The spirit of Lent is all about facing our own spiritual deserts and walking through them. No one understands that experience better than the young adults in the diocese, many of whom are still trying to find their vocation or just starting to live it out. That’s why this Lent, Ocean State Young Adult Ministry—which is run by young adults themselves—held their first-ever Lenten retreat open to all vocations at the Christian Brothers Center in Narragansett.
The 12-hour itinerary included several talks that centered on different aspects of turning back to the Lord, helping attendees to consider, “Where are you going?” “Who are you going with?” and “How are you getting there?” Each talk was followed by a period of reflection where people could pray, journal, share their thoughts in small groups, step outside, or use some other method that helps them best absorb information.
“We’ve been putting on a good amount of events throughout the year, and we really wanted to provide an opportunity for young adults in the diocese to have a full day to get away,” said Thalia Meza, the Missionary Discipleship Consultant for the Diocese who helped organize the retreat. “And also, they were asking for it.”
“The retreat is called ‘Return,’” Meza added, “And the whole idea is to return to Jesus’s heart. And if we’re turning back, that means we’re on a journey in this life. But specifically in Lent, we’re on a Lenten journey. And so we were like, ‘Hey, what happens when you’re on your journey? What are the questions when you’re planning a trip?’”
Attendees also participated in the Saturday Vigil Mass celebrated by Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., with an opportunity to meet the bishop afterward. During the Mass, Bishop Lewandowski preached on the Sunday, March 8 Gospel reading of the woman at the well. He unpacked the many layers of the story’s symbolism and connected it back to the question of vocation, which many in the room were still trying to discern for themselves. Bishop Lewandowski’s overarching message is that, above all, only one vocation actually matters.
“Jesus wants to marry you,” he told his audience, citing the common tradition in biblical times of proposing at a water well. He went on to clarify that he wasn’t asking every person to become a priest or a religious sister. He was instead asking everyone to consider what they’re “married” to that isn’t their relationship with God, saying that Lent is the perfect time to shed those things and to re-nurture that relationship through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
“We should remember the proposal,” Bishop Lewandowski said. “The proposal he gave to us that time when our parents and godparents presented us at the font, that moment at the baptism font where Jesus said, ‘Will you give your life to me? Will you give yourself to me? Will you give me your faults and failings, your sins and disgrace? Will you give me your gifts, your talents, your abilities, your intelligence? Will you give me everything that is you?’ In the gospel today, Jesus is thirsty. Thirsty for you. And just waiting for you to say yes.”
Meza said that she was thrilled to hear about the turnout and glowing reviews about the retreat. Their goal was to get 60 attendees, but they quickly reached their capacity of 80. She’s taking that as a sign that this could become an annual tradition.
“They know that they’re not on the journey alone,” Meza said. “They look to their left and look to their right and realize, ‘Wow, there are 80 people here who are trying to live this Catholic, Christian life and pursue virtue, and it’s not just me.’”
To learn more about the diocese’s young adult evangelization ministry and their upcoming events, visit evangelizeri.org/yae.
