Women from across Sydney gathered in their hundreds to spend the day with the Sisters of Life at St Joachim’s in Lidcombe, on 29 November, for a rare opportunity to slow down and rediscover the true reason for the season at an Advent retreat organised by the Catholic Women’s Network (CWN) within the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation (SCE).
“That’s what the retreat was for, to set the tone and pace for Advent,” said Pamela Lahood, from the Catholic Women’s Network team.
“And that’s what the Sisters of Life did: they reminded us of what the Advent season is about, and how much Christ is yearning to meet us there.”
Lead by Sr Mary Grace SV and fellow Sisters of Life from New York, a community renowned for their joyful witness to the dignity and beauty of every woman, the 500 women were lead through an afternoon of reflection and quiet prayer time, under the theme ‘No longer forsaken: the Lord delights in you’ (Isaiah 62).
“It was wonderful to see St Joachim’s full of women ready to receive the Sisters of Life. They are just so joyful. And that joy is contagious,” said Lahood.
“They were able to just resonate with the women at different levels. We can all fall into that trap of getting busy and forgetting what we’re waiting for on Christmas Day, and that was what the retreat was for,” she said.
Working mother of three Sarah Christie from St John Vianney in Greenacre welcomed the chance to reset before the chaos.
“It’s very easy to get carried away with all the busyness and everything that we’re getting in the media about shopping and preparing. We need to be preparing our hearts to receive the gifts of Jesus,” she said.
“One of the things the sisters said today was that Jesus said, “I thirst on the cross”, and that is thirsting for us in the same way that we are thirsting for him. So, it’s about going to that well, and drawing what we need from the Lord, and speaking to him honestly and from the heart.”
Tiana Gracia from Quakers Hill started listening to the Sisters of Life podcast this year and embraced the opportunity to spend an afternoon with them.
“After a big year, life just gets busier as we grow older and just listening to the sisters makes you realise there’s so much more to life than our jobs, than our day to day, than the things that we’re responsible for. That has been striking a chord in my heart today,” she said.
The day saw great support from the local community with nearly 20 women from St Joachim’s parish volunteering to provide the women morning tea and refreshments and 10 priests on hand to offer the sacrament of reconciliation.
The women in attendance were treated to an unforgettable Holy Hour as the Sisters of Life offered musical spiritual accompaniment, singing in front of the blessed sacrament, “giving us all a beautiful reverent opportunity for reflection,” said Lahood.
“The day was amazing because the Sisters of Life helped to go deeper in our prayer and to learn how to do that. The sisters are the perfect ones to do it, because that’s their life. They’re so joyful, welcoming and very loving. They’re a great example for us,” said Dominica Joyce from Cheltenham.
“My hope for this retreat is that women experience God meeting us in the moment that they’re in,” said Sr Mary Grace SV.
“Women today carry so much. We have so much to be worried about, so many concerns, and so I think we have a disproportionate need to know that Jesus is in charge. He will take care of everything if I turn to him.
“So, my hope is that we, as women, put Jesus back in in charge of our lives this Advent. And we experience the truth that he has the final say.”
