Clergy retreat and vocation

Since the past years, the Davao Clergy hold their annual retreat every November. This year, it will be on November 9 until November 13.

According to the Final Document (FD 74) of the Synod, “the Bishops, Priests and Deacons were thanked for the joy, commitment and dedication with which they carry out their service. Often mentioned in addition, were the very real difficulties encountered by pastors in their ministry. These mainly concerned a sense of isolation and loneliness, as well as the feeling of being overwhelmed by the expectation that they are required to fulfill every need.”

The retreat is a venue for the clergy to be bonded together in reflection and prayer, in sharing meals and even in sports. This bond is an exercise of journeying together being called to lead God’s people in synodality. This creates an occasion to feel and savor together in joy and communion the continued response to the call as ordained ministers.

May we invite, our faithful, to pray for our priests not only during their retreat but even beyond. And let that prayer be made concrete in sharing the responsibilities and tasks of building the Christian community. May they not feel isolated and lonely but accompanied by the laity. “Christians, individually and as part of the ecclesial movements and associations, are called to bear fruit by sharing the gifts they have been given and to be witnesses to the Gospel” (FD 57).