Chapter Offers Bilingual Lenten Retreat

Roxanne Hughes-Wheatland – Washington, DC Chapter

In 2018, the small group of Maryknoll Affiliates who prior to the COVID-19 pandemic met at the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, scheduled a retreat to be facilitated by the organization, Little Friends for Peace at their facility in Accokeek, Maryland. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of registrants, the retreat was postponed. In January 2022 the idea of having a retreat that could be facilitated by the same organization was reconsidered, and we approached Little Friends for Peace about having the retreat virtually, open to all Maryknoll Affiliates, as well as other interested individuals. In offering the retreat to the broader Maryknoll Affiliate membership, we determined the retreat should be conducted in both English and Spanish so that the Affiliates in Latin America could feel welcome to attend. So, on March 26, 2022, the Baltimore-Washington, DC Maryknoll Affiliates sponsored a virtual Lenten bilingual retreat, entitled, "Opening Our Hearts As We Take Up the Cross: Inward, Outward Journey." The chapter was able to sponsor the retreat through a Mission Grant approved by the Maryknoll Affiliates Board. 

Facilitated by Ms. MJ Park, Executive Director of Little Friends for Peace, the retreat was presented in English with simultaneous Spanish translation provided by Michelle Macias. We had 20 registrants and about 15 participants. The participants were a mixture of US-based Maryknoll Affiliates and at least three Maryknoll Affiliates from the Guatemala chapter. A  few non-Affiliate individuals also attended. While there were a few technical difficulties at the beginning of the meeting related to making sure that the Spanish translation was being heard, those difficulties were quickly resolved. 

The retreat focused on Lent as a time when we hear God's voice, saying, as in the song, "Come back to me with all your heart, don't let fear keep us apart."  As we take up the "Cross" during Lent, we are asked to consider what the "Cross" means to us, how are we carrying the "Cross," and what do we use daily to help us carry the "Cross" we are given, with the understanding that Jesus says, "I'm with you always."  Since the group was relatively small, we were able to come together as one peace circle to provide our reflections on these themes. 

Ms. MJ Park provided time for us to pray and listen to music to help guide our reflection. We were encouraged to go inward, check in with ourselves, and ask, "What am I thinking and feeling, what is bringing me inner peace? How am I navigating my emotions, fears, anxieties, joys, and challenges?"

The happy faces of participants tell us that the retreat was well received.

The retreat was deemed a success because all of the participants actively engaged in the discussion and meditations. While we don’t know of a plan to host an event like this in the near future, we hope this was only the first of many bilingual programs that the Maryknoll Affiliates can sponsor. The voices of Affiliate members across the globe should be expressed and heard in a manner that makes sure everyone feels fully included in the Maryknoll Affiliate movement.  My one piece of advice to others planning such an event is to start early, especially if you are going to apply for a Mission Grant from the Maryknoll Affiliates Board to help cover the cost of providing the event.