Welcome to the On Line Retreat for Lent and Easter.

While the retreat does not begin until February 12th, I thought it would be a good idea to share with you the Why of the retreat, the Who of the retreat, and the How of the retreat?

• The Why of the retreat: the retreat is an invitation to journey with Jesus during the Lenten and Easter seasons, to respond anew to the presence of Jesus in our lives and in our world and to allow the transforming love of Jesus to work in us once again and to come to Easter with a deeper knowing of Jesus. 
•  The Who of the retreat: the retreat is about Jesus and our journey to come to a deeper knowing of Jesus. 
•  The How of the retreat: in the format each week of our journey you will find: A Theme for the week. 

Preparing for the Journey-a simple way to quiet oneself.

• Food For the Journey– a reflection on the Scriptures. 
•  Living the Journey– ways to put your reflection into practice. 
•  Closing prayer. 

 The material for your retreat will arrive at your email address every Tuesday. If at any time you wish to be in contact with me regarding the retreat, simply email me. Also, feel free to send the weekly reflection to anyone who you feel will benefit from it. As we prepare for our Lenten and Easter retreat, let us hold each other in prayer.

Peace, Sister Grace

S. Grace Agate,

RSM Pastoral Associate Mary Immaculate Church
16 Browns Lane Bellport, NY 11713
631-286-0154

email: pastoralassociatemi@gmail.com

God’s Unconditional Love Poured Out in Jesus, The Christ

Preparing for the journey: read and pray with the following Scriptures.
Holy Thursday:1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-15
Good Friday: The Passion of John 18:1-19:42
Easter Vigil: Luke 24:1-12

Food for the journey: From the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter, we celebrate the three-day feast that is really one day and one feast, it is so awe inspiring that chronologically we need three days to enter the mystery: the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The celebration of the paschal mystery is like a precious jewel that crowns the church year, catching different lights and colors of its facets as we turn it through these days. On Holy Thursday we celebrate the paschal mystery from the perspective of the floor, table, and the garden of the Mount of Olives; on Good Friday, from Golgotha and the cross; and at the Easter Vigil and on Easter Sunday, in another garden transformed by dawn and an empty tomb. We have been carried in the womb of the Lenten Church up to Jerusalem. On Thursday when we go to the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Lent has come full term, and it is time for us to be born into the Triduum. These are the days of euphoria and treachery: days of the smell of oils and our own humanity; days of taking another’s feet in our hands and of tasting bread and wine on our tongues; days when we kiss wood and splash water; days when we gather around the newly lit fire and straggle after it through the darkness until we catch fire from it; days when we become a community able to make “Alleluia!” our song in praise of the Easter Light of the world.
 Sr. Veronica Holyhead, Welcoming the Word in Give Us This Day p.71

Living the journey: foot washing, bread and wine, changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus, Eucharist, the Cross, the empty tomb, the Risen Christ-how will you allow these symbols and mysteries embrace you this week?

Praying the journey: attend at least one of the Triduum services. If you have never experienced the Easter Vigil, why not attend this year.

Let us proclaim: Christ is risen from the dead! Alleluia! Alleluia!