Jesuit collaborators attend four-day retreat

On : 2022-03-01

A four-day Ignatian interreligious retreat was held for Jesuit collaborators at Dhyanashrama, Bangalore from February 26 to March 1. Fr Joseph Lobo SJ was the preacher.

Among the participants, there were six from SJPUC and two each from SAC Harihar, and SJBHS. The retreat was first of its kind. The participants were very well disposed and did a much fruitful retreat. Apart from the preacher, Fr Joseph Mathias SJ and Fr Antony Joseph SJ made themselves available for personal guidance, which was much appreciated.

“The collaborators went away from the retreat with a deep sense of personal transformation and a great sense of renewed vigour for the mission. The Lord indeed was generously active in all of them,” Fr Lobo said.

Five more such retreats are on the anvil.

Sunny Gudinho (Principal, St Aloysius PU College, Harihar), a participant, has the following to say about the retreat:

The ultimate goal of our life is to meet our creator. The questions posted on River:Me opened up lots of areas on our journey to meet God. The Love of God and unconditional forgiveness and healing was experienced during the reflections on the scripture readings and guided prayer and meditation. This experience helped me personally open up wounded areas for healing and to forgive persons through the lens of God. 

Talks and reflections on blending spirituality in workplaces and being God conscious in every work was a time to learn how integrity, humility and obedience could be the virtues achieved, especially while dealing with conflicts and other tough situations. 

The daily examen, gathering fruits of the day and the personal heart talk with Fr Jossie and Fr Joe Mathias was a channel to understand the will of God and build deeper faith in the Divine.