An OLPH Lenten retreat that touched hearts and changed minds
By Magdiel Argueta
On the fifth Sunday of Lent, I participated in a very special retreat organized by the young adults group Tras las Huellas de Jesús (In the Footsteps of Jesus) from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Chattanooga.
This retreat took place about 20 miles from OLPH in Georgia. The setting, surrounded by nature and silence, was the perfect backdrop for God to do His work.
The purpose of the retreat was clear: to help the young people have a real encounter with Jesus through learning about His justice and His mercy. The central message was precisely the topic I shared with them: how Jesus unites both realities, and how we, too, are called to live them together, not separately.
From the beginning, the response from the youth was vibrant. You could tell they were eager to listen, to learn, and to express their thoughts. What struck me most was seeing how, when presented with examples of justice or injustice, they not only shared their opinions but also began to look at things from a different perspective, from the gaze of Jesus.
They themselves expressed it clearly.
Bladimir Alvarado, coordinator of the group, shared this message: “This retreat was planned because Lent is a special time of meditation, reflection, a time to encounter the Lord. It is a moment to step away from our daily lives.”
And Elder López added, “I was able to go deeper into my spirituality and came to know (more about) loving Jesus more closely.”
And for José Barrera, the retreat “helps us recognize the sacrifice He made for us and realize where we stand in each area of our lives.”
They learned that there can be no peace without justice, but also no justice without forgiveness; that truth must be spoken with love; and that correcting others without mercy is as harmful as forgiving without inviting change.
One of the most enriching moments was when we formed small groups to analyze real-life situations. The young people got involved, debated, shared perspectives, and managed to offer deep responses, not from human justice that often seeks punishment but from Christian justice that always extends a hand of compassion.
Young men attending the retreat elevate a wooden cross illustrating Christ’s sacrifice as part of the Lenten retreat activities. The participants said the retreat experience helped strengthen their faith. (Photo courtesy Evelin Xiloj)
José Damián, one of the participants, said that this kind of experience “fills you with every reflection lived. We come out more motivated and eager to know more about God. These are spiritual moments that we all need to grow.”
My presentation on “The Justice and Mercy of Jesus” played a key role. Sometimes we believe that God’s justice is like human justice: punishment, strict rules, merits. But Jesus goes further. His justice lifts up, restores, heals. Often, we cry out for a justice detached from love, one that seeks only revenge or self-interest, forgetting that we all share the same dignity in the eyes of God.
Bladimir also emphasized that this retreat “provoked joy, perseverance, a desire to continue meditating on Lent, and also sparked interest in drawing closer to the mystery of the Paschal Triduum.”
For José Barrera, the retreat “awakened a calling.”
“The young people discovered how to treat and be treated with justice and mercy, with love and truth,” he said.
A personal joy was seeing the group leaders also allowing themselves to live the retreat. They weren’t focused only on logistics. They immersed themselves in the experience, too. That, to me, is es sential: leaders also need to be touched, to be renewed.
As Bladimir put it, “The rain made things more difficult in terms of logistics, but it showed us that the young people are willing to draw near to God despite the circumstances.”
What fruits do I hope for from this retreat? That the young people understand that each of us has a story that we cannot judge easily without listening, and that every person deserves to be seen with dignity even in their mistakes. I hope this experience helps them become more compassionate, more just from the heart.
To those who couldn’t be there, I want to say this: we live in a world that judges quickly and forgives little, that demands justice without compassion, that accepts everything in the name of inclusion, even sin. But as Christians, we are called to see differently.
As Pope Benedict XVI once said: “A Christianity of charity without truth can easily be confused with a pool of good sentiments, helpful for social cohesion, but of little relevance” (Caritas in Veritate, no. 4). True charity always goes hand in hand with truth.
Personally, God allowed me in this retreat to understand more deeply how young people see today’s reality. And the most beautiful part is that I saw how open they are to listening, to understanding, to growing. That gives me hope. It makes me continue to believe that we can build a better society if we keep investing in formation that is meaningful, Gospel-rooted, and deeply human.
At the end, I asked some of the youth to share a message for those who are still hesitant to approach God.
Elder López was clear: “Do not forget Jesus; He is the one who helps us and supports us in our weaknesses.”
José Barrera added, “Do not be afraid to say ‘yes’ to Jesus. He leads us on a path that brings peace, security, and much wisdom.”
And with great emotion, José Damián concluded: “He encourages you. He says, ‘Take heart, I am with you.’ He never leaves you alone. He only wants you to be close to Him.”
Finally, I want to sincerely thank the young adults group Tras las Huellas de Jesús for inviting me. I especially thank the team of leaders, and of course, God, who continues to give me experiences like this, which mark my path and the path of many other young people.
Mr. Argueta serves as coordinator of Pastoral Juvenil for the Diocese of Knoxville Office of Hispanic Ministry.