By Ken Downey Jr. | Correspondent
About 100 young people filled the auditorium of St. Joseph Parish, Trenton, for a daylong retreat June 17 that focused on self-worth and the potential for anyone to live the life of a saint.
The event, titled “Every Saint was a Sinner,” included guest speakers, live music, dancing, food and friendship. It was open to those ages 16-25.
Photo Gallery: ‘Every Saint was a Sinner’ Retreat
Angelica Gomez, parish youth ministry coordinator, came up with the idea to hold the retreat. Gomez, a 22-year-old student at Rutgers University, is also a missionary for the nonprofit children’s home, Semillas de Fe (Seeds of Faith), which operates in the Dominican Republic but has its administrative office in Ocean County. The foundation provides outreach and basic needs to orphans, homeless and abused and neglected children.
One of the reasons she wanted to hold the retreat was to raise funds for the foundation. Another, she said, was to dispel certain fears in young people those involved in youth ministry have noticed.
“A lot of younger people in our community are kind of afraid,” Gomez said. “I guess because of the image that society puts on us. Such as people can only be holy in Church, or God only loves you if you don’t sin. I think that is the wrong idea because God loves you regardless – he loves you no matter what.”
As one of the presenters, Gomez spent the day showing everyone in attendance that God will always care for them.
“We’re always in the middle because we’re transitioning from childhood to adulthood,” Gomez said. “There are so many things that at one point are happening that make life so hard. Through school, our friends, at one point it’s all stressing us out. So, we have to determine how we can do all these things and still have Christ as a basis in our lives.”
Before the day’s main speakers took the stage – one of whom included Josue Arriola, diocesan director of Evangelization and Family Life – the music group Unicon de Cristo brought everyone to their feet. Conga lines of young people circled the room, filling the auditorium with smiles and laughter.
In his talk, Arriola urged each person in attendance to see their worth through the eyes of the Lord: “This is who you are. You are a child of God; that is a privilege you have.”
He continued by sharing a secret to becoming a saint.
“The person who wants to be a saint and who wants to be happy are the same people. A saint is a joyful person,” he said. “Happiness is temporary, though. You’re happy now, but then you’ll be down. Happiness is like a rollercoaster, but joyfulness is permanent.”
“Every Saint Was a Sinner” concluded with one final message. “It doesn’t matter what you do, it doesn’t matter where you come from, as long as in this moment you are trying to change your life,” Gomez said.