The Australian Devotees of Our Lady of Penafrancia ( ADOLP ), in a joint activity with the Filipino Chaplaincy of the Diocese of Parramatta, has successfully sponsored the first of two Lenten Retreats among Filipino organizations in Sydney at the Mt Schoenstatt Retreat Centre, Mulgoa, on the 28th March.  The one-day event was moderated by Fr. Raning Creta, assisted by the service team from ADOLP. There were about 70 participants representing various groups, including Couples for Christ Australia, Bicol Inc, Nuspas, Buklod Ng Pag-Ibig, and the Filipino Chaplaincy.

With the retreat’s theme “Walk with Mary in Calvary”, Fr. Raning, talked about the affirming presence of Mary in Calvary as she faced the reality of the agony of her Son Jesus dying on the cross.  The cross symbolises burden, suffering, pain or something that is not right in our society today, and shows mankind’s helplessness that needs a saving grace from above.  Mary was a witness to all these, just as we are also witnesses to the good and bad things happening in our lives today.  Mary was the symbol of the perfect servant of God, and showed a great example for us to emulate in our own spiritual  transformation.

Fr. Dado Haber was the other speaker. He started his talk with a reading from Luke 1:26-38. His main message was that everything we do in life is a response to an invitation. God makes the first move, and then we make our own response. In the case of Mary, her “yes” response to God’s invitation to be the mother of the Redeemer was a sign of obedience and humility, which every Christian is expected to have. The afternoon session culminated with a Eucharistic celebration by Fr. Raning.

ADOLP announces that there is a Penafrancia Fiesta fund-raising dance night on April 17 at Blacktown’s Bowman Hall. Cost is $15 per person. For enquiries please contact Jun Relunia 0404046737, Josie Musa 0419233643, or Neria Soliman 0404011524.