On Retreat
See you in a month!
Greetings — and goodbye for a while.
I normally post these reflections on Mondays, but I will begin the month-long Spiritual Exercises tomorrow. I cannot wait.
I will be in silence and offline, so you won't hear from me for a while. (I'll also read about the US election more than three weeks after it happens!)
It is an extreme privilege to take a month off from other responsibilities and be with the Lord. Most people cannot do that. Still, all of us can probably carve out some more time for silence and disconnect somewhat from the never-ending news cycle. That might be exactly what we need right now.
Please pray for me and the nine other Jesuits making the Spiritual Exercises in Manila. If you have any special intentions that you would like me to pray for, please let me know in the next 24 hours.
Know that I will carry you and your brothers in my prayers. May your prayers surround me as I pray for God's graces to surround me on this next journey in my life in retirement and may I celebrate God's joy and mercy looking back over my years as a public servant. Thank you.
May God be especially close to you and your brothers in this time. I’ll certainly be praying for you all!
May the power of your prayers also help someone very dear to me see the Light and find how beautiful Life side by side with Jesus can be!