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November 21, 2024Altar servers from across Oklahoma gathered Nov. 9 for the second annual Altar Server Spiritual Retreat, with opportunities to explore vocations.
The event, hosted at the Church of Saint Benedict in Broken Arrow and sponsored by the Mission of Mary’s Army, featured a full day of activities.
Morning retreat sessions allowed all an opportunity to explore vocations to the priesthood and religious life as National Vocation Awareness Week concluded. Fathers Bryan Brooks and Gabriel Garcia and seminarian Luke Bland led the young men, who posed many questions. Father Duy Nguyen closed the vocations session by explaining a priest's vestments and the significance of each layer.
The young ladies spent the morning with Sister Mary Hanah, RSM, and Sister Marysia, RSM, as they shared how to foster a vocation. The concept was visualized using a seed. Young ladies learned how to listen to God's voice and discern where he may be calling them through providing their seed with all that is needed to grow and produce good fruit. Sister Marysia then led the young ladies in a time of Lectio Divina so that they may learn how to quiet their minds and hearts. The Sisters concluded by sharing their vocations stories and answering questions.
In the afternoon, the retreatants were led by Deacon Daniel Brennan in praying the Litany of Trust, then dwelt in the presence of our Eucharistic Lord and had the opportunity to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Father James Porter then engaged the retreatants on the importance of prayer, praying the Mass, serving God, the priest and the people, before leading the congregation through proper posture during Mass.
Deacon Brennan presented on the Eucharist and ways to encounter Christ concluded with a presentation on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy by Deacon Erick Bell and a service project where all were invited to make cards for different programs that Catholic Charities offers.
