Provincial Retreat of Central America

With the motto: “Cultivating a fruitful silence”, the Marists of the Province of América Central held their annual retreat at the end of November (El Salvador) and early December (Guatemala). In El Salvador the retreat was at the Hermitage retreat center in Mejicanos. In El Salvador, this year, in addition to 29 Brothers, 10 lay Marists participated, all as one Marist family.

There were 4 full days of silence, reflection, celebration, communion, and personal and group encounters among brothers. The dynamic of the retreat was a moment of silent prayer at the beginning of the day, led by the animator of the retreat, Brother Xavier Barceló, a member of the Ongoing Formation team of the General Administration.

In the afternoon, another moment of prayer with the silent gaze of Mary who always invited the participants to look at her Son Jesus, at reality, and at the community. The participants also took part in a prayer workshop. The Eucharist motivated the brothers and laity to accept what they had experienced and to close the day with a greater Marist vocation.

“Silence, prayer and contemplation would be the synthesis of the retreat this year 2022,” said Brother Rodrigo Cuesta.