From Mountain-Top to Road to Emmaus: 48 Parishioners of NBVM, Butterworth Find Empowerment and Renewal in Three-Day Prayer Retreat

NBVM, BUTTERWORTH: 48 parishioners of the Church of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (NBM/SCIC) who attended an enriching and spirit-filled three-day Prayer Retreat with Rev Fr Andrew Manickam at Stella Maris from 24th March felt empowered after gaining new insights into their lives and mission.

The first evening, after a mass and the Way of the Cross, Fr. Andrew started the first input by quoting Socrates’ who said, “An unexamined life is not worth living” and “To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom”. The purpose of a retreat, he continued, is an “inward journey into our lives, to recollect, remember and re-examine our lives, to silence and to open our minds and hearts to God; to know ourselves, to be restored and refreshed by experiencing God’s love through prayer and eventually, to go back to where we are, to “bloom and grow”.

For the next two days, Fr Andrew presented two major events in the Bible for their reflection, namely the Transfiguration (Matt 17 1-13) and the Road to Emmaus (Lk 24.33-35, 48-49). He connected these events to the prophet Elijah (1 Kg 19:1-14) Hagar (Gen 21:9-23), and the two disciples: Cleophas and his companion, who were joined by Jesus on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:33-35, 48-49).

By relating the above events, people and Psalm 51; Fr. Andrew crafted a ‘mountain-top experience’ for the retreatants where they could encounter themselves; recollect, remember and re-examine God’s loving presence in their lives.

After his sharing of Psalm 51, he urged all to pray this psalm of repentance, remembering God’s saving grace and mercy for their failures against charity and to re-turn to God; to let go of their past, their expectations, unfulfilled dreams in order to be restored, recharged and empowered by God’s Holy Spirit. He then asked everyone to write a personal prayer to be kept and prayed each day, remembering God’s love.

On the morning of the last day, Fr Andrew led the retreatants down from the mountain-top to walk with Jesus, Cleophas and companion (Lk 48-49), on the road to Emmaus, to experience Jesus in a new way with a new perspective of life.

He reiterated that the sustaining power for Christian spiritual growth is the Eucharist. Cleophas and his companion who recognised Jesus in the breaking of bread, went back to Jerusalem to tell the others that Jesus had risen The retreatants, too need the sustaining power of the breaking of the Word and the breaking of Bread, to be where God has planted them. to be missionary disciples of Christ, having hope and bringing joy and hope to others.

Unlike many other retreats, there were many opportunities for silence, prayer, bonding, laughter and sharing. The retreatants were very grateful to God, Fr. Andrew Manickam and the organising team for a fantastic, grace-filled experience. Syabas. They were joined at the end of the retreat by Fr. Dominic.

The following were some of the comments given:
“Thanks to our retreat master, the Holy Spirit, the organising team and Fr Andrew Manickam for the
‘nice and easy’, meaningful retreat with Jesus on the mountain. The breaking of the Word and its connectivity was amazing” (Jackie)

“Well done to the organising team. A meaningful and much-needed retreat. Fr Andrew’s sessions were simple, meaningful, easy to connect..” (Michelle)

“Thank your Fr Andrew n the organising team for a spirit-filled weekend. Thank you everyone for a wonderful and blessed experience. Was very touched by the fellowship, warmth. Hope to have another opportunity to go on a retreat like this in the future.” (Karen)