Prepare for Easter at Charismatic Renewal Encounter

Intermountain Catholic

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DRAPER — The Diocesan Charismatic Renewal is planning a Lenten Encounter to be celebrated March 24-25 at Juan Diego Catholic High School.

The Encounter, which is based in  Hosea 2:16 (“So I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart”), invites all Catholic families in the Diocese of Salt Lake City to two days filled with blessings, talks, Mass and the blessing of the palms that will be used for the procession on Palm Sunday.

The presenters for the retreat will be Fr. Wilson Gonzalez from Nicaragua and Javier Bonilla and Marines Ortiz from Puerto Rico.

Bonilla and Ortiz are a married couple known for their Charismatic worship. Fr. Gonzalez is also part of the Charismatic renewal, and he presents healing for the families.

The retreat “gives us an opportunity to have an Encounter with Christ now, in this Lenten season; to be able to know the desert that we are entering and to be able to find our salvation in God’s hands,” said Joel Romero, Diocesan Charismatic Renewal coordinator.

During the retreat, children also will have moments of evangelization.

“The families can have an encounter with Christ as they arrive rejuvenated to Easter,” said Fr. Jose Barrera Hernandez, administrator of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Midvale and spiritual director of the diocesan Charismatic group.

The encounter is a process: It starts on Saturday at 8 a.m. and concludes with the healing rite on Sunday. Because of this, Romero suggests that people attend the entire retreat.

“We [the charismatic renovation team] have been preparing for the Encounter, fasting and having prayer groups,” Romero said. “This is an awakening to be at our Lord’s feet.”

The palms will be distributed prior to the Sunday Mass, and Fr. Barrera will bless them then. “After that we are going to have a [Palm Sunday] procession,” Romero said.

This encounter is open to the public, and all are invited.

“Let’s open ourselves to God. The needs are there and the need is strong. We are in a desert and we need his healing,” Romero said.

WHAT: Diocesan Charismatic Renewal 

WHEN: March 24-25, beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday and ending with a 5 p.m. Mass on Sunday

WHERE: Juan Diego Catholic High School, 300 East 11800 South, Draper

DONATION: $10  (younger than 12 free)

For information, contact Joel Romero, 385-239-9050; the Diocese of Salt Lake City Hispanic Ministry Office, 801-328-8641 ext. 361; or Fr. Jose Barrera, 801-255-3721.