The girls from the Home of the Mother residence in Jacksonville organized a retreat for young men and women from the 29th to 31st of January 2010. 55 young people attended.
The retreat was lead by Fr. Colum Power and with the help of Fr. Eamon MacManus. God who is abundant in generosity gave many graces to all those who opened their hearts to Him. The following are testimonies of some of the young people who attended the retreat.
Susan Joost (19 years old)
The Home presents the Truth in a way that is necessary, and attracts hearts of every age to the universal call to holiness. Not only did I hear this call more clearly on the retreat, but I was also given the opportunity to enter into an environment of inner silence and peace. It was in this environment that I was able to receive a flood of graces and mercy that led me closer to Our Crucified Lord. I was also able to interact with students from all over Florida and to share the beauty and solidarity of the Catholic faith. The Home of the Mother co-ed youth retreat was an amazing experience, and I would recommend everyone to go!!!
Michael Russel (18 years old)
I did not want to go on this retreat. As a second-semester freshman, I had many plans of who I wanted to be and what I thought would make me successful. Early into the semester, several people from Home of the Mother talked about a retreat they were hosting – though I was surprised to see someone from my high school youth group now part of Home of the Mother. I took a flier with no intention of actually going on the retreat. Besides, I had plans that weekend. Two weeks before the retreat, I realized my plans for that weekend were cancelled and the very next day, I got a phone call from my friend in Home of the Mother reminding me about the retreat. I still did not want to go, but for the time until the retreat, I felt a strange calling beckoning me to pack my bags and retreat. Soon enough, my bags were packed and I found myself driving to the retreat. Now that my time at the retreat is over, I have this feeling that what I want for myself is so limited, but what God wants – what God calls me to – is so limitless and beyond my imagination.
Leah Kowkabany (18 years old)
I am a high school senior from Jacksonville and have been a member of the Home for six years. When I heard about the retreat I decided to go because I had been in a state of “desolation,” rather than my earlier “consolation” in my relationship with the Lord. I knew I needed a retreat to help me stay strong. The morning before leaving, I began to doubt my choice. I realized this was just part of my weakness in desolation, and that God’s will was that I attend. At the retreat, it is like everything I needed to hear was said, as if Father Colum, the Sisters, and other speakers could see into my heart and say the perfect thing. My faith grew, especially in silent adoration. I was surrounded by other young people who believed in and struggled with the same things I did, which helped me remember I was not alone. I understood that I would not always be in a state of consolation, but underlying joy and hope in Christ would always be there, and I needed to cultivate it, especially during difficult times, through prayer. I was amazed at how much I learned and grew spiritually in such a short amount of time. Attending the retreat was fulfilling and reassuring.
