WelCom December 2020
Scott Davidson
Forty-four men from the Wellington and Palmerston North Joshua branches and elsewhere gathered on Saturday, 31 October, for a day retreat to learn more about ‘trusting in Jesus’ and God’s mercy.
Wellington priest Fr James Lyons led the retreat with the theme: ‘Don’t Worry, Trust in Jesus’. It was at held at Our Lady’s Home of Compassion in Island Bay.
The retreat began with praise and worship, after which Fr James presented three sessions. The first was about awakening to trust. To illustrate the type of trust we should have in Jesus we considered the widow’s trust in Elijah’s promise that ‘the Lord would provide for her’ (1 Kings 17: 8-16).
The second talk was about losing and finding. In the pain of losing, we need to have faith in Jesus about finding God’s plan for us. This was illustrated by the three parables in Luke chapter 15.
The third talk was about trust and mercy with references from Pope Francis’ latest encyclical Fratelli tutti.
There was time for personal reflection using Fr James’ handout. Over morning tea and lunch, participants enjoyed making new friendships and renewing old ones.
Later in the day, Fr Peter Ewart sm, Joshua Wellington chaplain, led a reconciliation liturgy. In their ‘free’ time the men had a time for personal reflection through private reconciliation; prayer ministry; private prayer or quiet time; or a visit to the Home of Compassion Heritage Centre.
The participants enjoyed the day, which concluded with Mass celebrated in the beautiful Chapel of Our Lady of Compassion.
All men in the Wellington and Palmerston North dioceses are invited and encouraged to attend the next Joshua retreat – scheduled for the second half of 2021 – whether or not you are a member of the Joshua Fellowship. The retreats are advertised in WelCom or you can contact either Steve Ready, Wellington leader, at sjcready@gmail.com or John Hammond, Palmerston North leader, at jo.mo.hamm@gmail.com
Scott Davidson is a member of the Wellington Joshua branch. Joshua is a Catholic men’s fellowship open to all men to ‘encourage, support and strengthen men in their Christian calling’.