For the annual retreat of perpetually professed members, the Province through its Center of Pauline of Spirituality and Animation, has invited Fr. Guido Colombo, SSP as facilitator. Fr. Guido is a Provincial Councilor of SSP Italy and one of the facilitators of the Pauline Family Retreat in Italy.
The perpetually professed are divided in two groups. The first group composed of 33 members had their retreat at the Maryridge Center of Spirituality in Tagaytay City on September 3-7, 2023. The second group of 26 participants will have theirs at San Damiano Retreat House, also in Tagaytay City, on September 10-14, 2023.
The theme of both retreats is “Let your mind be transformed to discern the will of God” which echoes the theme of the recent 11th General Chapter of the Society of St. Paul. Fr. Guido shared the insights from the booklet with the same title, prepared by a team of which he was a member, for the use in the spiritual journey of the Pauline Family in Italy. Fr. Guido did manage to express himself in the English language, and to convey his thoughts better, he answered in Italian language the questions directed to him, which was simultaneously translated into English by Fr. Norman Melchor Peña Jr. The participants were most appreciative of Fr. Guido’s insights on the thoughts and character of Blessed James Alberione as well on the state of the Congregation today.
On September 5, perpetually professed members participated in an overnight adoration from 7pm - 6am. Each have reserved a time for pray for the whole Congregation, the Pauline Family and members who are currently sick or in need of healing.
At the closing Mass, the Provincial Superior Fr. Mario Sobrejuanite thanked the Religious of the Good Shepherd (RGS) Sisters which runs the retreat house, Fr. Guido who facilitated the retreat, and Fr. Norman, the Director of the Pauline Center of Spirituality and Animation (CPSA) who invited Fr. Guido to the Philippines and who coordinated the whole retreat.
