DRAPER — In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can often be difficult to catch your breath, let alone meditate on the real reason for it all. The Diocese of Salt Lake City Advent Retreat coming up on Saturday, Dec. 1 at St. John the Baptist Parish is one way to make time to do so in the company of other Catholics who want a Christ-focused Christmas.
“The retreat is a great way to prepare yourself for the coming of the Christ Child and what that means, a nice way to meditate and reflect on the coming changes in the liturgical year,” Director of Liturgy Ruth Dillon said.
The retreat will be broken into English and Spanish sessions. Fr. John Norman, pastor of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, will conduct the English session. The title of Fr. Norman’s presentation is “Navigating Advent: Making straight the way of the Lord; our Advent directed.”
In all of the commercialism and chaos of the season, “it is easy to lose our way as we travel to the nativity of our Lord,” Fr. Norman said. He will share some simple guidelines on putting together a plan to help the faithful avoid those pitfalls and to stay Christ-focused throughout Advent.
“Anything is better with a plan; people won’t arrive at Christmas and wonder where all the time went,” Fr. Norman said. “It’s a hard time to stay focused. That’s why with a good plan heading toward our destination, we’ll have more success for a prayerful celebration of Advent.”
This year again Bishop Oscar A. Solis will celebrate a bilingual Mass with both Spanish-speaking and English-speaking Catholics.
“The Mass brings both communities together with the bishop,” Dillon said. “It’s a nice way for both of us to celebrate together as a community.”
The Mass will be celebrated after the English session ends and before the Spanish session begins.
In the afternoon, beginning at 12:45 p.m. in the Spanish-speaking session, Fr. Omar Ontiveros, pastor of Saint Ann Parish, will speak on “A God Who Seeks Us.”
Fr. Ontiveros will speak on letting oneself be found by the God who goes out in search of individuals. He and participants will meditate on some biblical passages that tell about how God goes in search of his children to offer them his salvation, love and mercy.
“We always need time to go back and think about what is going on with our lives,” said Maria Cruz Gray, director of Hispanic Ministry. “This is a time to really think and ask ourselves, ‘Am I doing the right thing? How is my relationship with the Lord to prepare for his coming?’ It is important to be prepared. If we are not prepared or formed, we are not prepared to be reformed.”
WHAT: Diocesan Advent Retreat
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 1; nglish session 8:30-11 a.m. (registration, 8:30 a.m.); Spanish session 12:45-3:15 p.m. (registration, 12:15 p.m.)
WHERE: St. John the Baptist Parish, 300 East, 11800 South, Draper.
Early-bird registration by Monday, Nov. 26 is $5; registration at the door is $8. To register, call the Office of Liturgy, 801-328-8641 ext. 322; or the Office of Hispanic Ministries, 801-328-8641 ext. 361.
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