Time for Prayer and Reflection
“Rising very early before dawn, Jesus left and went to a deserted place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35) Well, I won’t be going off to pray very early before dawn, but I will be going this Sunday afternoon to check into the Diocese of Orange’s House of Prayer for Priests for my annual retreat. And, do I need a retreat! We priests usually have our annual retreat in the first week of June, however as with so many other events, that got cancelled this year.
I will be there from Sunday afternoon through Friday evening and I ask your prayers for me during that time. You can be certain that you will be in my prayers (as you are every day). My spiritual director has suggested that, along with Scripture and sleep (!), I might read these two books: Grace: On the Journey to God (by Michael Casey) and a novel entitled Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. I guess my director figures I need to concentrate on the grace of God instead of my own wits while I am away in prayer.
Peace and all good to you; thanks for your prayers in the coming week. If you are interested in learning more about our House of Prayer for Priests, go to the Diocese of Orange website www.rcbo.org and click on “About the House of Prayer for Priests”. This is a great blessing for us in our Diocese of Orange.