Cl Jashbir Sanga & Cl Stefan Johann Paul for BIS Mumbai

From October 24 to October 30, the community of Divyadaan had their Annual Spiritual Retreat preached by Fr Joseph Rodrigues Sdb (INP). 

The Annual Spiritual Retreat is pivotal in the formation of the young clerics of Divyadaan and helps them to reignite the flame of their Salesian vocation and get more intimate in their relationship with the Lord. 

The preacher, Fr. Joseph Rodrigues, is well known for his charismatic preaching, both for lay and clergy groups. He is a well-sought-after preacher bestowed with various gifts of the Holy Spirit. The preacher introduced the brothers to various methods and techniques of prayers to grow in their spiritual life. He shared real life examples and his own personal testimony which inspired the brothers.

The brothers took extra efforts to commit themselves to the retreat and took the recommendations of the preacher seriously and began to implement them from the very beginning. 

Each day included two talks, one in the morning and one in the evening, with ample time for personal reflection and prayer. The Blessed Sacrament was exposed for the major part of the day and brothers made use of the spiritual ambient to obtain special graces. The retreat concluded with an inner healing and deliverance service by the preacher, assisted by Fr Anthuvan and Fr Jayaseelan.

The retreat was well appreciated by both, the preacher who thanked the clerics for their cooperation and openness through various new ways of prayers, and the brothers, who were grateful for the preacher who not only gave spirit filled talks, but also found time to meet each and every brother personally to avail spiritual counselling.

On the whole, the brothers were grateful to the community for creating a prayerful ambient and inviting Fr Joseph for the retreat. Many have expressed that they truly had a God experience and feel reenergized in their vocation. A strong thirst to draw closer to God continues!