On Mondays, I answer questions frequently asked by those considering a return to the Catholic Church. How do I know this stuff? I was away for more than 30 years myself, and am the co-author of When They Come Home: Ways to Welcome Returning Catholics, a book for pastors and parish leaders interested in this ministry.
It’s my first Christmas back, and the parish bulletin has information about an “Advent retreat,” but it’s just a couple of hours each week between now and Christmas. How can
that be a retreat?
What you’re describing sounds more like evenings of reflection, though the principle is the same. In either case, there’s plenty of time for prayer through contemplation and meditation rather than a focus on a presentation or seminar. While many retreats or reflections have one or more facilitators, after their brief presentations, the attendees have the opportunity to consider quietly what’s been said and how the Scripture or other reading applies to them and their desire for a closer relationship with the Lord.
That’s the idea behind retreats–getting away to spend time with God and leaving the busyness and activities behind. You might say Mass is a retreat of sorts, since we leave the world behind.
Retreats come in all sorts of lengths–a day, a weekend, a week, a month–and sometimes involve time to meet with a priest or trained spiritual director. Sometimes they’re quiet, even at mealtimes; other retreats feature specific time for silence with soft conversation allowed at other times.
At your parish’s Advent retreat, you’ll probably find some guided meditations followed by silence, and maybe a candle and possibly some music. Give it a try. This could be a great way to prepare yourself for a more lengthy conversation with God.
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