NauMai September 2021
Penelope Van Der Lee
Defining, unpacking and instilling ‘hope’ was a key takeaway from this year’s Passionist Young Adult Retreat, held at the Magnificat Retreat Centre, Featherston, in July. Hope was seen as – and explored in – ‘light, goals, strength, beginnings, questions and future’. Newcomers and seasoned retreaters alike dove into the topic and our own ‘walk to Emmaus’.
The sharing, good food and down-to-earth flavour of the Passionist charism made the weekend restful, insightful and fun. This retreat was special as we had our own Passionist presenter Paul Traynor, because Covid had prevented the usual ‘Aussie’ additions joining us.
The dinner entertainment and storytelling went well into the early hours, proving that laughter is the best medicine. My spiritual cup is refuelled for another year and I’m looking forward to the next, keeping in mind ‘the deeper the cup, the more carving is needed into the wood that makes it’.