Ponder Franciscan Discernment Retreat: Mary said ‘Yes’

Paul Keggington

May 23, 2011

Talk about a vocation retreat that was Holy Spirit-tailored. Young women from Wisconsin and Arizona turned to Mary, the Mother of God, in grace-filled openness to the mystery of God in their lives at Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity May Discernment Retreat May 20-22, 2011.

Young women experienced a Marian Vocation Retreat with Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity.

As Mary said ‘Yes’ to God, so  retreatants said ‘Yes’ to ponder their life’s call through a pilgrimage of reflective happenings. Vocation Team Sister Mary Ann Spanjers and Sister Julie Ann Sheahan were joined by Novices Sister Pamela Catherine Peasel and Sister Monica Martin on the road.

Here’s a brief listing of what happened:

  • Friday night bonfire and candlelight procession to outside Lourdes Grotto
  • prayer opportunities in various settings of our Motherhouse focused on the Blessed Mother
  • visit to beginnings of our Franciscan Community in Clarks Mills, WI
  • visit to St. Peter the Fisherman, Two Rivers, WI to contemplate a Marian stained glass window

Some other awesome events:

In a prepared booklet that included Scripture reflections, this quote from Pope Benedict XVI expresses the joy-filled spirit of the retreatants at the close of the retreat:

“Thanks to her [Mary], we discover that the Christian faith is not a burden: it is like a wing which enables us to fly higher, so as to take refuge in God’s embrace…in Mary, the Church can already contemplate what she is called to become. Every believer can contemplate, here and now, the perfect fufillment of his or her own vocation.”

Contact us if you would be interested in a discernment retreat.

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