesan family enrichment retreat scheduled

Intermountain Catholic

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Office of Marriage and Family Life of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, in conjunction with Couples for Christ USA, has put together a daylong retreat for parents and children ages 13-31.

The Ignite Family Enrichment retreat will provide  activities, talks, prayers and family exercises that  “in a particular area ensures good healthy relationships among the families’ members,” said Ricky Coronel, National Missions, Events and Missionaries Coordinator for Couples for Christ, USA, who will be leading the retreat.

One of the retreat’s objectives is to nourish family relationships by helping every member achieve a united and peaceful environment, he said. Other priorities include providing  a venue for the parents and children to address common issues, strengthening family life by providing the parents and their children skills in building a Christian home, and introducing the Couples for Christ ministry, which is an invitation to the evangelization program, Coronel said.

“This is a seed-planting program in collaboration with the diocese [of Salt Lake City] to bring the family once again into its proper perspective in the Christian principles,” Coronel said.

This retreat acknowledges the fact that Catholics are a minority in Utah and “it is very important and urgent to bring in a program that will address the needs of the families and of their children,” he said.

The retreat will present talks such as “God’s Plan for the Family” and “RSVP” (Rules and Skills Verified and Practice – rules for parents and children), and activities like group discussions and “Paint Me a Family Picture,”  in which “we are going to compare the impression of how each member sees their families,” Coronel said.

The retreat will also offer communication skills for healthier communication among parents and children; they will also offer healing for family relationships.

“All of us have gone through hurt and brokenness, so among the talks we are trying to empower the family. The last talk is about building a Christian home, … then at the end we will discuss what’s next,” Coronel said.

Couples for Christ USA is active in 122 countries all over the world and about 41 states in the United States. Their charism is the evangelization in family life. Their vision is families in the Holy Spirit renewing the face of the earth.

“It is always important to encourage families to spend time with each other and spend time with God outside of the Mass,” said Veola Burchett, director of the diocesan Office of Marriage and Family Life.

This  retreat “is also going to help with communication skills and those particular times when it’s necessary  to increase and pass on the faith. … So that is always important, that we pass our faith to our children, instill it in our hearts, and help it to grow, and family enrichments and retreats are an important part of that,” she said.

During the retreat, Bishop Oscar A. Solis will preside at the Eucharistic celebration.

WHAT: Family Enrichment Retreat 

WHEN: Saturday, June 2, 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mass

WHERE: St. Vincent de Paul Parish’s Benvegnu Center, 1375 E. Spring Lane, Salt Lake City

For parents and children ages 13-31. For information, contact Veola.burchett@dioslc.org.