For this third session of our virtual Global Advent Retreat the theme was “The Way of Lasting Faith”. We focused on the direction and steps we are taking to choose the way of enduring Faith in these testing times.

The thing the Church needs most today is the ability to heal, heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful. Following that analogy at the Field Hospital we looked at the diagnostic imaging department, where diagnosis might take place of an injury or an illness, during the prayer Bob and Anne used an image of a chest x-ray, which perhaps might be an unusual image for prayer and reflection.

Later, each one of us shared our reflections in the in Spiritual Conversations with our Retreat Groups, focusing on the following questions:  how might I make contact and reconnect with the one who gave me greater faith? and to whom and how do I pass on this exercise–who urgently needs enduring faith now?

Session number 3 was the final live session of this wonderful experience, but Bob and Anne had also prepared a Bonus session for all of us!

The Global Advent Retreat ‘s Session 4 is a special Bonus recording that we hope will help carry forward the Advent Spirit. This recording can be used individually or with a group,

This Bonus session continues with the theme of encounter as we draw close to Christmas, we have an opportunity to deepen our reflection on the mystery of God’s presence in our world and in the meaning that has in our lives today. We used another of the Field Hospital exercises and for now they provide a space for connection and healing in our times of uncertainty and suffering.

The encounters of the advent readings are ones that change the direction of people’s lives Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, the Magi and many others are led to radically different paths by the people they meet in the action of God in their lives. These changes often lead to more not less difficulty. Their lives in some ways become harder but they also become better, full of meaning and purpose and service of others. These are stories of people entering bravely into the unknown. This session focuses on praying with the theme of reaching out. We invite the Spirit of service that can remind us of the joy of reaching out and the strength to serve even in the face of challenges.

We would like to thank all who participated in the online retreat or prayed via the recorded prayer sessions. We would also like to thank Anne Slingo from Xavier College in Melbourne, Australia and Bob Stephan from Loyola High School in Los Angeles, CA, USA for guiding us through these Field Hospital exercises, making these sessions deeply prayerful and inspiring for the participants. We would also like to thank Fr. Michael Hansen SJ, author of these exercises for sharing these with our community.

The 2020 Advent Retreat was the first one I joined and it was a lovely surprise to me. The prayers spoke deeply to my heart and provided me comfort during such a difficult time we are going through. The sharing group was an amazing opportunity to practice active listening and feel the benefits of both receiving and giving. Even though we all had our share of loss and desperation this year, we can always find abundance in our souls by exercising our spirituality and offer it to others in need. This retreat reminded me of that (Robertha, Chile).

On the advent retreat page you will find the recordings and materials for this, and the previous live sessions. Please feel free to share these Spiritual Exercises with your colleagues, or groups who you think might be interested.