The 2018 Camden Diocese Catholic Renewal Weekend was held Oct. 5-7 at Wildwood Convention Center with a theme taken from the Book of Revelation: “Behold, I Make All Things New” (Rev. 21:5).
In a letter to participants, Bishop Dennis Sullivan noted that the theme was chosen “because it coincides with the mission of the Renewal to emphasize the great gifts and charisms of the Holy Spirit, which will certainly help to renew our Church.”
“Our Church is always in need of renewal and we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit in order for this to take place,” he wrote.
“We turn to the Holy Spirit in prayer and ask to receive those marvelous gifts, wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord and to use them for our spiritual growth and for the good of the Church and the Kingdom of God.”
Father Rene Canales, Hispanic Ministry at Our Lady of Hope Parish, Blackwood, and moderator to the Renewal, served as master of ceremonies. The guest speakers were Father Ariel Hernandez, pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, Newfield, and a visiting priest from Georgia, Father Jim Blount of the Society of Our Lady of the Trinity.
Music was provided by Tommy Doyle, a member of the Renewal Steering Committee.
The weekend included youth tracks, with Rebekah Hardy, a religion teacher at Saint Rose of Lima School, Haddon Heights, Mark and Kim Pesotski of Saint Mary of Mount Carmel Parish, Hammonton, and the South Jersey band and ministry Forgotten Truth.