After our crazy weekend in Montreal we headed to Pickering, Ontario where we did a confirmation retreat for grade eight students at St. Isacc Joges Parish.
The entire retreat was a success, but what really stood out was the prayer time. Normally during prayer time we offer to pray with each student individually. At this retreat not only did we offer to pray with each student, but two priests were also present to hear confessions. We have had several other retreats where confession was offered and as a result we were only expecting a few of the kids to go. To our surprise over three quarters of the class sat quietly at the back waiting to go to confession. The line was so long that we had to extend prayer time by ten minutes and even then about ten students weren't able to go because the end of the school day was approaching. It was so beautiful to see so many young people choose to go to confession and take it seriously.
At the end of the retreat I spoke with one student who expressed how much he enjoyed the day. His eyes were blood shot and watery and he expressed how thankful he was that we had come. We will never know how many lives God is touching through prayer and the sacraments. What matters is that he IS touching hearts and changing lives whether we see it or not.
Confession is an act of honesty and courage - an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God.
-Pope John Paul II
-Pope John Paul II
May you always be aware of the gift that you have in confession.
Erin
Massive Worship
No comments:
Post a Comment