ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD For several years now, we have gathered for our annual retreat at Marie Joseph Spiritual Center. We are most grateful to our Sisters of the Holy Rosary and the RSR Core group of Associates who plan/prepare and present this spiritual weekend. We were called into sessions via a drum made by Jean Bissonnette, one of our Associates. It was also part of the singing of many songs during the weekend. The drum is often thought to help bring the physical and mental side of a person back in touch with his / her spiritual or heart side. As in many things in the Native American culture, the drum is used to bring balance rejuvenation to a person through his/her participation in listening to the heartbeat. The drum is a tool for changing consciousness. The roundness of the drum represents the circle of ALL THAT IS, especially all that is upon the Earth. Friday evening prayer and reflection was on the Annunciation (Luke 1: 26-38) presented by Pat Schaeffer, associate and Sr. Maureen Bellerose. We began by lighting candles as a sign of our presence and openness for the weekend. The candles flickered and brightened our Friday evening as we were guided to begin our time together. Saturday morning began with morning prayers followed by Mass. It was awesome to see the union of two religious communities and Associates from both communities present as well as many others in attendance, to participate in the Eucharist. Our Associates' presence was a wonderful opportunity for Evangelization. And it did happen. One of the woman attending another group retreat asked if she could come and be part of our monthly gathering as well as our retreat for 2013. Another showed interest in the drum and what we were all about. Liane Hamann led us in a fabulous guided reflection and hands on activity Saturday morning. It was a re-planting of a bulb that had already bloomed, but we were able to see the roots, bulb and the growth of this daffodil into a beautiful yellow flower. We each replanted the flower and shared our reflection on how the roots were intermingled as we are intermingled with each other and the world, how we are sustained as the bulb is the strength and nutrition of the flower. Each had such wonderful and inspiring insight from this activity. Jean Bissonnette, Associate/Guide To be followed next month
2012-11-04
Eight Associates and four Sisters gathered for a two night, three day retreat at Bidderford Pool in an old 1890 building with a fabulous ocean view. Our theme for the weekend was ‘All things are possible with God'.