Our annual Lenten parish retreat was very much a community affair. It took place from March 12 to 16. Each evening the parishioners gathered to reflect on the theme, A Strong Family a Strong Community.

This theme was chosen based on the outcome of meetings held by the Parish Synod Delegates under the supervision of our parish priest, Fr Ferdinand Warner OP. Together they planned and executed the retreat.

The theme also reflected the Synod focus on Family Life and our Parish Vision Statement, “A vibrant community, welcoming all, serving their needs, strengthened by the Holy Spirit.”

The retreat theme could not be more relevant considering the high crime rate in the country now. The theme selected picked up the last year’s theme and it is hoped that this focus on the family will continue next year.

Based on the theme the relevant scriptural texts were selected: Luke 2: 41-50; Matthew 12: 46 – 50; 20: 20-23 and 18: 15 -18. Hymns appropriate for Lent and theme were compiled on a song sheet.

The theme hymn was We are family. Each participant got a copy of the hymn sheet as well as a copy of the programme. The flyers, which decorated the pillars in the Church defined a strong family/community as one that is: respectful, trusting, forgiving responsible, faithful, welcoming, charitable and supportive.

The Church was also decorated with paintings of the Holy Family, the model family. In front of the altar was a lit, red brick structure of building blocks with a small fountain. In the middle of this structure was a statue of St Joseph with the Infant Jesus in his arms.

The Parish Synod Delegates were the resource persons who did the preaching. The various groups/ministries in the parish: Lectors, St Vincent de Paul, Teenage Catechists, Youth Ministry, Altar Servers, Lay Ministers, RCIA Catechists etc. led the congregation in prayer, activity and intercession. All parish choirs (St Joseph, Mt D’ or, Charismatic and Youth) came together to render inspiring hymns. It was all hands on deck.

Parish group. At right is Rose Osuji

Singing at the retreat

Using various strategies (speeches, singing, dialogue, CDs and state-of-the-art equipment in communication (power point presentations), the message was given that the family is the cell, the community, the organ and the society, the body.

There is interdependence, interrelationship and interconnectedness between the family, the community and the society as in the vine and the branches.

The eye cannot say to the hand or any other part of the body, “I do not need you.” The family is the foundation, the cornerstone on which the community and the society are built. Parents and guardians are their children’s/wards’ first teachers.

The message was also given that because there has been an erosion of traditional family values there is need to restore them in order to have peace, order and harmony in our lives, in the family, the community and the society.

Drawing from various sources  – the Bible, religious articles, Encyclical letters, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Concordance, calypsoes, lives of saints (Sts Monica and Rita), life situations in the society and personal experiences – speaker after speaker underscored the importance of going back to faith practices, observing traditions, obeying God’s commandments, consequences of disobeying God’s commandments, marriage as a vocation and sacrament, fidelity in marriage, power of intercessory prayers, family relationships, relationships in the community, forgiveness, values formation in the homes, roles of family members, etc as ways of building a strong family and a strong community.

These speakers not only preached the Word of God from the perspective of the laity they also witnessed to the power of intercessory prayer and values formation in the home. The devil is the source of all evil and is busy at work attacking homes, communities, churches, societies etc.

In order for us to perform our roles in the homes and communities and build a strong family and a strong community there is therefore the need for us to put on the armour of God through prayer, fasting and doing good works.

By so doing we will be able to nurture the mustard seed that has been planted in us, make it bear abundantly and pass it on to our children. A prayer for family life was distributed.

Each evening there was quiet music for reflection. The music centred on the topic for the day. Daily assignments were given. On the first day the assignment was to write a short uplifting note to someone.

This was exchanged with someone during the “Greeting Rite” on Day 2. The homework for Day 2 was to write a love letter to a family member and place it in an envelope. The activity for Day 3 was to address the envelope and place it in a basket, which was then passed round.

Home work for Day 3 was to do some soul-searching in preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Day 4 and the assignment for Day 4 was to write a blessing prayer and to bring something (cash and/or foodstuff) for the poor.

On the same day we were given stones (symbols of our hardened selves) to be replaced with human hearts (in the form of a piece of cloth cut in the shape of a heart).

On the final day, Day 5, Fr Ferdi celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving and for activity we exchanged blessing prayers. At the Presentation of Gifts we individually presented our offerings for the poor.

Fr Ferdi thanked all who had attended and participated. He summarised the four evenings’ proceedings and emphasised the importance of placing God first in our lives and in everything we do.

The love of God is the first and most important commandment followed by love of neighbour. Love is a sign of the kingdom. We must show love in our relationships. Each evening ended with the Lord’s Prayer, the theme song and the Dominican Blessing was sung.

The five-day event came to a close with an agape sharing of a meal of tasty corn soup and rolls. We were fed and nourished in both body and soul. All who came appreciated it very much.