11.28.2014

Children’s Retreat -Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Worcester


By Natalie Salameh
On Saturday, November 22, 2014, the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light offered a retreat day for the children of Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Worcester, MA, with the focus on how God teaches us to give ourselves in love in the events of the Season of the Glorious Birth of Our Lord, the “Happy Announcements”.

Mother Marla Marie explained how the Season of Happy Announcements is made up of six Sundays, during which we see how each of the people in the Bible passages is responding generously and lovingly to the call of God in their lives.
The children were reminded of the great gift of Jesus at Christmas, and were challenged to think of ways that they can prepare for Christmas by being more generous and loving. During the day, the children were able to participate in a Nativity Play which they enthusiastically staged for their Pastor, Fr. Gaby Hoyek, and a number of volunteers.



The retreat concluded with the children actively participating in Saturday’s Vigil Liturgy, which celebrated the Feast of the Annunciation. Some of the children read the intercessions and Epistle, all sang the hymns, while others offered the gifts.