Mags GarganA weekend retreat for consecrated men and women was held in All Hallows College in Dublin as part of the celebration of the ‘Year for Consecrated Life’.
Sr Briege McKenna opened the retreat asking “If we added together the years of consecrated life lived by all of us here in this room, how could we thank God for His gifts?”
Fr Raniero Cantalamessa OFM Cap., ‘Preacher to the Papal Household’ for over 30 years, was a guest speaker. Taking his inspiration from the writings of Blessed Pope Paul VI who said that “the greatest need of the Church is the Holy Spirit,” Fr Raniero reflected on the ‘tools’ that are effective in preparing us for that experience – prayer, scripture, Eucharist and Our Lady.
On the second day Fr Raniero spoke on prayer and presenting Mary as the model of all consecrated people. He said religious may be losing hope when they look at their ageing members and small numbers, but to proclaim hope we must have a “daily resurrection of heart”.
That message of hope was also presented by Bishop Brendan Comiskey in his homily and personal testimony when he spoke powerfully of the Cross in our lives. “When we build without the Cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. The Cross must be part of our lives as consecrated people as it was the companion of Jesus.”