CWL Parish Retreat
BY SISTER JEANNETTE FILTHAUT
Facilitation work may entail a great deal of preparation, but the experiences of working with diverse groups on a variety of topics is always a unique adventure that feeds the spirit of both facilitator and groups involved.
2017 began with the Chapter of the Presentation Sisters of Mary in Prince Albert Saskatchewan. February and March involved transitioning and futuring with Soeurs de la Charité de Notre Dame D’Evron; a Visioning retreat with the Board of Directors of Star of the North Retreat Centre (of which I am presently the Chairperson) and a Parish Lenten Retreat in Devon, AB. The month of April began with a CWL Parish Retreat on the National Theme of the CWL – Inspired by the Spirit – Women Respond to God’s Call. We reflected on this theme from the viewpoint of How the Women of the Gospels teach us to Listen to the Spirit.
May gave me the opportunity of more ESL (English Second Language) with a request from a Chinese university student in my apartment building to assist him in improving his English language. My dining room became my classroom space 3 mornings a week. At the end of May we were privileged to host NACORRC – the Oblate Retreat Centres of North America, at Star of the North Retreat Centre. Maureen Wild provided us with some excellent opportunities for Encountering our Role as Retreat Centres in today’s Universe.
June was an opportunity for our Camrose Associates to retreat at Star of the North with Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie on our Challenges of Being Disciples in Today’s World. The next day I facilitated a retreat experience for the Associates of the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception by reflecting more deeply on the challenging calls expressed in Laudato Si.
In between these wonderful challenging experiences I am grateful to continue meeting with individuals for their Spiritual Direction. Now with summertime on our doorstep I’m going to enjoy some time golfing with our Victoria Senior Ladies League and a fundraiser for WINGS Womens’ Shelter.
