Retreat has been described as a moment of spiritual, physical and mental rest, a period of sober reflection, thorough examination of conscience, confessions for forgiveness of unworthy attitudes and resolution.

A lecturer at the Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary Owerri, Rev. Fr. Lawrence Nwachukwu made the description at the 2013 retreat organized by Knights of the Order of St. Mulumba, St. Paul’s Sub-Council Owerri at the Claretian Renewal Centre, Maryland Nekede in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.

Rev. Fr. Nwachukwu who is also the Chaplain of the Sub-Council expounded on the theme of the retreat “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31).

Earlier, the Worthy Grand Knight of the sub-council, Bro. Evarest Njemanze, who expressed satisfaction with the turnout of brothers enumerated the importance of retreat in the life of every Christian and urged the brothers to take the exercise seriously.

Addressing the brothers at the opening conference, the retreat Moderator and Spiritual Director of St. Paul’s Sub-Council, Fr. Nwachukwu gave five hints that are germane for a successful retreat.  They include, remembering reasons for attending the retreat, strict observance of absolute silence during retreat and telling yourself and others the truth.  Others are possessions of a jotter to put down things that strike you and making irrevocable and irreversible resolutions.  While enjoining the knights to follow these five steps whenever they embark on retreat, the Catholic priest frowned at a situation where some retreatants allow their cell phones to become distractions for them.

The second conference dwelt on the Holy Bible with particular reference to Psalm 15, Isaiah 33:15-16, Micah 6:8 and Amos 5:4, which outlined the moral codes required of every Christian to ascend the temple of the Most High.  The Chaplain admonished the Knights to pursue holiness and aim at blamelessness at all times in order to make heaven.  According to him, the Knights can do this by being truthful, shunning slander and refraining from despising the righteous.  Other methods include, keeping pledges/promises made before God and men at all cost and not taking bribe against the innocent through various guises.

On the other hand, Rev. Fr. Nwachukwu drew attention to the gospel of Mark 7:21, where our Lord Jesus pointed out various condemnable vices that deprive people from achieving their heavenly target.

The third conference emphasized greatly on the myriads of challenges facing the knights.  The moderator charged the knights to avoid occasions that would bring them close to women outside their marriages.  He advised the knights to always endeavour to forgive and say sorry to their wives whenever they offended them so that the healthy relationship existing between them would continue to blossom.

The retreat which lasted from 27th to 29th September 2013 featured Holy Masses, Confessions Meditations, Devotions and sharing of experiences and ideas.

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Donatus Ihejirika

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