Meeting of parents in Slovakia

Parents in Slovakia met for their annual retreat . This year the chosen venue for the meeting was to Demänovská Dolina in the mountains of the park Národný a large place in the center of Slovakia, which has allowed us to more easily accommodate parents from different parts of the country . We were about 150 , many more than in previous years . On Friday evening , there was a moment of welcoming and presentation, with a word of welcome from our bishop and a word of encouragement from Don Michel to the parents for engaging themselves  in the path of the Community. The Blessed Sacrament was exposed in a small chapel built for the occasion to experience the permanent worship  throughout the meeting. We lived much prayer together. On Saturday morning , after praying the rosary , we heard a catechesis on prayer by Fr Irenaeus . The parents were able to clarify their doubts asking some questions about prayer . After lunch and the recitation of the Chaplet of Mercy , Father Michel spoke about the importance of growing in confidence in the community process . Confidence , he said,  is an important act of faith in God  , in particular if lived by parents for the success of the journey of their children. After the catechesis there was a moment of testimonials from parents on this issue and on  Andrea, a missionary recently returned from her mission in Mexico. Then we went together to Liptovský Mikuláš for the celebration of the Holy Mass in the parish , Father Irenaeus presided over the liturgy . The evening ended with a small representation of our history and Eucharistic Adoration . We have experienced a strong and intense moment when , one by one, we could bring ,to the feet of Jesus, our pains symbolized by a small stone that the guys gave us and on which a meaningful word was written for each of us. Sunday began with the celebration of Holy Mass in the little Church of Bodice . Don Michel spoke of the importance of faith in our lives , which, as John Paul II said , is true freedom . In the afternoon there was a joyful message of our Mother Elvira , a message of hope and encouragement for parents who later were able to share the experience of these days and of what the Holy Spirit had aroused in their hearts. Throughout the meeting , the indefatigable Don Quirin was available for confessions. We thank him so much for his generosity in listening to the parents and even the kids who have completed the route in the community and they came to the meeting . We concluded the meeting by looking at a small movie prepared by the fraternity boys to show their families the backstage of the representation of the " Prodigal Son " , the recital that the fraternity has brought about in the whole of Slovakia during the months of September and October . Finally, we thanked the Virgin Mary with a beautiful walked rosary and then everyone was  back home ,to  work and to everyday life. We thank all the parents who participated, all the priests who have accompanied us during these days and also all those who were not able to come, but who have supported us with their prayers. Thank you!

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