The Retreat for the aspirants was held in the Aspirantate – Bamunmura from 20-23 July 2022. Rev. Fr. Robi Sarkar SDB, preached the retreat on the theme “: “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” 1 Corinthians 1:27. Provincial Sr.Leelamama Palliparambil exhorted the 35 candidates to spend the days in close intimacy with Jesus. One of the aspirants says, “We began our retreat with much enthusiasm and in the Spirit of recollection. It was a wonderful experience for all of us to spend our time with the Lord praying and reading the word of God”.

On the first day, of the retreat, the talks and prayer moments were based on the topic “God’s call”. We considered our call which was given to each one of us in different forms, of our lives. Whether it is in Religious life or in marriage, it is a call to which each one of us had to respond; and remain faithful until the end of our lives. Every day our day ended in the adoration to the Blessed Sacrament which we were helped to spend fruitfully.

At the end of the retreat, this is what echoed from the aspirants: “It was simply a wonderful experience for each one of us. We praised God, thanked God, and made petitions to God. We were helped to be reconciled with God and to one another. We were helped to forgive others. After being reconciled with God we were helped to make our resolutions, how we could grow deeper in our loving relationship with Jesus”.

As we concluded the retreat Fr. Robi reminded us that our spiritual retreat began the day we ended. So, all of us have started our journey with the Lord in earnestness and enthusiasm to be faithful to Him, who loves us and cares for us.

Abha Kishori Tirkey and Daffodil Nayak