Verbum Dei CDO: Disciples' Retreat and Commitment - Nov. 21-22, 2015 (with photos)

11/25/2015

"Here I am Lord for you have called me!"

The same words still resonate in my ears after hearing myself and 38 others uttered in temporal and stable commitment to the Lord - the response of His constant invitation "Come follow me" .

There were 40 disciples, most of them college students, who attended the two-day Disciple Commitment Retreat from November 21-22, 2015 at the sprawling and picturesque Betania Retreat House where the view of the mountains and the sea captivates the hearts of the retreatants the moment we arrived. Perfect getaway for the troubled and indecisive hearts so to speak. Indeed most of us were asking ourselves, is this really the call I am willing to answer with a conclusive YES or is this just a moment when you are caught up in the situation that all you could do is to go with the prevailing mood. We couldn't understand what we are getting into, for the first timers; however looking at the disciples who are there for their renewal was something inspirational, for they must have experienced something different and life-changing, and looking back they decided to take it another year. There were some who were there for the stable commitment, taking the response to another level. Personally, how I wish I was one of them, nevertheless I was one WITH them.

The retreat ended with a mass that Sunday, officiated by Fr. Enrique, a friend of the family. How well-timed that the commitment ceremony was done on the day of the feast of Christ the King; as one of the retreatants commented, "heaven must have been rejoicing today!" Indeed heaven must have been rejoicing with the 40 YES'.

This is just a beginning, a beginning of something remarkable - a life well spent.

See some photos of the event: