God the Father topic of retreat

"If God wants to be known as `Daddy,' maybe that's our hint," said the priest. "He wants to be tender to us."

On April 24, Father Bagan will lead a day of teaching and healing sponsored by the Diocesan Service Committee for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Titled "In My Father's House There are Many Mansions," the day will include three teachings, healing prayer and celebration of the Eucharist.

The founder of Our Lady of Hope Center, a retreat center in Newburgh focusing on charismatic ministry and outreach to the poor, Father Bagan believes many Catholics have misconceptions about God's love. Some people believe God the Father "parcels out" His love, he said, or that God's love depends on merits. Father Bagan calls this the "reward syndrome."

But in his visit to the Albany Diocese, he hopes to convey another image of God: that of a loving father. This is the "year of God the Father" in the Church, said Father Bagan, but He "has been kind of forgotten. The fullness of the Father's love and mercy is not yet known."

He noted that he has met many people "who have started a devotion to the Father, person to person, calling Him `Dad' or `Daddy.' It's hard to describe what happens."

The priest's main resource is the book "Abba, Father: We Long to See Your Face," by Jean Galot. He also plans to take many of his teachings from Scripture, including Isaiah's statement that God loves us "with an everlasting love" and Isaiah 49, which asks, "Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you."

John's Gospel also includes so many references to God the Father that Father Bagan likened it to Jesus' constantly saying, "Check it out with my Dad if you don't believe me."

This is Father Bagan's second trip to the Albany Diocese for a teaching day. He told The Evangelist: "I hope everybody will come out of there saying, `Abba! Father!' It's a gift of the spirit to be able to talk to God that tenderly."

("In My Father's House There are Many Mansions" will be held April 24 at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School, Schenectady, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., with Mass and healing prayer following at 4 p.m. Registration is $12 at the door. Participants should bring bag lunches. For information, call Mary at 456-2434, Marianne at 377-7218 or Rita at 315-866-4332.)

(04-15-99) [[In-content Ad]]