The annual retreat 2018 for Missionaries of the Tanzanian Province was offered in two sessions: 1 – 5 October and 8 – 12 October 2018. The retreats took place at St. Gaspar College in Morogoro and it was preached by Fr. Joseph Deardorff, C.PP.S, of the Cincinnati Province working in Colombia.
Missionary Spirit
Members of the Province admired the missionary spirit of Fr. Joseph Deardorff and appreciated his generosity, availability and readiness to share his experience of community life. His personal experience and examples helped us to understand his presentations.
Themes presented
Members were grateful to him for reminding them of the fraternal community life and the challenging issues we face together. The following topics were shared:
- The listening circle method as a tool for solving problems and understanding each other in community. Following the C.PP.S Pastoral Plan 2014 – 2019, in the Provocative Proposition for living our Mission, Goal IV, the General Curia intended to provide the education and training that members and associates need to utilize the Listening Circle Method in their practice of reconciliation. Inclusion of this exercise was part of fulfillment of the Pastoral Plan of the Congregation.
- Reconciliation not as a theory, achievement or an event, but as God’s gift. It is a journey to walk with God and with others.
- The meaning of forgiveness and stages of forgiveness; this was helpful and very practical.
- The spirituality of the Cup including its three stages of holding, lifting and drinking the Cup to the bottom. This was very meaningful to us as C.PP.S missionaries.
- Fr. Deardorff shared with the participants some prayers which may be used personally or in communities and formation houses:
- Prayer to Our Lady of the Precious Blood: Woman of Reconciliation
- Celebration of the Cross
- Prayer of a missionary
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, reflecting on the spirituality of the Cup
- Prayer to Our Lady of the Precious Blood: Woman of the New Covenant.
Text and photos provided by Fr. Egidius Seneda, CPPS- Provincial Secretary