“The Cristo Encounter”: Black Nazarene devotees attend retreat

About 25 devotees who participated in a day retreat for Black Nazarene Ministry members was successfully realized and held last February 11, 2017 at the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Chapel, DECA Homes Esperanza, Tigatto, Davao City.

The participants of the retreat, known as “The Cristo Encounter”, shared bible verses about the overview of creation, with man created by God in his divine image, the fall (sin) and death, and the persecution of Jesus by Saul. They said that God is creative, God is God, God is intelligent, thoughtful, loving, constant and faithful, mighty and powerful.

“The Cristo Encounter” also made the participants become aware of how rich each and every one as their family is priceless, their friends are rare pearls, their time is gold and their health is wealth. Furthermore, the retreat imparted to the participants the Five Ways to be Happy consisting of freeing the heart from hatred, freeing the mind from worries, living simply, expecting less and having a deep relationship with God.

MARANATHA
The Aramaic word “Maranatha” (“Come, Lord Jesus”) was also suggested to the participants as a simple form of personal meditation to invoke and to beseech God, by repeating the said word over and over again, wherever and whenever one might find himself or herself to be.

Individual reflections dealing on seeking the Kingdom of God, on accepting God’s Will, on the Fruit of the Holy Spirit, and on God is Love, as well as group activity and a spiritual game “Save Me”, together with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist were also included in the schedule.

After the celebration of the Holy Mass, the retreat’s closing ceremony immediately followed at 6:30 p.m. The participants, attested that they are children of God. They lighted their individual candles, made a solemn procession inside the darkened Chapel and burned their respective petitions to God written on paper.

Ms. Cindy Tengco, a Black Nazarene devotee from the US spearheaded the retreat. The retreat is part of the Jesus of Nazarene Ministry Class No. 1, DECA Tigatto. (Atty. Leopoldo D. Española Jr.)