The participants of the April 2, 2022 Lenten Hispanic young adult retreat at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center. COURTESY OF FULGENCIO GARCIA
Showing how ‘we’re here and we care,’ diocese and parishes collaborate on Hispanic young adult retreat
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
On April 2, 2022, approximately 35 single, Hispanic young adults ages 18 and up gathered at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center in Bowling Green for a Lenten retreat.
A young woman climbs the Jacob’s Ladder activity during the April 2, 2022 Lenten Hispanic young adult retreat at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center. COURTESY OF FULGENCIO GARCIA
The young adults came from parishes all over the diocese, including St. Joseph in Mayfield, St. Thomas More in Paducah, Sts. Joseph and Paul in Owensboro, St. Mary in Franklin, Holy Trinity in Morgantown, Christ the King in Madisonville, St. Michael in Sebree and St. Joseph in Bowling Green.
Dcn. Chris Gutiérrez, director of Hispanic/Latino ministry for the Diocese of Owensboro, said the day began around 8:30 a.m. and included talks, free time, a prayerful washing of the feet experience, lunch, reflection time, and a 4 p.m. Saturday evening vigil Mass in Spanish.
Dcn. Gutiérrez said Abraham Brown, the director of Hispanic Ministry at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Henderson, “gave a moving talk on Christus Vivit,” which is Pope Francis’ 2019 apostolic exhortation on accompaniment, engagement, and the vocational mission of youth and young adults.
Fr. Carmelo Jimenez, the pastor of St. Michael in Sebree, gave a talk on the mysteries of the Triduum, as Holy Week was just around the corner.
In the afternoon, the retreatants had to opportunity to participate in Gasper’s many outdoor elements and activities, assisted by Ben Warrell, the camp’s director, and Olivia Romero, the program director.
Fr. Corey D. Bruns (background) and Dcn. Chris Gutiérrez (foreground) distribute Holy Communion during the April 2, 2022 Lenten Hispanic young adult retreat at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center. COURTESY OF FULGENCIO GARCIA
Irma Briones, who lives in Livermore, said she “enjoyed the whole, entire retreat. It helped me see life differently.”
She loved the property at Gasper River, saying that the experience “helped me have more of a connection with nature.”
“The zipline was my favorite because I was scared, but it taught me how to be brave and fearless,” said Briones of one of the outdoor elements.
She said the retreat “encouraged me a lot” and that she is “looking forward” to more retreats like this in the future.
Dcn. Gutiérrez told The Western Kentucky Catholic that there is a great need in the United States to “respond to the pastoral needs” of Hispanic and Latino youth and young adults in the Catholic Church.
“Often, they are migrant workers, often living very lonely lives, just needing a connection, and are longing for community,” said Dcn. Gutiérrez. (Migrant workers travel to different regions in order to be hired for short-term work opportunities.)
Retreatants participate in outdoor games during the April 2, 2022 Lenten Hispanic young adult retreat at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center. COURTESY OF FULGENCIO GARCIA
Dcn. Gutiérrez emphasized that “young people are not the future of the Church – they are the present,” and that people often assume “Hispanics are Catholic” and so do not need ongoing formation in order to “remain” Catholic.
“But if we don’t strive to keep people Catholic, they won’t be in 20 years,” he said.
The key is to retain the culture and language along with the faith, Dcn. Gutiérrez added: “We’re striving for integration, not assimilation. The diversity we have enriches us as a Church.”
Likewise, “language is more than about understanding – it is also a connection to your interior spirituality,” he said, explaining that many Hispanic young adults may not know Catholic prayers in English, but know them by heart in Spanish.
Dcn. Gutiérrez said others who assisted at the retreat included the Hispanic choir from St. Joseph in Bowling Green; Fr. Corey D. Bruns, parochial vicar of St. Joseph in Bowling Green; Sr. Luisa Morales Solano from St. Joseph in Mayfield; Sr. Jessica Vazquez Carro from St. Thomas More; and Fr. Lustein Blanco Grajales of St. Michael in Sebree.
He said he would like to offer a retreat like this again, and was grateful for the assistance of Charlie Hardesty, the diocesan director of youth and young adult ministry.
“In the immigrant young adult crowd, they may not be here with their parents, and the loneliness is acute,” said Dcn. Gutiérrez. “This is a group that can be neglected, and I am trying to change that. I want to show them we’re here, that we care.”
“We will continue to respond to the need to reach out to the needs of Hispanic youth and young adults,” he said.
Originally printed in the May 2022 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
