In a hectic and chaotic world where daily news of war and economic uncertainty is overpowering many aspects of life, one group of young people in the Diocese of Parramatta decided to step away from all that during Lent and focus on their relationship with God.
About 40 young adults from three parishes – St Monica’s Richmond, Our Lady of the Angels Rouse Hill and St Aiden’s Rooty Hill – spent the weekend of March 13 to 15 at the Benedict XVI Centre at Grose Wold, near the Hawkesbury River, in a retreat led by Fr Matthew Dimian, Administrator at St Aiden’s, and Fr Adam Carlow, Assistant Priest at St Monica’s.
Over the weekend the young people were led in daily Mass, attended adoration, had times for prayer and reflection, listened to talks by the priests, as well as having periods of fellowship with other attendees.
“Lent strips things back, and in doing so it reminds us how much we need God,” said Fr Adam. “That awareness was very real throughout the retreat.”
Fr Matthew Dimian in Adoration with young people at the retreat. Image: Supplied
This was echoed by two of the organisers of the retreat, Alyssa Gratil, from Our Lady of the Angels, and Zane Moir, from St Monica’s.
Both said how important it was for them and other young people to step away from their day-to-day lives to focus on their spiritual life.
“The retreat consisted of multiple opportunities to step away from our busy lives and dive deeper into our personal relationships with God,” Alyssa said.
“It was inspiring to see the Holy Spirit work through each of the members of the organising team and how the Lord made everything come together. It truly was a grace-filled retreat.”
The group heard talks from the priests and laypeople over the weekend. Image: Supplied
Zane said the retreat allowed everyone to have time for introspection and prayer, as well as a chance to better connect with other young people in their own parish and other parishes.
“We had many great talks throughout the retreat,” he said. “My favourite would have to be Fr Adam’s talk on the Veiled Christ and how that forces us to look deeper.
“We also had a breakout session with guys in one group and girls in the other. The guys’ session was led by Fr Matthew and was an open discussion with a bunch of people contributing to the conversation. That was probably the highlight of the whole retreat for me and most of the guys that I spoke to.”
In the chapel at the Benedict XVI Centre. Image: Supplied
Fr Adam said in the lead up to Holy Week the retreat was “a good reminder that faith comes before sight”.
“In life, we don’t see what’s behind the cross. We don’t always see the resurrection awaiting us,” he said. “We don’t always see the bigger picture, the victory hiding beneath. The Easter story is one of hope, that suffering is not final.”
He said the group looked at the Emmaus story and how God revealed Himself gradually in the resurrection to the two disciples on the road, from a place of hopelessness to understanding.
“The story tells us something about how God reveals Himself to us, too. We unpacked this theme – that God often forms our hearts first so that our eyes may be opened. Formation precedes sight.”
In the grounds of the centre. Image: Supplied
This Lenten retreat is an example of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan priorities of Mission, Formation, Prayer and Community. Visit Synodality to learn more.
