Annual Clergy Retreat 2023
The Annual Clergy Retreat for the year 2023 began on Sunday 24th of September and ended on Friday 29th of September at 1.30 pm. Rev Fr. Joe Abraham C.S.S.R. a priest from Goa, well known for his Retreats, Seminars, Missions and Recollections, directed the retreat. At the outset Bishop Francis Serrao SJ, welcomed the preacher and the Clergy.Fr Lawrence D'Souza led the Clergy in to opening prayer. The preacher began with the theme: Inner Journey of Healing with the Scripture quote Genesis 3, 8, where God asks “Where are you?” This question tells us that God loves us.
On the first day Fr Joe spoke on Encounter with God which leads to God experience. During the afternoon session he spoke on "Mary's Heart in the Martha's world", how Mary sought to listen and Martha looked at hospitality with Jesus uniting both the worlds.On the second day the theme was "following Jesus" and our call as a Priest. He asked the question that whether Am I a fan or a follower of Jesus?During the afternoon session he dealt with "The Priestly Journey” centring on, Mission focus and God focus. This was followed by the theme of sin and conversion, inviting all to experience "Forgiveness and reality of wound". The sacrament of reconciliation was the culmination of the theme.
The penultimate topic was "Who am I?" inviting the participants to discover self. This was an invitation to realise who we are and our call and how God has made us with his very personal touch. The afternoon session was to introspect with a gentle reminder to "Forget the former things, Do not dwell on the fast" was the maxim from Isaiah 43:18. Based on this passage Fr. Joe took an important session on inner healing. What we need is surrendered obedience. The evening adoration was a session on inner healing as well as anointing exercise.
The final day session was on the call to celibacy centred round our passion for God and compassion on people. Purity and celibacy have to go together with a passion for God and compassion for people. He explained how Mother Theresa invites the priests to be artists and to wipe the tears of the orphans. In the final session he concluded with the need of prayer as the longing of the heart. The final Eucharist theme was the heart of Mary that holds us together. The entire retreat was a call to renew and come closer to Jesus through the Holy Spirit. The preacher presented beautiful hymns and songs to place the participants in prayerful mood. All priests expressed gratitude to Fr. Joe Abraham CSSR for the wonderful input he gave in the retreat to make all grow spiritually.
