Advent Retreat

On December 14th, our community gathered for our Advent Retreat, marking the final retreat of the first semester of the academic year. We were blessed to have Don Concetto Occhipinti, parish priest of Santo Ireneo a Centocelle and prefect of the XV prefecture, as our retreat facilitator.

Don Concetto led us in two profound meditations, guiding us on a journey of spiritual reflection and growth. The first meditation, based on Revelation 5:1-14, invited us to contemplate the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the importance of recognizing Him as the Son of God. Don Concetto emphasized the need to live in accordance with Jesus' teachings and to be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The second meditation, rooted in John 1:6-8, 15, 19-37, focused on the testimony of John the Baptist, who bore witness to the light of Jesus Christ. Don Concetto stressed the importance of recognizing Jesus as the Son of God and the need to decrease our own ego and pride to make room for Him in our lives.

Following the meditations, we had the opportunity for confessions, allowing us to reflect on our lives and seek forgiveness. This was followed by a beautiful Mass celebrated by Don Concetto, whose homily reflected on the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ (Matthew 17:9-13). He encouraged us to recognize Jesus in our daily lives, particularly in the Eucharist and in the Word of God.

After a lunch together, Don Concetto departed for his parish, leaving us with a renewed sense of purpose and spiritual growth. We are grateful for his guidance and presence during our Advent Retreat.