Annual Parish Retreat Day 4 (Final Session)

Last night (Thursday evening) was Day 4 of our Parish Retreat - which was also our final session  with Sr. Susan Thomas, fmm.
Meditation exercise
Quieting down, Relax in the Lord! Breathing exercise .....
Listening to a song "It's Grace to clearly see, to be set free, to behold truth! Letting go of the story that binds me, I'm letting go......"
The final session is on the 3rd Movement - New Orientation.
- New Orientation means a movement from one orientation or disorientation to a new Orientation.
Notes from the session:
Activity:
Participants were asked to stand at one of the 3 spots beginning with where we chose to stand - in the past -( is it Orientation, Disorientation?) and then to move to a new spot to indicate where we feel we are at the present moment. This activity helped us to become aware of ourselves, that we are in touch.

Psalms of the New Orientation eg. Ps 30. Thanksgiving for recovery from grave illness.

• the element of surprise is present or reversal in unexpected ways. (The psalmist tells/narrates/recites/testify in amazement.)
• element of go into into trouble and coming out of trouble.
• v. 1-3 praising God for being given a new lease of life.
• V.4-5 invites community to join in the praise
• v.6-10 traces the move from diorientation to new orientation)

Ps 150 Praise for God's Surpassing Greatness

• This last Psalm is written as a majestic closing
• 10 Hallelujahs/Praise  honour 10 words of creation (Genesis 1) 10 commandments (Exodus 20 & Deut.5)
• the final word of the entire psalter is Hallelujah!

Mary's Hymn of praise - The Magnificat
As we celebrate our Parish Feast Day today, let us remember our Mother Mary, who through her response to God by saying 'Yes', became the mother of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

What have I learnt from this Retreat?
Before this, the psalms have just been like songs or poetry written by someone long ago.
From this retreat, I have come to realize that psalms are expression in song or verse written by real people of faith. We can use them as a prayer in times of joy, or need or just to praise God for his love and care for us. Psalms have become more meaningful as I study them. Understanding them in the light of the 3 movements, I realize I can even write my own psalms, as an expression of my situation, past or present. I can truly say Hallelujah! Ps 150 will be my song of Thanksgiving ! -by Joseph Wang

Thank you Sr. Susan for leading us in this retreat!

Watching the video slide projection with the song "It's Grace"

Participants enjoying the 'Orientation' or 'Disorientation' Activity