'God's Gift of Chastity'

Youth from city parishes gather together for day-long retreat on chastity

PATERSON  There were no tricks only treats as more than 250 young people from city parishes learned about the gift of chastity at a daylong retreat on Halloween, Oct. 31 at the diocesan Catholic Charismatic Center at St. Michael Parish here.

The retreat was coordinated by United Youth Ministries, a collaboration of youth ministries from city parishes and parishes serving Hispanic communities throughout the diocese. This was the first major event United Youth Ministries presented. Already, a Holy Hour for youth is held at different parishes on the last Saturday of each month.

The young people came from parishes in Paterson, Passaic and Dover and the retreat featured praise and worship music, icebreakers, small group sharing, Confession, skits and a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament to end the day.

Father Agustino Torres, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal of St. Michael Friary at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish here, and Corazon Puro, an international chastity and pro-life outreach speaker, gave the keynote talk during the retreat.

In his talk, Father Agustino reminded the young people about the many blessings they have received. “Sometimes you got to do a ‘glory grab.’ Grab something in the air and say ‘that’s my blessing,’” said Father Agustino. “One blessing we have received from God is the gift of chastity. Chastity is freedom. Don’t listen to what the world says about chastity or your friends. You have to listen to what God says about it. Chastity is for everyone whether you are single, married or called to religious life. Chastity is God’s design for love, marriage and life.”

The relatable Franciscan priest told the young people, “It’s important we talk about this. You’re hearing about sex all over so we as a Church have got to talk about it. Sex is a gift God created for married persons. It has two purposes — procreative and to unite a married couple. Sex is good because it is holy but today’s world has made it something dirty.”

Inspired by St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, he reminded the young people that God created each one of them for a purpose. He said, “God asks you to love the way you were meant to love. God ultimately wants you to be in heaven with him. God has a better plan and God has more for you than you think. Believe it.”

The gathering of the different youth ministries in the cities and parishes serving Hispanic communities started five years ago when Johnny Montanez, youth minister at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist here, and Father Enrique Corona, pastor of St. Michael and St. Agnes parishes, both here, shared ideas about a collaboration between different youth ministries. Montanez said, “There are many active youth ministries in the city parishes and we thought it was important to get them together. We started with a youth Holy Hour and we hope to eventually host events throughout the year especially during Lent, Advent and the summer.”

About the first retreat on chastity, Montanez said, “A lot of youth started to think chastity was an outdated idea because of what society is telling them. Soon they realized they are not alone living this and it awakened them that chastity is real and that they can do this.”

High school senior Anabelle Cepin from St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic, said, “I think this is a really good topic. It is God’s plan for us and the retreat is opening the eyes of many of the young people here. They are seeing that chastity is a gift from God.”

Another young person at the retreat was Jonathan Rodriguez, a high school senior from Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Passaic. “There are a lot of temptations for young people today. The retreat makes you think about your future. If every young person lived a chaste life, you will be able to find true love. That’s a message important to young people,” he said.