Ushaw Discernment Retreat Weekend
This article on the Ushaw Discernment Retreat Weekend of 1-3 Feb 2008 has been kindly written by one of the participants in the weekend
USHAW COLLEGE
DISCERNMENT RETREAT
1 - 3 February 2008
“Listen, I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you, and eat with you and you with me”.
Diocesan Mission Statement.
As each of us arrived in the late and very stormy Friday afternoon, we were met by one of the seminarians who showed us to our accommodation for the weekend.
The retreat began with evening prayer at 6pm in St. Joseph’s chapel with the staff and students. For some of us it was the first time to have the experience of praying the divine office in community and would be central to our time of reflection. Afterwards dinner was taken in the parlour again with the Staff and students, a hospitality not given to most visitors and therefore gave the occasion a very special feel.
Grand silence began at 7pm with our spiritual Director Fr Paul Grogan giving the first of his 5 talks. The first talk was on silence and solitude, and as the Lenten season was almost upon us we began our ‘journey’ by contemplating on a passage from 1 Kings 19.6-14. This passage prefigures Our Lords 40 days and nights in the desert.
We were invited to follow Our Lord in his journey of solitude and hear God's call in “the gentle breeze”.
Later we went to St. Joseph’s chapel for Holy Hour, the first time (for the following 24 hours) that vocal cords would be used solely for prayer and praise. Although we did not know each other, a sense of solidarity was tangible.
At breakfast the next morning the silence was only broken by the noise of jarring crockery and cutlery and a necessity to grasp the rudiments of a sign language for pass the milk. This experience of silence when not at prayer so to speak was powerful sign Our Lord taking first place in our hearts and minds.
Morning prayers followed the second theme “Come and See” John 1.29-42. An irresistible and powerful invitation by Our Lord. For me these words of Our Lord always reminds me of a great modern day follower of Jesus – Mother Teresa, who on arrival at a busy airport was besieged by journalists who bombarded her with questions about her new mission, and with her sharp eye and steady gaze all she said was “Come and See”.
Father Paul in his talk pointed out that we had arrived at the point where Our Lord through the Church was inviting us to “Come and See” “Just what His call holds for us” away from the crowds and in quiet meditation.
The third theme was ‘following Jesus’ with a meditation on Mark 3.13-20 followed by exposition and inner conversation with Our Lord. By this time we were immersed in a prayerful contemplation and although with our own thoughts were united in spirit.
Time out for private meditation either in one’s room or finding a secluded corner of the college, of which there are many and draughty! But we keep our Fathers house in mind where there are no draughts………
Dinner time was special not only because of our need to feed our bodies but because it was in these situations when the self discipline of silence was most exercised and meaningful.
Theme 4 ‘how do I know, how can I tell, why me’. In his talk Father Paul gave a personal account of his own calling which led to his Ordination. At this point I expect most of us were eager to share our own path to discernment. Holy Hour with night prayer signalled the end of the Grand Silence. I was eager to speak with the others and yet at the same time reluctant to leave the ‘comfort zone’ of silence. We gathered in the common room for drinks at the Bar!
Sunday was buzzing with conversation with everyone pleased to have made the ‘journey’. Final talk with Father Paul and a sharing of what each us gained from the experience. Mass followed by lunch and lots more conversation before and after.
COME AND SEE
There were six Enquirers from our Diocese who attended this weekend retreat, two of whom were enquiring about the Permanent Diaconate.