8.29.2012

Women’s Retreat - California


The Maronite Servants of Christ the Light traveled to Southern California to facilitate a women’s retreat for Saint John Maron parish in Orange County.   A parishioner opened her home in Lake Arrowhead for the venue which offered a beautiful setting for retreat.  We began with 20 women on Friday evening August 24th and concluded Sunday morning with Divine Liturgy back at the parish church.   
Fr. Antoine Bakh, pastor, and the retreatants warmly welcomed us with their gracious hospitality. On the Saturday evening, Fr. Tony came to the mountain home to hear confessions and to bring the Blessed Sacrament for Eucharistic Adoration.
During the retreat, Mother Marla Marie gave three presentations on: finding strength, light and healing in the prayers of the Maronite Liturgy, how to reflect on the scriptures through Lectio Divina, and the importance and blessings of the Mysteries of the Eucharist and Penance.
Below are reflections from two of the retreatants:
“Your presence and spiritual guidance, at our first Saint John Maron women's retreat made the occasion ever more special and meaningful. Hearing how God called you into your vocations gave witness to His love and mercy in all of our lives.  I believe the light you radiated at the retreat gave us all greater insight, knowledge, respect and appreciation for our Maonite traditions and provided that feminine dimension of our church, that is so much needed here, in the United States.   Seeing you later, meeting, greeting, and speaking with our parishioners and youth gave me such a great feeling of hope for our church.”    Pattie

”The Woman's Retreat was such a success in so many ways . Everyone of the woman have not stopped talking about how each of them were ministered to in such a beautiful way with much love and kindness.  The combination of the Teachings and the Holiness of our Maronite Prayers, Songs and  Tradition  made it perfect for all the woman. It would not of been the same if we had arranged to have the retreat with someone else. Thank you for giving of yourselves completely this weekend and all of us are looking forward to you coming back in 2013.”  Regina