A Hispanic ministry retreat called “Sanando para Servir” (Healing to Serve) is planned for Saturday, November 15, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in the Bronx, featuring speakers, musicians, and a closing Mass. 

Organizers said the pre-Advent retreat is set to begin at 9 a.m. and end at 6 p.m., to be held in the parish’s Lower Hall. St. Luke Church is located at 623 E. 138th St., the Bronx. 

Vocalist Yumilka Ortiz and pianist Juan Carlos Arcilla, who are both St. Luke parishioners, will lead the faithful in praise and worship songs. Also performing songs of faith will be singer-guitarist Reymi Toribio, a parishioner of St. Rose of Lima in Manhattan. Nerys Paulino will be the principal speaker; she is from the Archdiocese of Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic. Father Jorge Cleto, pastor of St. Luke, will celebrate the Mass. 

The theme of the event is “Hagan Lo Que El Les Diga” (Do Whatever He Tells You). It is from John 2:5, where Mary, during the Wedding at Cana, says to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Jesus performs his first miracle, turning water into wine; the verse is cited as a foundation for faith and obedience, highlighting the significance of following Christ’s commands. 

“This is our annual retreat in preparation for Advent,” Father Cleto told The Good Newsroom. “We are doing this retreat together with the Emaús movement of the Archdiocese of New York. My hope is, and I ask the Holy Spirit, for this to help all servers to heal all their past wounds so that they can serve with total surrender to Christ.” 

Father Cleto noted, “That is why the retreat is called ‘Healing to Serve.’ That is my hope, for all to have that interior healing so that they can serve with a heart totally devoted to Christ.” 

Emaús is a Hispanic Catholic lay movement founded in Miami in 1978 based on Church doctrine; its mission is to evangelize through spiritual retreats and social works. 

Advent begins Sunday, November 30. 

Last Friday evening, November 7, St. Luke parish also held a faith music gathering called “Un Canto de Esperanza a Maria” (A Song of Hope to Mary). The featured performers were vocalist Lucy Hilario and musician Salvatore Moreno. The event focused on the importance of faith, family, and praying the rosary.