COLUMN: Lenten Holy Hour Retreat Series: Encounter. Grow. Witness. -- 2/21/2021

Please join me for a five-week Lenten Retreat, a series of Eucharistic Holy Hours to be held on Thursdays at 7 p.m. at churches throughout the diocese. The retreat is open to the public for on-site participation or virtual viewing on our diocesan YouTube channel. The retreat begins Feb. 25 and continues each Thursday through the Solemnity of the Annunciation on March 25.

Our retreat theme is centered on “Encounter. Grow. Witness.” What does this mean? The first goal is for all of us to encounter Jesus anew. We may have known Jesus from a very young age, but we should always seek to encounter Him in a new way. He has more to give us than we can imagine. He wants to encounter us more than we want Him. By coming into his presence in the Blessed Sacrament, we have a unique and privileged way to encounter Christ during the retreat.

We are called to grow daily as His disciples. When we encounter Jesus, we should be transformed and desire to grow more and more into the men and women He has called us to be. The retreat will build upon the theme of what it means to grow as disciples of Christ.

When we grow as joyful disciples, we naturally want to give witness to the power of His Mercy. Our retreat will help us reflect on how we are called to share the love of Jesus with others and to invite them into this loving relationship with Jesus.

Other themes for the retreat will explore the current challenges we face in our lives and communities as well as the impact of shifting local and worldwide culture. We will reflect on how Jesus wants to heal us and bring healing to our families and communities.

The retreat will conclude on the Solemnity of the Annunciation, which provides the opportunity to reflect upon the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit provides us with the strength and gifts to live as joyful missionary disciples.

My prayer is that through this retreat, we will draw closer to Jesus in the Eucharist and be given hope for the future.  My preaching will build upon the foundation of our mission and vision as Catholics in Northwest Indiana to “Go Make Disciples.” Jesus has so much he wants to give us. May we encounter Christ anew, grow daily as his disciples, and give witness to the power of his mercy.

I encourage you to join us for the retreat this Lent. Together, let us encounter, grow, and witness Jesus.

Jesus, I trust in You.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Your servant,

The Most Reverend Robert J. McClory

Bishop

Diocese of Gary