As Christmas fast approaches, Catholic women across Sydney are invited to pause and receive anew the promises of Advent at the upcoming ‘Sisters of Life Advent Retreat’, hosted by the Catholic Women’s Network on 29 November at St Joachim’s parish in Lidcombe.
“We’re very excited to collaborate with the Sisters of Life for the upcoming Catholic Women’s Network Advent Retreat,” said Mission Manager with the Life Family and Marriage Team within the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation, Hazel Lim.
“Their love for ‘life’ and their work to protect and enhance the sacredness of every human life so closely aligns with the Life, Marriage and Family Team’s mission in upholding and affirming our human dignity. And they do this with such dedication, care, and joy.
“We feel so blessed to have them especially minister to the women in Sydney, offer women a time of rest and reflection, and help us prepare our hearts for Christ’s ‘coming’.”
The retreat is designed as a grace-filled space where women of all ages and backgrounds can step away from the busyness of life and encounter the renewing love of God.
Advent is not only a time of waiting, but a season of deep personal preparation – an opportunity to rediscover the truth of God’s delight in us, reminds Hazel.
“The retreat theme is a beautiful reminder for many women who may find themselves weary from the constant demands of life, especially as the year ends. This is precisely when the promise of restoration and renewal speaks most deeply – a reminder that God delights in us, not for what we’ve achieved, but simply because we are his. It’s an invitation to embrace our identity in his love and rest in his grace,” said Hazel.
Over the course of the retreat day, participants will be led in an afternoon of prayer, reflection, and dynamic formation, led by the Sisters of Life.
The program will guide women to let go of discouragement and false narratives, helping them to remember that each is cherished, chosen, and equipped to live in hope. It’s an event that gets bigger every year.
“CWN’s first advent ‘Beloved’ retreat in 2022 was attended by 100 women, and we have seen this growing yearly,” observed Hazel.
“In the last two years, we collaborated with the Missionaries of God’s Love (MGL) Sisters for the ‘El Roi’ and ‘Alight’ advent retreats which had more than triple the attendance from our first one.
“We are anticipating this year’s numbers to grow even more, which certainly speaks to the desire for women to pause from the busyness of life during this time of the year.
“There is a longing to intentionally enter the advent season, to attune our hearts to Christ and fully abide in him.”
Sr Mary Grace SV said her hope for the retreat is that “each of us are renewed in the truth that God is pursuing us and that we’re not just another number.”
“We’re not a project of God, but we’re his beloved daughters, and God cares about us so much so that he wants to come to us in a new way this year, as if it was the first year he ever came.
“And my hope for this retreat is that women experience God meeting us in the moment that we’re at.”
This Advent, encounter the Lord who delights in you at St Joachim’s parish in Lidcombe on Saturday 29 November from 1pm – 5pm.
To register please click on the link.