A
religious youth retreat provides an opportunity for teens to get away from the
day-to-day distractions and focus on spiritual matters. The teen years are the
most spiritually active period in a young person’s life. Helping Catholic teens
connect to God at a retreat might help them remain in the Church during their
adult years.
This year’s 4-days/3-nights retreat took the English Sunday School
teens into the timelessness of God. This retreat combines fun, team building
activities, sessions with rich teaching, faith sharing, group discussion,
connect to God through intimate prayer experiences, journaling and praise and
worship. This retreat also allows teenagers to enter into the timelessness of
God and see Christ in their past, know Him in the present, and follow Him into
eternity.
With Bishop Julius Gitom’s (Bishop of the Diocese of Sandakan
cum Rector of the St. Mary’s Parish) approval and blessing, the Sunday School
(English) were able to manage and run the retreat this year at the Father
Mulders’ Catechetical Centre. This retreat is a collaborative effort
between the Sunday School (English) and Bishop Cornelius Sim of Brunei and his team
of experienced facilitators, Jen, Jerlyn and Bridget (Aunty B).
Some parents were concerned whether they have made the right
decisions in sending their children to the retreat and missing their tuition,
extra class in school, and etc., but the amazing joy and transformed faces of
their children at the end of the retreat said it all!
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| Participants of Sunday School (English) from Level 10 |
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Facilitators from Brunei (R-L) – Bishop Cornelius Sim, Jerlyn,
Aunty B and Jen
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Our main
speaker, Bishop Cornelius Sim during his session on
The
Beloved of God/Who is the Holy Spirit.
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Faith
sharing/group discussion
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Team
building activities
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| Group posing at the top of Marian Hill |
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Morning walk up the Marian Hill
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Piety |
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| Knowledge |
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Wisdom |
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Fortitude |
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| Retreat Review /Group presentations |
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| Retreat Review /Group presentations |
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 Group
picture of Confirmandi, teachers, facilitators and assistants |
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Dinner fellowship with parents, teachers,
final pack and clean up then Homeward bound
CREDITS PHOTOS & ARTICLE
Evelyn Jock Lagan
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Group
picture of Confirmandi, teachers, facilitators and assistants 
.JPG)
