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Last month, members of the LHJ Team held two retreats in Oaxaca, Mexico. Fr. Eduardo Godinez, pastor for nine different communities, wanted the people he serves to experience the healing LHJ offers, a combination of spirituality and psychology/healing behavioral patters. Twenty-three people participated in the first retreat (September 19-20) and 36 participated in the second one (September 22-23).
MSC Priest Fr. Joseph Jablonski, MSC reflects on his experience:
The experience of Oaxaca was a diverse, almost conflicting one. From the very first moment I felt the warmth and care of the people and yet I immediately felt as well that so much "ternura/tenderness" was fruit of real experience of suffering turned into compassion. On the other hand, some of the suffering had also turned into resignation and some into passive resistance of a people long oppressed. As the retreats progressed and healing began, I sensed new energy surging-up and a hope for liberation not only from personal hurts but also the comunal hurt of discrimination and oppression. My hope is that the long-term effect of the retreats will lead to a greater struggle for justice while not losing compassion.
Fr. Joseph Jablonski, MSC
LHJ team member and Lay MSC member Adriana Pickens shares her experience:
When I was invited to go to Oaxaca México with the LHJ Ministry, I felt honored and very happy, because I was going to serve not only as a LHJ team member, but I would also be representing lay MSC members, what a big responsability!
After a lot of prayer and preparation for this trip, I arrived in Oaxaca, México to share my time and whatever was needed of me.
Our Lord in His great goodness and love had something very special planned for me.
He blessed me abundantly by witnessing the faith, gratitude, love, kindness, determination and humbleness of the people participating in the retreats, and in experiencing these God given qualities, my Christian faith and my life have been deeply touched and enriched.
By A. Pickens
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