3rd Day of the Retreat!!!!!

    Embark on the journey of holiness….

    Ephesian 1:3-14…will of God…what are we here for….what is our task….all that we do it should lead us to holiness….you will be rewarded for what you do…

    Parishes of future should be schools of holiness….st. Paul….unless Christian life lived deeply is lived fully…religious life is half lived not fully….live it fully then joyful….

    St. John Paul: 1. Union with God….not possible if God doesn't invite…human beings are capable of….St. Dominic would be alleviated during the mass

    2. Collaboration and cooperation with God, 3. Assess the situation…holiness not easy…suffer before you enter heaven….2cor 3;14…inner life renewed day by day…

Ø  holiness is possible with prayer, brings us closer to God

Ø  goal of life is to be united with God…..earthly life should be a preparation for it….it should achieve this union….devil will try break this harmony and union…..

Ø  perfect unity between God, human being and creation

Ø  work of Christ is to re-build the union

Ø  we are working towards union

Ø  soul not be liberated unless one is united

Second Day of the Retreat!!!!!!!

·      Among the list of saints…classified in three groups….Dominic and Teresa and Francis de Sales….no serious conversion stories…..like Teresa of Avila….there is conversion after call…Augustine and Francis needed conversion….saints give us an opening….different ways to aspire for sainthood…Teresa of Avila could give us help as she was tepid….Mother expired at young age so she accepted Mother Mary as her own mother…there were two groups of sisters high and low…not exemplary…..early life she was very serious….later tepid….at age of 40 she was given a special grace to reflect on the passion of Christ….experienced spiritual matrimony and mystical marriage….something more much we can achieve in spiritual lives….

·      There are pitfalls…..it is because of carelessness about sins…no distinction between  sins…2Tim 4: 3…for time is coming when people will not put on sound doctrines…people will turn away to listening to sound truth….she said confessors took sins very lightly…venial and mortal sins no distinction…..took sins lightly…to causal about sins…

·      Ex: today no one comes to sin because we donot accept our sins….teachers who are suitable to their needs

·      Rom 1: truth is know to all from nature…what is to be done and avoided…..give up to unholy practices….in us there is innate portion by Holy spirit what is right and wrong…carelessness about sin…

·      Deliberate sins and non-deliberate….deliberately we choose….to commit venial sins…it's a serious matter

Second day of the retreat....

 ·      Offering our self…belong to him as consecrated. Our will and intent, mind….Lord, I offer myself highest and lowest faculties, soul with its power, surrender my intellect, will and mind, capacity of my mind….think….my logical sense….faculty to imagine and remember…sensory power…to observe…..to process the information….capacity to bring my thoughts….my will….intellect…my spirit and heart…centre of my being….core and eye of my soul…capacity of my spirit to experience you….pray to you to dwell in me….choose me…offer my body…..to move myself…..offer to serve you and others….offer my gifts….all my experiences….surrender to you me as I am…..use me for your greater glory…

   Mark Gospel 6, 30: jesus addressing, calling and forming the twelve…..sending them forth…apostles share everything all that they had done…deserted place to rest….many coming to disturb….Lord…calling us to a lonely place….many people come to disturb us…12 chosen group…..initially Jesus addressed large group….then he narrows down to small group…12, 4, 3……foot of cross only one…beloved disciple….knows inner secrete of Jesus….he wants to be with us…You and me…..

·      Silence….serious matter is retreat….me and the Lord….we deserve….whole year we talk…but we need this time for me,,,focus on Lord…everything for you Lord…enter into yourself….

 ·    

·      Moses Ex: 33,7…enter into yourself….pitch it outside the camp….far off….tent of meeting…everyone who sought the Lord…would go to the tent…..camp of people….lot of concerns in tent….but far away….present them to Lord….Moses when he went to tent…people who stand up….associating with Moses….rise and stand….would watch till moses entered into tent…feelings of people…our leader has gone into tent…right place….pillar of cloud would descend…Lord would speak….people who rise and bow…when then saw the clouds at the entrance of the tent…lord face to face with Moses…we are carrying the burdens of the people

·      Ex:19….after commandments….he comes down….he meets rebellious people…Moses gets angry….Lord…people you brought them…..Moses said Lord you brought….both saying…

·      Carry your people and their concerns…..he owns the people of God….

Annual Retreat of the Province at Vidyavihar......Mumbai

The annual province retreat began on 28th Morning with morning prayer....a warm welcome was extended to all the participants and the retreat preacher Fr. Prasad, a Dominican from Delhi.....We are 52 friars participating in the retreat....October heat is unbearable in Mumbai...The talks of the preacher who has doctorate in scripture are nice for reflection.....

Dubai Visit with Friends!!!!!!!

 with friends its wonderful to go around for the sight seeing in Dubai

Dubai is  a different World in the night....

 Meeting is always a joy....

 Fantastic roads make your ride enjoyable...

Mr. Harry D'Souza......with his wife...