Saint George Parish will offer an Advent retreat

Friday, Nov. 28, 2014

SAINT GEORGE  — An Advent retreat is scheduled for  Dec. 7 at Saint George Catholic Church. Dominican Father Cristóbal Torres Iglesias will be the presenter of the retreat, “Spiritually Awaiting Christ’s Coming.” A similar retreat in Spanish will be offered the day before.

Friar Torres, from Miami, Fla., attended  Rutgers University, New York University and Barry University, and holds master’s degrees in theology and social work.

“When he is not preaching, Friar Cristóbal enjoys illustration, painting, music and writing,” reads in his biography. “His interests also include a passion for Cuban, Spanish, and Latin American history, Hispanic and Afro-Cuban popular religiosity, and American popular culture, particularly the medium of comic book art.”

The friar incorporates these activities into his preaching.

“I am really excited at having him,” said Jill Luttrell, the St. George director of religious education.  “When I heard what he does – working with the colleges in that capacity. … People and especially the young ones will be able to see why it is so important for us to get them through Confirmation.”

While the retreat is open to everyone, Luttrell is strongly encouraging those in the Confirmation Class to attend.

“Some of the younger generation don’t like to take the time out of their day; they have so many commitments, but if they just take that commitment out they would find leaving the retreat that they would feel so much better and their eyes would be so much more open and they wouldn’t feel so frugal during this time of the year; they would feel peacefulness,” said Luttrell.

During the retreat,  the community will get together as they prepare for the coming of Christ, she said.

“It [the retreat] is important for a couple of reasons: It brings us together as a community – as Catholics in this parish – and we prepare together as a community for Advent,” said Luttrell, referring to the fact that especially this time of year people  are so busy with their families and with the commercial end of Christmas, but “the retreat gives us a chance to come together as a community  to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ and what it means to us in our lives past the 25th.”

People who attend to this retreat should expect to come out of it revitalized, she said.

“Sometimes people do not know what to expect when they come to a retreat,” Luttrell said. “The only thing to really expect is to leave the retreat really re-energized and full of their faith, feeling different about themselves and what their faith means to them and knowing how they will live it better.”

 

WHAT: Advent retreat: ‘Spiritually Awaiting Christ’s Coming’

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 7, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

WHERE: Saint George Catholic Church, 259 West, 200 North, Saint George

Presenter is Dominican Friar Cristóbal Torres.

The retreat is free and open to the public. A potluck lunch will be served; participants are asked to bring a dish to share.