The following is the voice-over of a new video of Pope Benedict XVI’s talk at the World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia in 2008.
“Dear young people, let me now ask you a question. What will you leave to the next generation?
“Are you building your lives on firm foundations, building something that will endure? Are you living your lives in a way that opens up space for the Spirit in the midst of a world that wants to forget God, or even rejects Him in the name of a falsely-conceived freedom?
“How are you using the gifts you have been given, the “power” which the Holy Spirit is even now prepared to release within you? What legacy will you leave to young people yet to come? What difference will you make?”
(Pope Benedict XVI’s closing Mass at World Youth Day, Sydney, Australia, July 19, 2008. Read full homily at Zenit.)
Prayer, lectures, and fellowship were part of the retreat
On Oct. 28 – 30, the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception held a Discernment Retreat for young women. Prayer, Eucharistic adoration, informative talks, and the example of those who dare to recognize and answer God’s calling – all that was experienced by girls who came to the Discernment Retreat with the Sisters. We looked at the examples from the Bible, St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena, and also at Sisters who are living their religious life here and now.
Here’s what the participants had to say about the retreat:
They shared so much wisdom.
Renewed Zeal
“This weekend has been such a blessing. I’ve had so much time for rest, prayer, and just spending time with the Sisters. They have shared so much wisdom about discerning your vocation and I’ve come away from this weekend with a renewed zeal to discern and pray for my vocation. I have felt so welcomed and taken care of this weekend and I appreciate that so very much.”
A recent video of the Dominican Sisters encourages young women to think about how God’s vocation for them is already budding in their hearts.
The video, “Let God’s Call for Your Life Flower as a Dominican Sister,” has been viewed nearly 2,000 times since it was launched one month ago on Gloria TV.
The one-minute video features classical religious pictures as well as photos of professions of the Dominican Sisters. The video can be seen at left.
Video Text
In God’s eyes, your life stretches between a promise and its fulfillment, a promise from before you were born and the fulfillment that is still in your hands. The Scripture clearly shows that both correspond perfectly.
Following the footsteps of Abraham of years ago, and his faith journey, you need to explore how God speaks to your heart and what is, in fact, the “promised land” for your life’s journey.
The promise of your life’s vocation already buds in your heart. Will you let it blossom to completion? Time and again God reassured Abraham to trust unfailingly and to proceed confidently until the goal was achieved.
Visit the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception and discover that God also speaks to your heart, and that His plans are full of peace and purpose.
