18 September 2021 · 2021-09 newsletter
Silent Retreat Days for Young Women
Grace & Silence is a four-part retreat series to give young women an opportunity to discern their God willed vocation to either marriage and family, single life or consecrated life. The attendance of all four retreats at the Mt Richon Shrine, surrounded by natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere, is highly recommended.
The retreat days have been offered since 2014, and over the years a number of young women have participated, eager to experience a retreat immersed in silence, personal reflection and prayer. Usually the young women arrive to enjoy a home-made morning tea, as they get to know one another. Following a welcome and an introduction to the day’s program, the participants are invited to freely relinquish their devices for the day, to learn to listen to God in silence and prayer. The day begins with a talk on Our Lady with the theme on vocations. A song to Our Lady and a prayer to the Holy Spirit in the Shrine initiates the time of personal silence. Lunch too occurs in silence, as we share a home cooked meal amidst background music. Throughout the day the young women are encouraged to journal their thoughts, reflecting on the vocation God is calling them to embrace. Appropriate reading material and many opportunities to enjoy cups of tea, coffee and an occasional sweet treat makes the day simply fly! During the final hour everyone gathers in the Shrine for exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, group rosary, songs and prayers.
Saturday June 19
This year’s series began with 14 young women attending. Five of these young women were returning to attend the series a second time. Why were they returning? They are keen to continue to discover their vocation and as one young woman put it: ‘I now love the prayerful silence!’ Nine of the young women came for the first time, and 6 had heard it from past participants who highly recommended they attend. One young woman really felt she received an answer to her questions when she began reading and praying a youth novena to Fr Kentenich. She strongly recommended the novena to everyone present. Already by the end of the day, all the young women were eager to return and commit to the entire series.
Saturday July 10
Just short of our snap lockdown here in WA, we decided to go ahead with the event, asking all participants to come wearing masks. Despite this, a few last minute registrations increased our numbers to 19. Already before the event, there was a great sense of expectation, with a number of young women saying they could not wait to attend. According to the feedback which was given at the end of the day, many received personal insights and a number of graces. What was most evident is that Our Lady spoilt them with great weather. Just the day before it was grey, dreary and cold, raining non-stop and on the event itself there was so much sunshine that participants could sit and warm themselves in the sun! It was incredible!
Saturday August 21
The third part of the series saw some last minute cancellations and 14 participants eagerly arrived to hear a young wife and mother share her journey towards the vocation of marriage and family. Many of the young women were grateful to have heard her story, with one commenting: ‘To hear from someone else that their journey to find their vocation was not an easy one, gives me the hope to keep going until I find mine.’ Another young woman said: ‘I really love the group prayer time in the Shrine. It seems to me that we are all singing and praying from the heart.’ One young woman texted ‘Personally, this retreat is worth more than what I have paid for.’ And one said to me: ‘When I attend other retreats, I hear so many new thoughts and great ideas from different speakers that I usually come away feeling so overwhelmed. But I love the fact that I can come to this retreat and reflect on where I am now in my life. And each Grace & Silence experience is different.’ Some young women have asked me to spiritually accompany them on their vocation journey, while some have either found or are praying for a spiritual director or someone who will accompany them.
They are all on their way to discovering God’s plan of love for their lives. May we keep these young women and all who are prayerfully discerning their vocations in our prayers.
Sr. M. Rebecca
Filed underNewsletter · Youth