The Piarist Fathers of the Province of the U.S.A and Puerto (USA-PR) met at the Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center., Florida U.S.A, from June 16 through 20, for an intense and highly profitable spiritual exercise commonly known as a Provincial retreat. The desire for growth accompanies every Christian worthy of the name, let alone Religious called to follow Christ more closely manner through the profession of Evangelical Councils. The thirty-four participants who came from every end of the Province were led into an atmosphere of prayer through well-selected themes and reflections drawn from the 48th General Chapter, celebrated in held in Mexico. The retreat facilitator, Rev. Julio Alberto Álvarez, Sch.P who doubles as General Assistant for America, based his reflection on the Centrality of Christ, which was the configuring nucleus of the chapter orientations. Even when there is no doubt that Christ is fundamental in every Christian life, it is worth recalling that putting him at the Centre of every thought, word and action is at the same time a necessity and a challenge. In a well-assimilated methodology applied by the preacher, we reflected and meditated on Calasanzian spirituality and community life. This was geared at taking stalk of our present spiritual state in view of renewal and growth. To accompany the process of spiritual renewal, three questions repeated guided our meditation and sharing: what are our certainties and joys? What do we need to improve on? And what are the opportunities we have? It was highly underlined that the following of Christ is not first and foremost a matter of projects, programs, roles and functions but closeness to Christ from whom comes every authentic joy. The Holy Father’s emphasis and invitation to happiness take root in this: the joy of discipleship, the joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium). When we are convinced of this, many positive changes take place. As bishop Lazaro once said, he who is convinced of Christ convinces others. The fruits of the retreat are multiple. Apart from personal spiritual enrichment, it reinforced the spirit communion between persons and communities of the Province as well as increased the sense of belonging to Order. In what could be termed a closing remark, the Provincial Superior Rev. Francisco Anaya Walker, Sch.P congratulated the preacher for being skilful in leading us to the encounter with God, not forgetting the retreat participants who valued this moment by allocating time for the retreat. In the same vein, he expressed gratitude to the entire Province for all that is happening in the communities and works that speak well of our identity and mission, as disciples of Calasanz. Renewed by the Spirit that led the first Christian community and that still leads the Church and Order today, we look forward to the future with hope and enthusiasm.
Paulinus Abose, Sch. P.
