Across two days in September more than two thousand people gathered in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Trenton, to hear the words of Father Luis Toro, a priest from the Diocese of San Cristobal, Venezuela, who has reached millions across social media platforms and been recognized for his strong and unwavering dedication to and defense of the Catholic faith.
“The devil wants you to believe in God, but he doesn’t want you to believe God” shared Father Toro during one his two scheduled talks on Sept. 21-22. Day one focused on the teaching of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, while on day two he discussed the magisterium of the Catholic Church.
Father Luis Toro, a priest from the Diocese of San Cristobal, Venezuela, visited the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Sept. 21-22.
Attendees traveled from different parts of the Diocese, as well as from different states, with one family traveling seven hours by car from Virginia. “The way Father Luis teaches about the Catholic faith, especially the Eucharist, is powerful. He makes it clear that Christ is truly present,” said Galindo Morales from St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Virginia, who traveled with his wife, his mother and child to hear Father Toro in person. “I’ve always followed Father Luis Toro and Father Marcos Galvis. When I heard he was coming, I knew I had to be here,” shared Morales.
During his talks, Father Toro shared deep reflections on the Catholic faith filled with humor and thought-provoking insights. He explained that the enemy’s mission is to keep God’s children from learning his word, to prevent the faithful from reading the Bible and from drawing closer to him. He stressed that this has a ripple effect: If we do not learn the Bible ourselves, how can we evangelize?
Father Toro also spoke about the responsibility of catechists who must learn and live the Bible since they are planting seeds in the hearts of children. Parents, too, must take this role seriously. He pointed out, “If we plant potatoes, no matter how much we pray for carrots, when harvest comes, we will get potatoes.”
Recounting a visit to Ecuador a few years ago for a youth conference that drew hundreds of teens, Father Toros shared a powerful lesson which began when he arrived at the local church for the conference and he was cautioned about the audience. The leaders explained that many of the teens were involved in gangs and living in sin, warning him that they might be disrespectful or refuse to listen to him. He said that he began to speak to the teens, and no one was paying attention. In that moment, he remembered what he believed in.
He said “I thought to myself, do what God has taught us and trust in him. So, I began to pray in the middle of the stage in front of the teens. I kept praying and asked the Holy Spirit to help me.” Minutes later, the loud and rambunctious audience quieted down. He shared that the teens began to listen and remained attentive for the rest of the event.
The experience was a lesson that “young people are hungry, they are starving for God,” he said, so much so that their desire is intense and without proper introduction to God, the faith and the Holy Eucharist, they are led to sin because they become confused and unfulfilled, turning instead to worldly encounters.
Norma Merino, long-time catechist and member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Lakewood, met Father Toro in 2019. When she heard he would be in a diocesan parish she knew she wanted to hear him again. “Facebook can be a double-edged sword, but when used for good, it becomes a tool for evangelization,” she said.
She explained that she came to learn about Father Toro after joining a Facebook group where Catholics and Protestants debated about topics on the faith. She noted that it was during conversations with others that she was introduced to Father Toro’s content and acknowledged that learning from him has developed her ability to teach children. “As catechists, we must not only teach children but also show them the importance of defending and loving their faith,” she said.
Milady Gonzales, one of the coordinators for the day, stressed the importance of bringing in an apologist like Father Toro, saying, “Some Catholics still don’t believe in the Real Presence … so it’s important to hear it from someone like Father Luis Toro. We wanted to accomplish one thing: to remind people that Christ is truly present in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Father Toro is a defender of the faith, strong, clear, and popular for a reason … Truly, it was a blessing.”
Susan Yac, one of the young people from Jovenes in Action, the St. Mary’s Cathedral youth group, was happy to attend and help out. “Honestly, I was excited because I’ve seen [Father Toro’s] videos online. He’s viral, he’s kind of a big thing.” She explained that there are many challenges for people outside of the faith. “The basic idea of the Catholic Church is often misunderstood. Listening to someone like him helps people understand the truth. … What really stood out to me is that he’s very visual, but at the same time he speaks strongly about his beliefs. He stays consistent with his message, and that’s a gift.”