By J. Mota SDB

       Fuiloro, Timor Leste, 22 November 2021 -- One week of annual retreat, from 14-20 November, was offered to the second group of thirty Salesians guided by Fr. Agostinho Soares, SDB. This time, the annual retreat was held in the Salesian community in Fuiloro. It started with evening prayer led by the Provincial, Fr. Apolinário Neto, SDB and the presentation of the theme for the annual retreat by the preacher and some rules by the retreat director, Fr. José de Sá, SDB.

       The theme for this annual retreat was the identify of religious life which covered some important topics like prayer, reading the Word of God, fraternal life in the community, the evangelical counsels, the Eucharist, Mary and Don Bosco. The preacher led the retreatants to go back to Christ, the root of their consecrated life which is the love for God and for others. Mostly the preacher shared the examples from the daily experiences in the community on how one could build his personal relationship with God and others before going out doing the mission entrusted to him.

       What really impressed here was the example of praying set up by Jesus and followed by Don Bosco. This could tell us that our being as religious is to pray. We are not like other people, our task it to pray often without being superficial. This prayer is the driving force for our mission which qualifies our mission too. The foundation of our being consecrated is no other than love for God and for others, the objective of our consecration is to be holy (to attain holiness) and living in a community which is full of joy.

       The annual retreat ended the with Mass celebrated by the TLS Provincial superior and the renewal of vows. For us Salesians, it was a privilege, a great time with the Lord, keeping oneself in silence, delve into oneself to discover God’s will by listening to his Word and to put it into action in one’s daily life for his own transformation.

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