My name is Salvador Cardenas. I am a junior at UIC majoring in Kinesiology. When I first heard what Koinonia was all about I thought, “Yea right, after one weekend I’m going to feel part of a community with a bunch of people that I don’t know.” I admit I was naïve and critical about the whole thing. But now that I have experienced God’s call in Koinonia, I feel so very grateful for it because it was over this weekend that I not only made a community of friends but, also a spiritual community of brothers and sisters in Christ that share the same urge for Jesus’love.

As a young boy I went to a Catholic grade school. The last time I went to confession was 8th grade! As I got older I did not see the importance of it, and I am sure there are a lot of other young Catholics who feel the same way. Before Koinonia I would not have been able to tell you why we must go to confession and where in the Bible it talks about this blessed sacrament, but now my eyes have been opened.

We had a chance to go to Confession over that weekend. I told the priest, “I feel that apologizing to God isn’t enough to show Him that I’m truly sorry.” He responded, “Well that’s why Jesus came: To forgive sins. He handed down to us this great sacrament of confession so that when you walk out that door after I absolve you, YOU ARE A NEW MAN. You will have a clean slate.” And I swear, after confession when I walked out that door and I felt like jumping on the altar because I was so happy that my sins were forgiven. It was so relieving to know how much God loves us. It was only through the Holy Spirit (working through Koinonia) that I can credit this blessing . I hope you strongly consider joining me at the next Koinonia in February 2010!