This Tuesday evening, I will be beginning an eight day silent directed retreat at Eastern Point Retreat House in Gloucester, MA. (http://www.easternpoint.org/)  It is a retreat based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits.

Eight days of silence?  The responses have been everything from “I don’t think I could be silent for eight days” to “I would love eight days of silence.  That means my kids wouldn’t be there, right, Father? to “Can you talk to yourself?”

The silence is a part of the retreat because the belief is we are quiet it is easier to hear God speaking to us.  To escape to a place where there are not the typical distractions or activities of life offers us the opportunity to hear God speak to us.  It’s not like I hear God speaking to me directly.  I hope to hear God speaking to me through nature, through the Scriptures, through the guidance of a spiritual director with whom I will meet once a day.  Silence, in one way, slows life down.

Why a retreat?  My experience has proven to me that daily prayer is not enough.  I need this carved out time with God to energize me in my life as a disciple of the Lord Jesus as well as in my role as pastor of our parish.  Jesus took that time in the desert after his baptism by John before he began his ministry.

I ask you for your prayers as I take this time “in the desert”.  As Jesus’ body here in our portion of the world, we can remain connected in prayer even if separated.  Please pray that I may be the Lord’s faithful servant here in Berkeley Heights.  Pray that I may be open to whatever God may speak to me on this time of retreat.   Know that you will be in my prayer each day of my retreat.  

Father Andy Prachar