Music and Prayer: Sacred Music as a Pathway to Peace

third wellness retreat with Fr Paul
So very worthwhile as previous
Especially so this time as his sharing of his journey with his dad in his final days confirmed my recent time with the most beloved friend.

The Retreat titled Finding Peace - Discerning God's Will came at the right time for me. Fr. Paul O'Conner, SJ led the retreat. I am in the final stages of a divorce after 34 years of marriage and eight months of separation. What I learned and experienced at the retreat helped to give me the strength, courage, and peace to know that I am doing the right thing. The Holy Spirit was present at the retreat. Again, He brought people to me to reinforce that I am loved by God and by others. A woman at my table whom I had never met before gave me a booklet full of healing prayers of affirmations and renunciations. From Fr. Paul, I learned the method of Spiritual Discernment developed by Saint Ignatius. I will use this method when making future decisions and when in doubt on what God wants me to do next to fulfil His plan for my life. The food and facilities were excellent!!

I learned a great deal about discernment at the retreat by Father Paul O'Connor hosted at Saint Vincent Archabbey. His ability to use personal examples and guidance on how to apply it in real-time made the retreat eminently practical. As usual, I felt very much welcomed and enjoyed the hospitality of Saint Vincent Archabbey. I left feeling spiritually invigorated and connected to God and our world.

I prayed at the St. Vincent Spiritual Wellness Series presentation by Father Paul O'Connor, S.J. called Finding Peace by Discerning God's Will. Father Paul conducted an afternoon session that helped me to realize that I need to slow down every day, so I can listen and discern God's Will. He clearly presented the Ignatian Rules in a way that I can apply them daily. Thank you Father Paul, and St. Vincent's Archabbey for this faith filled afternoon.

My first visit to St. Vincent Archabbey! A full weekend but still very peaceful and prayerful. I hope very much to be able to make retreats there in the future.