Hundreds gather as families at a Charismatic retreat

Intermountain Catholic

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Father Ramon Esparza Monroy uses a puppet during his presentation to the children at the Charismatic retreat, held at Juan Diego Catholic High School.

DRAPER — "Familias liberadas por la Sangre del Cordero/Families Liberated Through the Blood of the Lamb" was the title of the retreat that took place March 29-30 at the Skaggs Catholic Center in Draper.

The retreat was organized by the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City and the diocesan Renovation Charismatic Group, with the help and support of the diocese’s Hispanic Ministry.

Beginning with joyful music that invited the participants to engage in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the retreat consisted of moments for reflection, prayer, adoration, dances, questions and answers, true life examples, a Holy Hour and Masses.

"We are here as families," said Daniel Carrillo, a Charismatic group member, as he asked the participants to set their minds for a prayer. "Don’t let anything distract you."

The retreat’s guest speakers were Father Carlos Triana from the Diocese of Obregon, Sonora, Mexico; and Father Ramon Esparza Monroy, the advisor of the Charismatic Renovation in the Archdiocese of Mexico City.

Fr. Esparza’s talk focused on how to liberate oneself from sin.

"Everything exists with a cause and effect … so we have to focus on the causes, not on the effects, if we really want to change or modify certain actions that are not good," he said. "When we have sinned, we have to find the cause of that sin."

Fr. Esparza explained to the attendees that one way of getting rid of sin is the Sacrament of Confession, but that must include repentance. "I mean real repentance," said the priest.

Fr. Esparza then invited the participants at the retreat to give their life testimony.

"When people give their testimony they will receive the light of Jesus," said Fr. Esparza, who suggested four steps to the participants to liberate themselves from sin: regret the sin, quit the behavior, reject the action and fix the problem.

Fr. Triana continued with the theme of the retreat.

"The Charismatic Renovation has pushed a rediscovery of the pastoral importance of liberation freedom in the Catholic Church so we are able to have the New Evangelization," said Fr. Triana. "The Holy Spirit has always been with us and advised us. … That is a just a fact, but there have been times that the Holy Spirit gives us ‘moments’ so the Church renews and keeps on going."

"It means to pass from situations of death to situations of life or resurrection; this is the opportunity that Lent offers," said Father Triana.

Father Jose Barrera, parochial vicar of the Cathedral of the Madeleine and the Charismatic group’s spiritual advisor, helped with confessions during the retreat and concelebrated the Mass.

"The Holy Spirit was present in the words of Fr. Esparza," said Lulu Nava, who attended the retreat because of her neighbor’s invitation. "I have been Catholic all my life but more a passive one. This is the first time that I went to a retreat here in Utah and I hope I will be able to go to more."