While everyone transitioned to "black" Friday foolishness, big football rivalries and turkey sandwich leftovers, the 2010 class of soon to be deacons moved into day 2 and 3 of their pre-ordination retreat. After that opening session on Thanksgiving night that I previously addressed, the candidates and wives moved a little further along into directed prayer and reflection. Led by our recently retired Archbishop Hughes, they were challenged to focus on personal prayer and relationship with Scripture as they prepare for diaconal ministry. The retreat has featured ample time for reflection, daily Mass, personal one-on-one time with the Archbishop, daily prayers, adoration & benediction and a reconciliation service with time for individual confessions.
Of course this is a required 5 day retreat so there is much more to come Sunday and Monday. The overall retreat, with the exception of two sharing sessions, is silent. It is our hope that the silent retreat and time together in pray, as husband & wife, as well as community, will prepare the candidates not just for the ordination activities of the next 2 weeks but the lifetime of ministry that awaits.
So I ask my readers to continue to pray for these candidates and their wives, for the vocation of the diaconate and vocations for our Church. More to come on the retreat later.
It sounds like a wonderful way to spend Thanksgiving weekend.
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