Lenten Retreat at Lourdes Retreat Centre Gozo
The Knights and the Dames of the Order of Malta are members of a religious Order. They are meant to practice an active life as Christians and give meaning to their lives through their activities, especially towards the poor and the sick, part of the charism of the Order.
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The annual Lent Retreat that the Maltese Association holds each year in Gozo is a tangible manifestation of the life of prayer of the Order. Life today is a busy one, and therefore it becomes important to find space in one’s life to spend a few days in contemplation and thus renew one’s commitments towards God.
The Lent retreat this year was held between the 4th and the 7th of April at the Lourdes Retreat Centre in Ghajnsielem, led by the Principal Chaplain of the Association, Reverend Monsignor Fr Brendan Gatt. A good number of Members and Volunteers attended the retreat spread over three days, but this year with an addition of another day for those Knights who are in Obedience.
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The Saturday morning mass was celebrated at Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary.
Dame Helene Zammit, Vice President and other members of the Council were also present.
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The theme chosen for this year was – You are precious in my eyes – (Isaiah 43:4). Monsignor Gatt in his reflections over the course of the days amplified the meaning of this message through various examples found in the Bible and the scripture. An interesting lecture on the spiritual legacy and the relevance on faith one could get from the writings of author John R.R. Tolkien was given by Reverend Canon Geoffrey Attard, also a Magistral Chaplain.
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The members in Obedience had extra talks on Sunday afternoon and on Monday, the main topics covered being Obedience and Confession.
On Monday morning those present visited the new premises of the Gozitan volunteers in Xewkija, to see the works in progress. They also had the opportunity to meet Mgr Daniel Xerri, Archpriest of Xewkija, during a coffee break.
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