A Special Spiritual Time!

Last night I wrapped up Thanksgiving Day at the Abbey Retreat Center at St. Joseph Abbey as the pre-ordination retreat began for our 10 soon to be deacons. Our class of 2010, selected before Hurricane Katrina hit and forced to endure a full year delay in starting classes, is now just 2 weeks away from ordination. Before ordination can occur it is required of the diaconate candidates that they be in retreat for a time of 5 days just prior to ordination. For our 2010 class that meant a retreat that began on Thanksgiving evening and will run through Monday. Last night, as the class gathered, they drove in from various Thanksgiving family events yet it was obvious how happy they were to be together. As candidates they have been together for more than 5 years. They have journeyed through formation together. They have shared their personal ups & downs, family joys & sorrows, since coming together as "community". Now, they wake up on this Friday morning to be fed spiritually on day 2 of this pre-ordination retreat. Each day is planned carefully with time allowed for adoration in chapel, Mass and prayers and a time to reflect and share. When they leave this beautiful Abbey they will gather again in 12 days to be ordained as each will go there own way to fulfill the ministries entrusted to them.

The retreat is being led by our wonderful Archbishop Emerti, Alfred C. Hughes. He has planned a wonderful spiritual retreat focused on the spirituality of ministry as our candidates are called to this beautiful ministry of diaconate.

For me, as a Deacon approaching my 2 year anniversary, these events are beautiful reminders of those fall days in 2008 when Wendy and I ventured to Rosaryville for our pre-ordination retreat. I remember everything from those 5 days; the spirituality, the "community", the anticipation of ordination, even the rooms, the grounds and the crisp fall weather we enjoyed. I also remember that day, at the end of the retreat, when we signed our commitments and declarations at the closing Mass of the retreat. And I remember being told to savor these days as after ordination, we would never be together again in one place; it just never happens. To this day, that has proven to be a very true statement.

So thankful for the opportunity to be of some small assistance I rise this Friday to spend some day in support of the class of 2010. On this first full day of retreat the candidates and their wives will explore the call to a life of prayer and to ministry of the Word. I pray that their spiritual retreat be a wonderful experience that prepares them for ordination on December 11th and a lifetime of ministry as Deacons.

Please pray for these candidates and the ministry of the Deacon!