The families of the St James’ Vicariate on retreat

Ein Karem – on the weekend of June 15-16, families belonging to the St James’ Vicariate met together with Fr. Rafic Nahra, Dr Rivka Karplus and the rest of the accompanying team for a time of recollection on the theme of faithfulness, in the guesthouse of St John’s Church in Ein Karem: two days to strengthen the love within families and the relationship with God.

Friday June 15th and Saturday June 16th, as is done twice yearly, the families from the various communities of the Vicariate were invited to Ein Karem for a retreat weekend. The idea was inaugurated by Father David Neuhaus several years ago: two weekends yearly where families are invited to meet in one of the retreat or guest-houses of the Holy Land to stop and take a time with God. These days give the parents an opportunity to resituate themselves in their mission, as those who are called to transmit faith and love. A mission that can be difficult when it is already far from simple to meet the basic needs of the family. This time a dozen families from the whole country answered the invitation and came for a time of prayer and recollection.

Fidelity dwelling in the heart of every human being

The animation team had chosen the theme of fidelity as the guiding thread for the participants’ reflection on the ways to be happy as a couple and a family over time. Taking the numerous Biblical examples of God’s fidelity to His covenant with mankind, the animators made practical suggestions to live with faithful love in daily life. “In order for fidelity to be lived in joy and not in tension or indifference, it is necessary to take the time for celebration and rejoicing as a couple or a family, in order to strengthen the relationship among family members”, emphasizes Father Rafic, “and fidelity is a real means to attain happiness as a family”.

A time of rest and sharing

In order to make it possible for the parents to have real time for themselves, to listen to the talks and to share with the other parents, the fifteen or so children aged 3-15 years were looked after by counselors. The retreat opened with the suggestion to consider the Visitation, particularly appropriate as the meeting was in Ein Karem (According to tradition, Ein Karem is the place where Mary met her cousin Elisabeth and spoke the words we know as the “Magnificat”, a hymn of praise and thanksgiving to God), and to share what each of us receives in these weekends of meeting and mutual sharing. Friday evening was free; some took advantage of the time to go for a walk in the peaceful village of Ein Karem, others watched a film together. Saturday, after the sessions of teaching and discussion on fidelity, parents and children came together to celebrate the Eucharist and give thanks for this time of friendship and fraternity in the Lord.

Cécile Klos

(see original article in French here)