The weekend of Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25, was one of praise, worship, evangelization and formation for Hispanic Catholics in the Diocese of Camden, as the Sixth Annual Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference took place in Atlantic City.
At Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, part of the Parish of Saint Monica, 600 Hispanics from the six counties of the diocese were reminded to “Be Always Happy in the Lord,” as the day’s theme urged.
Continuing the lessons of the recent World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, the all-day conference stressed the important role that faith and joy play in creating and sustaining Catholic families.
Father Jaime Perez, a priest from Colombia, served as the keynote speaker for the day, which also included liturgy, adoration and reflection. Silvia Mariella, a Paraguayan singer/songwriter, closed the festivities with an energetic concert.
Andres Arango, Bishop’s Delegate for Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of Camden, called the weekend a perfect time to “encourage families to be involved in evangelization. Everyone felt the presence of God.”
The following day, Father Perez provided formation and training for the 120 leaders of their local parish’s charismatic prayer groups.
Kathia Arango, diocesan coordinator for the Hispanic Charismatic Renewal, stated, “It was key not just to provide a space for evangelization for our community, but moreover to equip leaders with tools to bring people into a personal encounter with Jesus in their prayer groups and parishes.”