It is hard to be a small community, especially during the liturgical seasons and one wants a change in preaching atmosphere. To meet this need, Sr. Gwen, Sr. Faustina, and Sr. Ann led a one-day youth Advent retreat for Cộng Đoàn Ane Lê Thị Thành, a tiny Vietnamese community in Joplin, MO. It was held and hosted by the CRM (Congregration of the Mother of the Redeemer) priests, well-known for their coordination of Marian Days.
The retreat included conferences, small group faith sharing sessions, dancing, games, and crafts. (Check out their cool crosses in the pictures.) Fr. Simon Le also celebrated Mass and guided the youth in Eucharistic Adoration.
Sr. Gwen discussed the 4 different kinds of Love: Storge, Philia, Eros, and Agape. Storge is love stemming from familiarity, philia is love in friendship, eros is romantic love, and agape is unconditional, self-less love. The love of God is agape because he gave his one and only Son, Jesus, so that we will have eternal life (John 3:16). He came into the world in obscurity, lying in a manger. Animals usually feed from the manger, an open box. So from the very beginning of his birth, Jesus wants to show us that he desires to become our nourishment. He does this most visibly by being present in the Eucharist, bread that becomes his Body and Blood. That is how much He LOVES us. He wants to be so close to us as to be consumed by us. "Friends who really love each other would like to be so united as to become one person. And this is what the infinite Love of God for us has done: He gives Himself to us, whole and entire in the Eucharist." - St Alphonsus Liguori
It was a wonderful time of Advent reflection for the youth and the CMR sisters!
Thank you to Fr Simon and the CRM community for hosting! Thank you to the youth of Cộng Đoàn Ane Lê Thị Thành for participating and being open to the spirit and God's love in your life!
Check out the photos below and more in google photos! Photo link
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