For their Annual Retreat 2024, the Philippines-Macau Province has invited Fr. Michael “Mick” Goonan SSP, the Delegate of the Superior General to SSP Australia, to give reflections to two batches of retreatants. The theme of the retreat is “He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Lk 24:45). The venue is the Maryridge Retreat House of the Religious of the Good Shepherd (RGS) Sisters in Tagaytay City.
The first batch composed of 25 retreatants had their spiritual exercises from August 1-6, while the second batch composed of 32 retreatants from August 10-15. Fr. Mick gave two talks each day. In the morning, he focused on Blessed James Alberione’s spirituality: on how the Divine Master opened the mind of the Founder to understand the Scriptures. Through the crises in his life, Fr. Alberione came to understand Jesus Master as the Truth, then as Way-Truth-Life, and, finally, as the Good Shepherd. The afternoon conferences focused on Jesus’ encounters with different Gospel personages, eliciting guide questions like: “What/whom do you seek?”, “What do you want me to do for you?”, “Who do you say that I am?”, “Do you want to be well?”, “Why are you afraid?”, and “Do you love me?”
The retreatants also went to St. Paul Seminary Foundation (SPSF) in Silang, Cavite to join the seminarians during Visit to the Blessed Sacrament and Vespers. Supper was an opportunity to get familiar with each other. Fr. Goonan said he was glad to be with his “neighbors” (although Australia is some seven-hour flight away, it is the closest circumscription to the Philippines).
