For most women, Christmas is an annual exercise in chaos management and seasonal survival. Hope and renewal might be the last two gifts on the Christmas wish list.
But that is certainly what is on offer in preparation for the festive mayhem, as women across Sydney are invited to the upcoming Sisters of Life Advent Retreat, hosted by the Catholic Women’s Network on 29 November at St Joachim’s parish in Lidcombe.
Guided this year by the theme, “No longer forsaken: the Lord delights in you,” this retreat promises a faith-filled encounter led by Sr Mary Grace SV and the Sisters of Life from New York, a community renowned for their joyful witness to the dignity and beauty of every woman.
The Sisters of Life were founded by young Catholic women in New York in 1991, to protect and enhance the sacredness of every human life
Speaking to The Catholic Weekly, the Sydney-born Sr Mary Grace, a graduate of Tangara School for Girls in Cherrybrook and the University of Notre Dame Australia, shared her heart for the women of Australia: “Australia gets more and more embedded in my heart the longer I live away from it. It’s such a gift. It’s beautiful to see how receptive Aussies are to the truth of the goodness of every human heart.”
She revealed how the retreat’s theme, “No longer forsaken: the Lord delights in you,” resonates with her, particularly when preparing to speak to women before Advent.
“A lot of women are living under captive lies that God is disinterested in me, that we are forsaken, he doesn’t care about us, or he’s forgotten about us. So, I want women to know the truth: that we follow a God who never forgets us and that the truth is God delights in us. He doesn’t just take care of us. He’s delighted in the invitation to be part of our lives,” Sr Mary Grace said.
On a recent retreat hosted by the Sisters of Life, the Aussie sister related one woman’s experience after recognising this truth.
“She said, sisters, my whole life, I felt like I’ve woken up every morning with a black hole in my heart after this retreat, I feel like that hole was gone,” she recalled hearing.
“When we come together as women and hear these truths again, they resonate on an even deeper level in our hearts than the lies do, and that can be life-changing.”
Sr Mary Grace sees Advent as a unique time to be renewed by these truths and more, particularly as we prepare for Christ’s birth.
“It’s a crazy, busy season, but it’s also like a ‘power pack season’ for grace, where we rediscover this feminine longing for Jesus, Christ, our Saviour: I follow a Saviour who is the only person who can fulfill my feminine longing for intimacy, for love. My God is coming to me, and he makes all things new.”
At the Advent retreat, Sr Mary Grace will be joined by five sisters from the Sisters of Life congregation. She encourages every Catholic woman to attend, whatever season they are in.
“My hope for this retreat is that women experience God meeting us in the moment that they’re in.
“Retreats are not only a helpful tool but essential to staying in hope as a woman. We as women need, now more than ever, to be steeped in this truth: Jesus makes a real difference in my life.”
Having travelled throughout the United States speaking at similar retreats, Sr Mary Grace reflected on the overwhelming burdens many women she meets carry into events.
“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 radically experience the truth that he has the final say.”
Sr Mary Grace’s final message to every woman is clear: “God has good plans and he’s not going to let us down. No matter what chaos or confusion we face, he can bring good endings to every single story. That’s the hope that we have.”
The Sisters of Life will also be joining the Sydney Archdiocese’s University Chaplaincies for a special event, planting hope in the hearts of a new generation, and then will travel on to the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Melbourne to share their message at the largest gathering of Catholic youth in Australia.
“There is something happening in Sydney and there is a new spirit rising. The very fact that we’re coming back is God’s doing. God is moving and women are responding, and we need to follow that wildfire,” Sr Mary Grace said.
Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to be renewed in hope, discover your true worth, and connect with other women seeking God’s delight.
Register now for the Women’s Advent Retreat at St Joachim’s, Lidcombe, on 29 November.
To register please follow the link.
