Lent is a favourable time for personal and community renewal as it leads us to the Paschal mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ… Young Adults gathered in Milleret House for a Lent Day Retreat on Saturday 2nd April.

Pope Francis encourages that our Lenten journey in 2022 be reflected on Saint Paul’s exhortation to the Galatians:

“Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity let us do good to all” (Gal 6:9-10).

On a sunny yet chilly morning, young professionals and students joined the Assumption Youth Team in Kensington, topped up with mugs of hot tea and coffees, for a day spent in giving, sowing, and sharing goodness. 

With Holy Week around the corner, our first speaker, Fr Chris Vipers, aligned each Station of the Cross with the current affairs of the world with reflections of our daily carrying of our crosses. In a world that constantly faces turmoil, feud, and inequality, we are asked to strengthen our capacity for compassion rather than our capacity for cruelty. 

After a few chuckles and scribbles on paper of golden one-liners such as ‘God never made garbage’, Fr Chris invited each of us to find a space where we can be still and personally reflect on this question: ‘What is God asking of me this Holy Week? How am I challenged to change my ways and to look at others?’

After seconds and even a third helping of soup and endless rolls of bread, we returned to the library for the afternoon session of the retreat led by Sr Cathy on forgiveness. We are all too familiar with the ‘Prodigal Son’, - yet isn’t it fascinating that no matter how many times we hear the parable, we are able to see it with fresh eyes, and alternate ourselves in the position of either the reckless younger son or the bitter elder brother? 

Rembrandt’s painting was used to guide us by zooming in and focusing our attention on various parts of the painting such as the shape of the son’s head which resembles a foetus and his worn out soles as he returns to the loving and forgiving father. As we are embraced by our father, we commemorated the passion and death of Jesus through the Stations of the Cross- to remind us of the sacrifice that saves us from sin and redeems us. 

The final part of the retreat gave participants the opportunity for confessions, a spiritual chat with one of the Sisters, Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel, reflections with Psalm 51 or meditation with crafts and ended with a Taize-style Mass, shortly followed by hot cross buns! We hope that our retreaters continue to ‘not grow tired of doing good’ as they prepare themselves for Holy Week and are enriched by fast, prayer and charity.

Our next gathering will be on Saturday 7th May for our 'Assumption Young Adult Monthly Mass & Social'