Passionist Young Adult Retreats - 2009

Heike's Story

“He knows how to console us when we least expect it”, was one of the quotes I read today from my newly received booklet about the spiritual teaching of St. Paul of the Cross. And regarding the circumstances (I will soon explain to you) I thought it would make a great start for my humble report about the Weekend Retreat with the Passionist Family Group. But as my English might be all right in daily life situations I thought, I better have a look at the translation of the word 'console', and understood to my disappointment that it, although true, was not really fitting for what I wanted to express.

Therefore now, with a little change, the more suitable Headline for my writing:

“He knows how to catch/surprise/remind us when we least expect it.”

But back to the start close to the end of the Retreat on Sunday I filled out the form and ticked 'Yes' if I wanted to write something about it. And I probably would have done it rather later. But today (a pretty normal, cold Tuesday) I came home from work and found a big letter in the box. It contained the Invitation to apply for Permanent Residency (yeah). As I stand in front of the entrance door searching for my key, I see this big parcel in front of my feet. Sent from my mum containing lots of chocolate and other rather pleasant things from Germany. What shall I say? There is for sure a logical explanation why two nice things arrive at one day, but as Scientist I can tell you logical explanations make one seldom feel grateful. And that I was. And as a sign, that I understood how he could make an ordinary day extraordinary, I will write this report now, sharing with you my experiences of an extraordinary weekend.

Waiting in front of the Diocesan Centre, not knowing what to expect (other than meeting people) it was Karen from Hamilton who was the first to approach me. And somehow she should become my companion during this weekend. Carpooling with Linda and Tori I heard first-hand the story about Linda's son Tim, who just came back from Samoa with nothing but his clothes and some borrowed snorkelling gear. A good sign you might think for the start of a “Young Adult Retreat”. Arriving at Highland Home Camp, everyone found quickly a place for their stuff and a bed for the night. While the youth shared bunk beds on ground level, it was first floor and less crowded rooms for the Fathers Nicky and Kevin and the Organisers Linda, Kathleen and Norma, who also took care of the Kids. After a while everyone gathered in the big room with carpet, fireside and screen. There was an introduction round, which was interrupted a couple of times by newly arrived people and in the end we were quite a bunch of people. Too many (for me) to get to know everyone in just a weekend. But you got to know each other. It’s always the same miracle, made by time, seclusion, openness and God. Father Nicky started us off with some background information about the generation gap and the change of the status/value of marriage over the decades. To be honest I didn't really get the point, as I was probably the only married person of the participants. But it gave us something to think and something to talk about. And the talk didn't end there. People gathered in front of the fire for chats or played games spread out on the carpet. It became a long evening. Followed by a short night, and I was on breakfast duty... .

Not used to sharing a room with more than one other Person I woke up early and together with Karen managed to set up the tables in the dining hall in less than 10min. Leaving the clean up to the 3 other people of our group. During the whole Workshop Father Nicky was the front person with Father Kevin supportive in the back. The Morning started with “Stages of our Faith Journey” which was interesting as it didn't only explain our own stage but the stages of other people. This made their behaviour more understandable and therefore easier tolerable (for me). It also leads to lively discussions in all of the four groups. In the afternoon the stages of faith where complemented by the “Stages of Prayer”. And Nick supported us by telling, that there are no wrong ways to pray (as long as we pray). And he sends us off for an hour in quietness with nothing but a piece of wood, the booklet with quotes of St. Paul of the Cross and our thoughts.

That was a really interesting, calming experience for the most of us. And because the weather was still nice and sunny, he sends us (after a Milo, Tea, Cake and Cookies break) off again. But this time with a random person. Guess which Person I got? Together with we managed to get lost on the first metres of our chosen walkway. Finding ourselves sitting on an old tree trunk looking down at the Pohangina River. Talking, talking again and trusting. Starting with God ending with us. The things we do, we hope for, we believe in and the things we don't know. We lay them in the hands of God and in front of each other. After all this deep thoughtful stuff, the kitchen team did exactly the right thing and served us huge portions of chocolate pudding with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Everything went smooth from there. A nice conversation with Christine while jumping on the trampoline, talking, singing, playing, cards, eating more unhealthy stuff, preparing the Mass for Sunday. I write my intercession about the victims of the earthquake and the tsunami. The Triplets nail our wooden pieces with our prayers on the totem. The most of us go to bed early (before midnight) and have a good night of sleep (incredible how fast you get used to it). On Sunday morning Nick wants us to write something into the journal of every person of our group. This idea spreads and soon people write in booklets outside their groups. He also wants us to write a letter to ourselves, which will be send back to us in 6 months. And that was the hardest part of the whole workshop for me. Followed by being brave enough to read what the other people have written about me (I waited till, I was at home snuggled under my blanket). Before Mass Linda comes back and brings Tim. For Atheists a random survivor for Believer a sign of God’s mercy. After another Milo, Tea, Cake and Cookie Break we have Mass. This time it's a complementary task between the Fathers. We share real bread, hold our hands, pray for our neighbours. And time is running out. We hear the sound as sign that lunch is ready, while Nick gives each of us a CD with the songs we heard throughout the retreat and Kevin hands out little medallions of the Passionist movements. A last shared meal follows and then it's time to pack our belongings and clean our rooms. Saying goodbye is rather uncomfortable (for me). It is pouring down with rain and about 5 degree.

What to say to people whom you know, and don't know well enough. We changed addresses and phone numbers and email addresses, everything a person of our generation nowadays has to share, but I know how it is.

The main reason for me to go to this Retreat was that I wanted to get to know some people of my parish, which I did, and I look forward to join them at the next pub night.

And then there is the one person who I didn't really expected to met and which hasn't left me since this rainy Sunday afternoon - Jesus

Heike