The annual Freedom in Christ retreat for young university women was a grace filled weekend.  It was a retreat filled with the love of Mary as model and guide to grow in the friendship with Christ, in addition to growing deeper in one’s fundamental reality of truth of being a beloved daughter of God the Father.  One retreatant says of the retreat, “This weekend I rediscovered my love in Christ.  I’ve remembered what it was like when I was little!  Now, I have some new tools to help me on this journey of faith.”  Another says, “In this retreat, I will dedicate myself to Jesus and Mary; and in doing so will allow me to love so much more…”  Yet another says, “Jesus has given me his Mother to help me daily in my spiritual life.  He has given me the invitation to the joy of real love in Jesus.”  All the young women who participated spent time in recollection and prayer meditating the talks given by Fr. Ivan Pertine, Saint John Society General Director.  Since the retreat, the spiritual fruits can be seen by the perseverance of various retreatants praying daily in the Newman Center Chapel and with one another in their homes.  Thank you Mary for continuing to look out for our well-being and interceding for us!  May we always remain faithful to your call!

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For one week the bishop of the diocese where the SSJ was approved witnessed not only the work at the OSU Newman Center but also the missionary work throughout Oregon. He visited St. Patrick’s Parish and Mt. Angel Seminary. He also went to the different communities of the San Juan Diego Program, he spent time with all the members of the SSJ and enjoyed the sun of Oregon during this winter.

It was a great joy to spend more time with the bishop that ordained Fr. Matias and myself 3 years ago. In a personal conversation he said to me: “Let your heart be wherever your feet are”, meaning put all your heart in your ministry here in Oregon.

During one meeting with college students one of them asked: “What do feel when you ordain a priest?” Bishop Olivera answered: “When you ordained a priest you feel that your ministry is extended, your hands are extended, and you multiply your work. Now, that I see the work Fr. Ignacio, whom I ordained 2 years ago, is doing in Corvallis I feel that my ministry is present here through him“.

It was a sign of confirmation to have a successor of the Apostles one week with us, and also a sign of confirmation from the Church for the work of the SSJ in the New Evangelization.

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The Saint John Society offered a spiritual retreat for the leaders of  San Juan Diego program in Oregon.

These 47 leaders have an important role in the evangelization of a number of Hispanic communities in the Archdiocese of Portland. Their profound experience of faith and their permanent formation allows them to conduct this program that currently runs in nine parishes of the Archdiocese: Metford, Central Point, GranPass, Corvallis, Albany, Lebanon, Gresham, Portland, Ashland.

The entire retreat was preached by Fr. Pablo Dumas and the topic was the resurrection of Christ, the event that renewed the fervor and enthusiasms of the first Christians.

Now the leaders return to their communities with the conviction that Jesus is risen indeed!

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Last Wednesday Mount Angel Seminary had the honor of receiving a successor of the Apostles. Mons. Olivera is the bishop of Cruz del Eje in Argentina, diocese where the Saint John Society was founded.

Mons. Olivera presided at the Eucharist and during his homily he stressed how Jesus is constantly reaching out to us. “We need faith to listen to His voice and to recognize the mediations He uses. A Seminary is a unique place to hear and to discern His voice. This is the time to become true disciples!”

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Freedom in Christ Retreat

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord!”  These memorable and soul-stirring words of Mary from the Gospel of Luke resound in our hearts after this last weekend.  From Friday evening until Sunday afternoon, around 25 of us men from the Newman Center at OSU and PSU took a break from the stressors of school and work to reflect on Jesus through the eyes of our Blessed Mother.  It was the second level retreat, also known as Freedom in Christ, which is for those who have already been walking in their faith and have been on the Fragua retreat.  We reflected on Mary and the different Gospel scenes in which she is portrayed, including the Annunciation when she taught us to give ourselves fully to God by submitting herself whole-heartedly to the will of God saying, “be it done unto me according to your word;” the visitation when she taught us charity in making the trek to help her cousin Elisabeth; and finally, at the foot of the cross, when she gave her beloved Son to us, allowing Him to die for our sins.  It was also here when Jesus uttered those life-changing words to John and to each one of us, “Son, behold thy Mother.”  Mary, our Mother, pray for us and for all who do not know the incomprehensible love of your Son!

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