Latino families from across the Diocese of Camden gathered in an atmosphere of faith, joy and hope Sept. 8-10 for a series of Evangelization Nights for Latino Families to strengthen family unity in the light of the Gospel.
About 300 people attended the evenings filled with prayer, songs and reflection at Sacred Heart Parish, Camden; Holy Cross Parish, Bridgeton; and the Parish of Monica Parish in Atlantic City. The families, gathered in an atmosphere of joy and fraternity, actively participated in activities that strengthened their faith and reminded them of the importance of keeping God at the center of their daily lives. Through songs, moments of silence and words of encouragement, those present shared the hope of walking together as a community, guided by the love of Christ.
“At this moment in history, the key to the renewal of the Church is the evangelization of families,” said Andrés Arango, the bishop’s delegate for Hispanic Ministry and director of evangelization for the Diocese of Camden. “When we share the Good News with parents and children alike, we strengthen and renew the entire Body of Christ.”
Guest speakers from Paraguay, Silvia Mariella and José Tomás, shared with attendees a message focused on the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation. They emphasized that learning to forgive, living in peace with oneself and letting go of grudges are essential steps to healing the heart and building more united families.
Mariella, an international singer-songwriter who has been accompanying these meetings in the Diocese since 2016, expressed her joy at seeing how faith continues to grow in the communities. She invited everyone to be pilgrims of hope, helping others to discover the richness that the Church offers and to become a light in the midst of society.
“It is a joy to see young people who give hope to the Church. There are many young people who want to know God more. I would say to adults that we must strive to be authentic witnesses, because that attracts young people. We must carry Christ in our hearts,” she said.
Tomás, who has been involved in evangelization for more than 30 years, shared that this is the second time he has participated in an evangelization event in the United States, an experience he considers deeply enriching.
“It’s very beautiful because I see that people are hungry and thirsty for God. In this Jubilee Year, we must understand what the Lord is doing for us and take advantage of it to remember that we are pilgrims in this life, called to a Kingdom that never ends. Thinking about eternal life is the best gift God gives us. Young people are a hope in the Church, and we realize that holiness is God’s grace poured out on us,” he said.
Among the participants were young people from different parishes who also shared their experiences. Giovanni Cruz, Shantal Tapia and Tania Tapia from Holy Cross Parish (Saint Teresa of Avila Church), along with Arturo Orea from Divine Mercy Parish (Saint Francis of Assisi Church) in Vineland, said that the evening was very special. They said they learned to never give up and to remember that God is always present in every situation in life.
“With God, there are no worries; we must leave everything in His hands and trust Him more, because He is always with us,” they agreed, while also highlighting the importance of not holding grudges as a way to live in peace and hope.
The Evangelization Nights series was sponsored by the Secretariat for Evangelization and Hispanic Ministry in conjunction with the Hispanic Diocesan Charismatic Renewal.
“What a profound joy it was to see families gathered together, raising their voices in praise to God,” Arango said. “When mothers, fathers and children pray together, the Lord is present in a special way, bringing peace, healing, unity … and their witness becomes a light for the whole community.”
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