Catholic Charities in Vatican Spiritual Retreat

Retreat is a response to Pope Benedict XVI's first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est,which emphasized the importance of the formation of the heart for those engaged in Catholic charitable works.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (Catholic Charities) - Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, and a delegation of more than 70 local Catholic Charities leaders are participating in a spiritual retreat hosted by the Vatican June 1-6 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Sponsored by the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, which oversees the Catholic Church's charitable activities around the world, the retreat brings together over 600 leaders of national and local Caritas and Catholic Charities agencies from across the Americas to share in their faith.

This retreat is a direct response to Pope Benedict XVI's first encyclical, Deus caritas est, which emphasizes the importance of the formation of the heart for those engaged in Catholic charitable works.

In his writing, the Pope teaches that "in addition to their necessary professional training, these charity workers need a 'formation of the heart.' They need to be led to that encounter with God in Christ which awakens their love and opens their spirits to others."

"I hope that this will be an opportunity for the leadership of Catholic Charities agencies to take time out of their extremely busy and important work to reflect more deeply on the holiness of the work we do," said Father Snyder.

"It will also provide us an opportunity to meet with, exchange experiences, and pray with our counterparts throughout the Western hemisphere. This is an invaluable blessing. It reminds us of the observation that Pope John Paul II made that there are not two Americas, but only one. This is an opportunity for all of us to experience that."

Held at La Universidad Catolica, the spiritual retreat will by led by the Preacher of the Papal Household, Rev. Raniero Cantalamessa OFM Cap. It is expected that Cor Unum will hold similar retreats in other regions around the world.

Catholic Charities USA's members -- more than 1,700 local agencies and institutions nationwide -- provide help and create hope for more than 7.8 million people of all faiths and social and economic backgrounds.

For more than 280 years, local Catholic Charities agencies have been providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from day care and counseling to food and housing. For more information, visit www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.

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Reprinted by Catholic Online with permission of Catholic Charities USA (www.catholiccharitiesusa.org), a Catholic Online Preferred Organization Partner.