Divine Word Missionaries confreres around the AUS Province have been taking time out for spiritual renewal this month, with a series of retreats being held around Australia and Thailand.

The retreats took place in Sydney, Melbourne and Alice Springs during July and another will be held in Bangkok for members of the Thai District in early August.

Fr Bill Burt SVD, who is currently based at the Ledalero seminary in Indonesia, is leading the retreats, which have also been attended by some members of the SSpS Sisters.

The theme was taken from the Canticle of Zachariah, which is found in the Gospel of Luke: “Serving God without fear, in holiness and justice” (Luke 1: 74-75).

“A retreat is an opportunity to come away for a while from one’s daily routine, to focus on what is really essential in one’s life,” Fr Bill says.

“For religious missionaries, it is a time to restore their commitment to their calling, to be energised by the Spirit and for their enthusiasm for proclaiming God’s word to be revitalised.”

During the retreats, Fr Bill teased out possible meanings from the theme which can be seen as building blocks to build-up the House of God. He used personal stories and related Biblical passages to demonstrate these.

“I hope the retreats will empower the participants to move forward, serving God and the extended family of humanity, ‘without fear, in holiness and justice’,” he said.

Fr Elmer Ibarra SVD said he found the retreat fruitful in that it provided a welcome break for the community from their every-day work.

“More importantly, it has provided us a time to reflect on the good things that have happened in our lives in trying to follow God through our vocation as Religious people,” he said.

“Fr Bill Burt was very good in drawing out some of his experiences and we could reflect on some similar experiences and appreciate what God has done for all of us.”

PHOTOS

TOP RIGHT: The SVD Marsfield community is pictured at dinner during the retreat.

BOTTOM LEFT: The retreat was led by Fr Bill Burt SVD, pictured here celebrating Mass during the retreat.