By Natalie Salameh
The Maronite Servants of Christ the Light hosted a one day Retreat at the Mother of
Light Convent on 31 May to 1 June 2013 for the young women of the Maronite
Church.
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The focus of the retreat was on being made in the image and
likeness of God. I think we all often forget that we, as individual human
beings, have a superior dignity. That it was God who formed us, created us from
nothing, and who willed us into existence purely out of His unfathomable love
for us. The Maronite Servants of Christ the Light have reminded us of the
superior dignity that we have of being children of an all-powerful and
all-loving God.
The Retreat began on the evening of 31 May 2013 with the
praying of the Maronite Ramsho (evening prayer). The Sisters then launched into
their first presentation with a focus on the Book of Genesis.
Questions I think we all ask ourselves at one point in our
lives were focused on in great detail, “who am I?” and “what am I?” The Sisters
gave us the answers we all search for - we are beautiful because we are made in
the image and likeness of God. We are made in His image not because of what we
have done for Him, but because of what He has done for us, and not because of
what He means to us, but because of what we mean to Him. This served as an
excellent topic of meditation for our one hour of Eucharistic Adoration that
followed.
The evening was sealed with the watching of the movie
“October Baby”. This movie in itself focused on the great gift of God’s love,
the gift of children (particularly the unborn), and the healing power of God’s
love (well chosen). This movie transmitted a really powerful message, and that
is in forgiveness, Christ sets us free. What does He set us free from? The
shackles and fetters of sin.
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The topic of sin was then the focus of the next morning’s
presentation, after the praying of the Maronite Safro (morning prayer). What
does sin do? It distorts and corrupts our image, which was made in God’s
likeness. The morning’s presentation focused on original sin which caused the
expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and closed the gates of
heaven. But God the Father Almighty, in His infinite mercy and compassion, sent
us a Savior, His only begotten Son, to redeem us and re-open the gates of heaven.
So Christ Jesus, by taking on our humanity, has united us to His divinity.
Of course, the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light
reminded us that the greatest remedy for sin is the Holy Mystery of Penance (Confession).
To that end, we had Abouna Jack from Our Lady of Purgatory Maronite Church in
New Bedford come and hear our confessions and celebrate a Divine Liturgy.
Thankyou - Abouna Jack.
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The third and final presentation focused on the role that we
women have in the conception and birth of new life (as biological mothers) and
the tender love and care we have for all of God’s children in Holy Mother
Church (as spiritual mothers). This was followed again by a beautiful hour of
Eucharistic Adoration and the praying of the Maronite Ramsho.
On a personal note, I got to share my testimony of
discernment with the other young ladies who attended the retreat. I have been
discerning a religious vocation with the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light
for the past two weeks. I am originally from Sydney, Australia, but I made a
special visit to the Maronite Servants to discern the voice and call of God. I
ask for your prayers during this time of my discernment.
On behalf of all the young ladies who attended the retreat,
I’d like to thank the Sisters for an enlightening and thought-provoking retreat.
May God continue to bless your mission and ministry to our Maronite people (and
of course may He add to your numbers).