Pre-ordination retreat underway at Rosaryville

The cycle continues!  I went back into my blog archive to November of 2010 as I wrote several posts about watching the pre-ordination retreat activities of the formation class ordained later that year.  I read how I recalled with great fondness and joy those days of my own pre-ordination retreat in the autumn of 2008.  Tonight, after leaving the office for the day, I drove the extra 35 miles or so past my interstate exit to arrive at Rosaryville, the retreat center located in Ponchatoula, La.  The event: the pre-ordination retreat for our 2012 formation class.  The 20 candidates, and their wives, began the mandated 5 day pre-ordination retreat last night and will remain together until Sunday afternoon.  The purpose of the pre-ordination retreat is to reflect and pray, in a special way, on the call to Holy Orders, and to affirm that it is God's will being followed.  These retreats are always led by a Bishop.  Like my pre-ordination retreat 4 years ago, the one being held this weekend is being led by our Bishop Shelton Fabre, the Vicar-General for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

In 2010, I was specially blessed to be with the class for the entirety of their retreat.  A new job and new responsibilities prevents me from being part of the team except when work is not calling.  But located so close to home with easy interstate access, I simply drove to Rosaryville tonight, greeted the candidates and wives, shared a meal, listened in on their evening sharing session and prayed evening prayer with the group.  A quick "see you later" and I was back on I-12, headed east to rest and reflect back at home before Friday calls me back to work.  In work, and in all things, I and hopefully many others, will be lifting these men and their wives in prayer.  The prayer, reflection and renewal of the pre-ordination retreat can be a powerful moment in that final decision still to come; that final yes to God's call to the diaconate.

Immediately after this retreat, the candidates will return to the classroom for 4 additional months of spirituality, homiletics and other courses, including many practice sessions on the Deacon at Mass and the Sacraments.  They are currently instituted acolytes assigned to a church parish so they will also return to those liturgical duties next Sunday.  And then, for those who persevere to the end(which is really a new beginning) the 20 men will be ordained to serve as Permanent Deacons for the Archdiocese of New Orleans on December 1, 2012.

Can we all join together in prayer for these men and their wives and families for continued spiritual discernment in the months ahead?