by Shanti Fernandes
KUWAIT, JAN 16, 2019: Sixty-one catechists of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Church attended a retreat on the theme ‘Clay and Potter’ on January 12, conducted by Father Francisco Pereira, the Catechetical Director of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia. This annual event is marked as an important date in the life of a catechist in the region.
Father Pereira welcomed all the catechists and set the mood for the retreat by exhorting all to remain meditative throughout. A table was beautifully arranged with five jars that represented the five virgins who entered the wedding reception with sufficient oil to light their lamps. Six empty jars depicted the empty lives of people which Jesus would fill with his fire of love and mercy provided they follow him devotedly.
The first session included two hours of meditation on various topics in 10 different rooms. Every room contained a variety of pots, posters, and written material for the group to reflect upon. The pot on the right represented the potter, the small pot in the center with a candle represented Christ and the one on the left with unique containers exemplified the fragility of human life.
The participants were asked to visit each room, reflect on the topics, and ponder on the recurring thought, ‘Which Pot Am I?’ Every exercise was deeply linked to one's outer as well as an inner orientation with Biblical references.
After meditation, the catechists were asked to share their reflections with their partners. Then, Father Pereira connected the reflections on the pot to one’s daily life. This was followed by an hour of adoration where Father Pereira called the participants to submit every cell in their body to God by singing the hymn ‘Have Thine Own Way Lord.’
“Much appreciate the efforts taken by Father Franco Pereira, Francis Sam, Father Blany Pinto, and the parish catechism core to arrange such spiritually nourishing retreats for us, catechists. I am very pleased and proud to be a part of this ministry. This retreat taught me how to be completely submissive and trust God at all times and always be the clay and let God be my potter, letting Him design me as He wills,” Catechist Rositta Lawrence said.
Father Blany Pinto, the Parish Priest, ended the retreat by expressing his gratitude to Father Pereira for his spiritual and Biblically linked retreat, as well as those who made the recollection a success.