Annual Retreat Back

 The Lenten Season is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption. In this light, The Most Holy Redeemer’s Church helps its parishioners prepare for the Lord’s coming by conducting retreats every year. The retreat for the year 2015 began on the 15^th of March and came to a solemn closure on the 20^th of March.

In its simplest form ‘Retreat’, means ‘to withdraw, to drawback.’ Throughout the ages, the Christian tradition has understood Retreat to be an important part of spiritual formation.  That is, time consciously set aside for God, a change of focus, a deliberate act of stepping outside of normal routine by withdrawing (not running away) from the noise and pressures; the immediate and insistent claims of our social, domestic and workaday responsibilities in order to be in a quiet place where all our senses are open and ready to listen to God.

The retreat was conducted by the Carmelite priests, Rev.Fr.Deepak Fernandes (Dipu) being the main pastor. The parishioners were present in large numbers depicting their unfailing trust and firm devotion on the Lord. The primary focus of the retreat was on “Family Life”. The devotees were made to understand and realize the importance of the spiritual growth of a family. The retreat also highlighted the need for an individual to adore God and be grateful rather than always asking God for personal favors. Prayers should thus be selfless. On the 19^th of March, Confessions were held. Confessions, as said in the retreat were the means to refrain oneself from committing sins and to become a better follower of Christ. On the 20^th of March the retreat came to its culmination. On this day the retreat spoke of the true manner in which a devotee had to participate in the Way of the Cross. The Way of the Cross should not be a mechanical process instead one had to recollect and think of all the sins that one had committed making the cross of Jesus heavier day by day. The insistence was on forgiving, forgetting and returning back to the Lord. The Choir under the guidance of Mr. Richard Machado added to the solemnity of the retreat. The Parish priest, Rev.Fr. Peter D’souza thanked all those who had involved themselves both as participants and conductors of the retreat. Mrs.Dora D’cunha gave her valuable yet short feedback on the retreat.

The retreat indeed played a key role in spiritually rejuvenating the parishioners.