By Tanya Connor
 The Catholic Free Press
 
Learning more about the Eucharist helped Hispanics see its importance for them personally.
Some who participated in a convention Saturday at St. Paul Diocesan Jr./Sr. High School in Worcester shared such testimony with The Catholic Free Press.
“The Eucharist: Source of Healing and Power in the Spirit” was the theme of this year’s convention of the Hispanic Catholic charismatic renewal in the Worcester Diocese. 
“The idea was to give a context to the [National] Eucharistic Revival, to bring understanding, awareness about the Eucharist, especially the power of the Eucharist to heal us and to empower us to be missionaries,” explained Father Diego A. Buritica, episcopal liaison for diocesan charismatic renewal communities and pastor of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Westborough, who helped organize the convention.
Father John Mario Montoya, of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudists), came from Colombia to speak at this convention. Father Montoya evangelizes through radio and social media, and preaches around the world, Father Buritica said.
In addition to Father Montoya’s talks, the daylong convention included Mass and praise and worship. Father Buritica said it “was phenomenal.” He said that 230 people, most from the Worcester Diocese but some from the other (arch)dioceses in Massachusetts, attended.
Connecting the  charismatic renewal and the Eucharist is not new, Father Buritica said.
“We already know the healing power of the Eucharist and we take advantage of that.” He said this convention was to also bring awareness of other aspects of the Eucharist, including gathering in community to serve others.
“The Eucharist gathers us as a new people of God, but also the Eucharist sends us as missionaries to proclaim the good news of salvation,” he said.
Gatherings like this help people realize that, in the midst of suffering and bad things in world, they can ask Jesus and the Blessed Mother for help, said Fanny Escobar, a leader in the Hispanic community at St. Paul Cathedral Parish in Worcester.
“He’s real in the Eucharist,” she said. “Jesus in the Eucharist – he’s with us.” He helps people see beauty in the world and avoid negative things.
She said the convention made her feel closer to God and stronger in her faith.
Beatriz Corriveau, of St. John Paul II Parish in Southbridge, said the day was wonderful and helped her see she needs more of the Eucharist. Catholics need to know about the Eucharist; many do not understand its importance, she said.
“I feel very happy,” Carmen Ramirez, of the cathedral parish, said near the end of the convention. She liked the songs and hearing the priest explain about the Eucharist, she said, adding, “A lot of things I didn’t know.” 
“I re-lived everything we were taught in the Cursillo – faithfulness to the Eucharist and what it means for my life,” said Esperanza Gualdarrama, of St. Joseph and St. Stephen Parish in Worcester.
“It’s wonderful, eye-opening – the meaning of the Eucharist, learning more about the healing” aspect, said Elmy Spence, of St. John Paul II Parish in Southbridge.

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