“YES, This is My Body, This is My Blood, My Divinity”: Denver Hosts First Metanoia 2025
- Rocio Madera
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
The Denver Coliseum became a place of spiritual encounter last Saturday, August 2, as approximately 3,800 people gathered for Metanoia 2025 — a well-known Hispanic retreat conference, held for the first time in Denver.
Faithful from the Denver Metro area and nearby communities came with hearts open, seeking to reconnect with their faith, find hope and renew their commitment to God. Organized by El Sembrador Nueva Evangelización (ESNE), the event offered space for prayer, reflection and personal transformation through powerful talks and faith-filled testimonies.
Among the special guests who moved attendees' hearts were renowned psychologist Lupita Venegas, Catholic speaker Marangely González, Father Filiberto Cortez and ESNE founder Noel Díaz. Each speaker offered messages of faith and hope, contributing to a deeply spiritual experience.
Mariana, a local young woman who attended Metanoia after a friend invited her, shared how the event brought her back to the Church and renewed her faith.
“God sent me to this event, and I came with an open heart. It’s been so beautiful. I truly enjoyed it, and I’m so grateful to be here. Lupita spoke about joy, and it really touched me,” she told El Pueblo Católico.
The day was accompanied by music from the local band Sangre y Agua (Blood and Water, named for the same which poured from the side of Jesus at the Crucifixion). Their praise music didn’t just set the tone — it lifted hearts and helped prepare attendees for a deeper encounter with God.
(Photos by Grant Whitty)
The word Metanoia comes from the Greek μετάνοια, meaning “change of mind” or “change of heart.” In the Catholic faith, it refers to a deep and ongoing conversion of the heart toward God through sincere repentance. While some attendees arrived unsure of what to expect, many came ready to listen and open themselves to that “change of mind,” hearing what the Lord wanted to say. Throughout the day, it became evident that the transforming grace of the Holy Spirit was being poured out on everyone present — touching lives and initiating that longed-for change of mind and heart.
For Francisco, who has served at Ascension Parish in Denver for more than 14 years, Metanoia was much more than a Catholic event or a series of deep talks. It was a moment to reaffirm his faith and reconnect intimately with the Holy Spirit.
“It had been about 20 years since I last went to a conference like this. I was able to relive the beautiful things I used to have in my heart that had maybe started to fade. Today, they were reawakened,” he shared with emotion.
Noel Díaz, founder of El Sembrador Nueva Evangelización, thanked attendees for opening their hearts and giving themselves the opportunity to encounter God — a Metanoia that could lead to a deeper relationship with the Lord. He also encouraged everyone to trust in God, even when life’s circumstances seem uncertain.
“We’re going to be okay, as long as God is with us,” he said to a wave of applause.
“It’s been a privilege to be in Denver for the first time, together with thousands of people who came from so many places,” Díaz told El Pueblo Católico.
“This experience has been full of testimonies, and for me, those are the real fruits of the work: transformed lives. People who say they were drug addicts and that God touched their lives at an event like this — or through TV or radio,” he said, referring to ESNE’s evangelization outreach.
María, a parishioner from Our Lady Mother of the Church Parish in Commerce City, attended the event with her husband and children. Moved to tears, she shared how she experienced God's presence in a powerful way.
“I feel like God is here. His presence is visible in us because we feel him, because we are living something beautiful. There’s something in our hearts — and I believe it’s the Holy Spirit — telling us we are being healed. I haven’t stopped crying,” she said emotionally.
One of the most moving moments of the day was, without question, the Holy Hour. Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament was present in the midst of the crowd, and the faithful drew near with deep devotion, eager to welcome him into their hearts — and, if possible, to touch him with a handkerchief in a symbolic act of faith. This gesture is inspired by the Gospel passage in Mark 5:25-34, where a woman is healed by touching Jesus’ cloak.
“I had the opportunity to touch the Blessed Sacrament with a handkerchief. I felt something so beautiful in my heart. It was as if God confirmed to me: ‘YES, this is my Body, this is my Blood, my Divinity!’ I started crying and couldn’t explain what I felt in that moment. It was so powerful,” shared María Gurrola, a young woman from St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Denver.
“I’d always been curious about attending a Metanoia. Today I had the chance, and I’m beyond happy to be here,” she added.
To close the event, Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila celebrated a special Mass for all in attendance, joined by Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez as concelebrant. During his homily, the archbishop expressed gratitude to ESNE and its ministry for their evangelizing work — especially among the Hispanic community — and for proclaiming the message of the Lord to so many.
Metanoia 2025 left a lasting mark on the hearts of all those who said “yes” to the experience. The event not only strengthened thousands of faithful in their spiritual walk, but also reignited hope in Denver’s Hispanic Catholic community. The tears, testimonies and shared smiles are living proof that the Lord continues to move among his people.
