We have ventured all the way from Ontario to the East Coast of Canada. Having spent five nights on Prince Edward Island, I realised how varied the landscape can be across this vast nation. In the same respect each school’s vibe is drastically different from another. Returning from a retreat one evening, we received a card from a girl who had attended one of the events our team facilitated. Directed towards our team it stated , “The way you are joyful with one another in your team and the way you shared your joy with us, made me think I just have to become a Netter one day.” Praise God for joy!
Pope Francis in his encyclical Evangelii Gaudium notions that, “An evangeliser must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral!” We have been blessed on our team to have many opportunities to be filled with joy. This is not limited to a myriad of humorous encounters along the journey. Permission to divulge some upon you? Brace yourselves, the story onslaught is coming.
1- On one occasion after prayer ministry, I asked what the young men in my small group had experienced or were feeling. Various responses were given; a sense of peace, relief, even excitement. The very last retreatant responded by stating that he felt “prayeralicious”.
2- At the commencement of an encounter day the retreat leader allows for others to guess what the acronym NET stands for. Although National Entertainment Team is the most frequent stab in the dark, the most surprising attempt was National Evangelisation Terrorists!?! Let’s hope that we aren’t seen as being so forceful with spreading the Good News.
3- So preoccupied with the excitement of a supervisor visit there came a time when our mighty Tahoe truck ran out of fuel. Amidst the acknowledgement that this would set us backward in time, we found it necessary to lighten the situation via a game of chess on the hood of our vehicle on the side of the highway, followed by a spontaneous team photoshoot. (Fabulous)
4- While on the road, we try as a team to save money in numerous manners. At one point, our team leader Nico desired a haircut. As a brotherhood we presumed it appropriate to proceed over a garbage can in a function centre bathroom. I tried to use a pair of clippers donated to us by a NET alumnus, but was unable to trim any of his hair. As time dripped past we decided to trim the top before the sides. Suddenly, pressing harder than usual, a tuft of hair fell down exposing scalp. Belly wrenching laughter and tears were followed by the realisation that Nico would have to be shaved completely bald now Oh, by the way, drastic haircuts are not encouraged during NET.
5- The written description of a student’s experience at one of the retreats, “I had a good time at the retreat, but I didn’t get to see Pop (sic) Francis. This made me really sad.”
Whether it’s falling asleep during the concluding talk of an encounter day (the Go Forth), participating in MAT (Male Acapella Time), a parish priest spontaneously telling us that it's “All about that bass”, youth confusing death as a sacrament rather than the anointing of the sick, there are so many moments of fun and humour that add to our joy.
But it is at this avenue that I ask a question; Is joy a choice or a gift? After all, I have heard it notioned many times that you can choose joy, and at the same time I am aware that it is taught as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Collectively, our team has discussed about the times when it is simply difficult to summon joy. In these times, we realised that regardless of whether joy comes from the will or directly from God, it is always possible to choose love first. When this choice is made, our soul gives permission to experience the joy of God, not an imitation joy that emanates from selfishness. I leave with you further beautiful words from Pope Francis that are comforting when joy is hard to recognise:
“Joy is not expressed the same way at all times in life, especially at moments of great difficulty. Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that, when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved.”
God Bless!
Francis Encounter Team 1
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