AUXILIUM KURSEONG: The annual Retreat of the Sisters was held at Auxilium Convent, Kurseong, 26 May-2 June 2018. Rev. Fr. Jose Kuttianimattathil sdb from Christu Jyoti College, Bangalore empowered the 29 retreatants with wings to attain holiness in our day to day lives. It was indeed a vacation with God, a journey with God deepening and enriching ourselves with the Word of God. The Word of God came alive in such a force once again. At the outset itself Fr. Jose made it very clear that personal prayer is very essential to make a fruitful retreat, that the fruit of the retreat is our own personal effort in collaboration with the Holy Spirit. And it was so.

Some of the topics dealt with were: God’s call, Word of God as the source of life, Direct love for God, Gratefulness, Forgiveness, Eucharist and me, Jesus and Sin. Power point presentations helped the retreatants to be prayerful, enjoyable and to keep alert. The various moments of prayer, reflections and meditations were all well animated by the preacher so meaningfully as to touch the lives of the participants.

Meditation of affectionate describing was truly moments of deep experience of encountering Jesus in a very personal manner.

The preacher encouraged the participants to memorize scripture quotations as the Word of God gives spiritual and physical strength to fight against temptations and to keep oneself free from sin. The power of the Word of God was stressed upon so forcefully as it is spirit and life, it is medicine, it has got power over the material world, it is the sword against the evil one, it helps us to know the mind of Christ… It is also important to cultivate the direct love for God, that is, one’s love for God should involve one’s whole being, it should be exclusive, intense, full-time, self-sacrificing, enjoyable and fruitful. Speaking of Sin, the retreatants were made to understand that sin is everything that Jesus is not, it is the opposite of Jesus. When we look at Jesus, we know what sin is! Confession gives grace to avoid sin and so it is not only for sinners but also for those without sin, he said. Speaking of the Holy Eucharist, the preacher made it clear that it is the true medicine for body and soul. The Word and the Eucharist are the two wings to fly towards the heavenly Father.

“Every conference of the preacher aimed at holiness. I felt that the ‘Word’ JESUS was setting me free and also making me whole”, says Sr. Domenica. Sr. Esther cherishes her retreat experience saying: “I discovered my awesome God who was present to me actively, waiting for me in the WORD OF GOD. I found Him, He will be with me and I will journey with Him and will find lasting joy and live His love and peace”. Sr. Elizabeth Joseph has this to say: “I found this retreat a very unique one as it helped me to focus my entire self towards my God, to thirst and seek for God’s Word and nourish myself to grow in holiness. It gave me opportune moments in the atmosphere of silence, prayer, listening to God’s Word and reflection to respond to Jesus, find joy and inner strength to seek and accept God’s plan in my life”. “Indeed it was a unique experience, a tangible experience. I have climbed one more step closer towards God and His people. It was a very challenging retreat, rebuilding the broken faith, weak relationship... Very good, simple and comprehensible talks and guidance”, reiterates Sr. Francesca. Reported by the Retreatants