Western Regional Retreat, 2007
Participants of the Western Regional Retreat (bottom row, l. to r.): Dn.
Ulyses Feliciano, Frs. Jack Stoeger, retreat director, James Brown, Gabino Perez,
Felizardo Daganta, Robert Huse; (top row) Fr. Ben Capacillo, Dn. Ascención
Esqueda, Fr. Domingos Machado, Br. Ramiro Muñoz, and Frs. James McGuire
and José Luis Martínez.
A dozen Recollects in California joined together for their annual spiritual
retreat from January 14-19, 2007. As they did last year, the friars assembled
at the Cardinal Timothy Manning House of Prayer for Priests in Los Angeles,
which offers excellent accomodations for this purpose, and whose grounds provide
unrivaled views with ample gardens for private prayer, meditation, and solitude.
Fr. Jack Stoeger, the director of the House and a much sought after retreat
master, directed the spiritual exercises. Father, a long-time teacher, served
for eighteen years as the spiritual director of St. John Seminary in Camarillo;
he provided a morning and afternoon conference as well as a substantial homily
for each day’s Eucharist.
Father built his conferences around the theme of bread taken, blessed, broken,
and given. His talks completely captivated all the OAR’s, and radiated
wit, charm, eloquence, and erudition. At the concludion of the retreat, Father
left for Jamaica where he was scheduled to give a retreat for the priest of
the four dioceses there.
All in all, the retreat was a memorable moment of grace for all the participants.
An experience that is well-worth repeating.
Fr. James McGuire, OAR
for other stories, visit our news
archive |
