The Pastoral Youth Office in Jalil organised its annual spiritual retreat for members of the Secretariat Office in Haifa, with a large turnout. It was two days filled with meditation, prayer and spiritual encounters.
The first day
We began our day with the recitation of the Rosary, followed by Holy Mass for the intention of the Spiritual Days, with an in-depth look at the figure of Blessed Carlo Acutis, a young man who lived with simplicity and deep trust in the presence of the Lord in the secret of the Eucharist.
The meeting began with a reflection on the theme: ‘You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world,’ highlighting our personal value in the eyes of God, a value that surpasses the entire material world.
In the evening, after dinner, a second reflection began with meditation on the text ‘The Good Samaritan,’ where we asked ourselves : Who is my brother? And we paused to consider the meaning of mercy and closeness to one another.
The first day ended with a special spiritual soirée, full of stories and reflections that refreshed our hearts and kindled our desire for God.
The second day
On the second day of the retreat, we reflected on the theme: What is my role and my presence as a young man or woman in the heart of the Church and
in service?
We took a meditative walk in nature, during which we prayed the morning prayer surrounded by the beauty of nature, then we had a simple breakfast in a fraternal atmosphere.
The day continued with a meeting focused on the theme of ‘mercy’, as an extension of the reflections on the text of the Good Samaritan, focusing on our call to be witnesses of mercy in today’s world, starting from our small groups and extending to the wider society.
These spiritual meetings were all accompanied by the spiritual guidance of Father Ramez.
Next, the Secretary General, Miss Latifa Mushael, presented an interactive segment entitled ‘Our Home,’ focusing on the importance of cooperation and unity in our journey as a group, through constructive dialogues that deepened individual and collective awareness of our role and message.
The day ended with a meal of communion filled with joy and gratitude, followed by the celebration of Holy Mass, with a reflection on Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.
We thank the Lord who brought us together, rich in his grace, and accompanied us with his spirit.
