BIS Mumbai
BOSCO INFORMATION SERVICE # 3230
THE LABYRINTH IN THE ARABIAN GULF
Amira Peter
NORTHERN ARABIAN VICARIATE, NOVEMBER 17, 2012 : On Thursday, 15 November 2012, Fr. Francisco Pereira 
conducted a special retreat titled “The Labyrinth, a spiritual journey” for those involved in the various Ministries in the St Therese Parish of the Northern Arabian Vicariate. It was attended by around fifty-eight volunteers of the Parish along with two Salesians, Fr. Francis Kharjia and Fr. Joy.
The retreat took us on a spiritual journey through a garden of ten different resting places. We were encouraged to walk through this garden at our own pace, moving from one resting place to the next. In each resting place, we are asked to reflect on a specific aspect of our lives. On this journey, we were taken on two different routes – as we entered the garden, we began with an inward quest of ourselves, thereby seeking inner peace. From there, we proceeded to an outward reflection of our relationships with others and our contribution to the community.
After we returned from the spiritual garden, Fr Francisco conducted guided reflections on the “the looks of Jesus” and a hymn “beautiful as you”. Finally, in pursuit of true 
peace we were given the opportunity for confessions. All the parish priests made themselves available to us for reconciliation.
The retreat concluded with a special Eucharistic Celebration that was animated with beautiful roses and hymns. Each of us was given a rose to remind us that we are unique and beautiful as flowers. We also exchanged our roses with each other to symbolize the interdependence of our lives within the community.
The retreat was indeed a welcome change to the hustle and bustle of our daily lives – it gave us the opportunity to stop and calm our frantic minds that are constantly thinking about one task after another. Here are some quotes from some participants at the retreat…
“Sometimes experiences like this are like stepping into the unknown – you don’t know what one is getting into, but one comes out of it enriched.” Cecilia Alcott.
“A different experience…something I feel everyone should go through at least once.” Jose Kurishinkal.
“We know that we can look at Jesus. Through this retreat, I have learned that Jesus also looks at us with loving eyes.” Vivienne Fernande.
“I am glad that I attended the retreat ‘Labyrinth’ – a true, live spiritual experience. God bless our Salesian priests.”Melwin D’souza.
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