God is light; in Him, there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:5b-7)
A retreat at the very beginning of the new academic sets the spiritual atmosphere back in place after the long summer vacation. St. Charles Seminary organized the annual retreat this year for five days beginning from 19th June 2022 to 24th June 2022. Fr Joshua Moonjapally, OP, the animator of Liturgy in the Seminary, introduced Fr. Bineesh John, OP, and his team members, Mr. Godfrey Pereira and Mr. Derik. This team came from Sathyagiri Dominican Centre for Training and Retreat, Igathpuri, Maharastra and has led all the brothers into a Charismatic Spiritual Renewal Retreat.
Fr. Bineesh John, OP has conducted meditations based on scripture and inspired everyone to decide for change in life. The first question that Jesus asked in the Gospel of St. John (1:35-42; what do you seek?) is the base of all the meditations during the retreat. He has led the gathering with truths and facts about what is happening to Priests all around the world and how to face current and upcoming challenges to the priesthood with the help of prayer and fasting.
Mr. Godfrey Pereira, a married faithful and a Brahmin convert from the state of Goa, has shared his very inspiring life experiences on how he encountered God in his life and how the Holy Spirit led him in his ministry and worked wonders through him. Mr. Derik, also a Hindu convert, has led us in Praise and Worship with his God given gifts of music and singing. He shared his life story of how he received the Word and became a Catholic.
There were a lot of inputs given on various themes such as the basis of a call to Priesthood, personal prayer life, Eucharist, Confession, Holy Scripture, Models of Discipleship, Priestly Celibacy, and growth in various areas in physical, mental, spiritual and emotional dimensions.
Fr. Aquin Noronha, OP, the Rector thanked the team and Fr Joshua Moonjapally, OP facilitated each member of the team for helping the brothers to discern their vocation and move on with the Spirit of God.
