By Father Joe Weigman, Chaplain
The Sacred Heart Home recently held its annual Lenten “Resident Retreat.” For three days (April 3, April 4, and April 7), Residents and Friends of the Home were invited to listen and reflect as retreat leaders preached at Mass, and then gave an afternoon conference. There was no “theme,” as such, this year; instead, leaders were each asked to pick a topic they thought their listeners needed to hear.
On Thursday, outgoing pastor of the Church of the Epiphany, Father Ron Schock, spoke about The Seven Deadly Sins. He explained that we live in a culture where the reality of sin and the need for sacramental reconciliation, are often discounted. His conference was followed by individual Confessions.
On Friday, Father Eric Schild, pastor of Walbridge St. Jerome and president of the Kateri schools, spoke about keeping faith alive. An important way to do that, he said, was “getting out of God’s way:” sometimes we get to choose our paths, at other times they are chosen for us.
Finally, the topic on Monday (the last day of the retreat) was “Redemptive Suffering.” A transitional deacon (a deacon to be ordained a priest) from the Archdiocese of Detroit, Deacon Joseph Kirkconnell , explained that we shouldn’t attempt to avoid suffering. He said that suffering is the only way to unite ourselves to Jesus. United to him on the Cross, we are also bound for New Life!
