Young adults ages 18 to 39 in the Diocese of Trenton are invited to attend a day-long young adults retreat on March 4 beginning at 10 a.m. in St. Raphael Church, 3500 S. Broad St., Hamilton.
This year’s retreat theme is “Given: Become What You Receive.” Sponsored by the diocesan Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, the annual retreat will include reflections by keynote speaker, musician and evangelist Gerald “Gez” Ford, and will conclude with the celebration of Mass.
Ford, who was born in Manchester, England, has worked in the Church for more than 30 years. A youth minister and musician in St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, he received his education in both the U.K. and the U.S., holds degrees in theology and religious studies, and has taken courses at The Victorian University of Manchester, St. Johns, Queens and Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. This past October, Ford was called via the Rite of Candidacy with seven other deacon candidates for the Diocese to prepare to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders upon completing five years of formal study.
A husband, father and grandfather, Ford has traveled the world as a Catholic conference speaker, retreat and worship leader. He is also actively involved in ministry to those with addictions and is co-founder of both Tabor and Carmel Houses – recovery residences for addicts and alcoholics.
Cost to attend the retreat is $20 per person; registration is available at dioceseoftrenton.org/yaretreat.