The Latin Patriarchate priests  in Jordan began their annual spiritual retreat on Monday, October 12, which is scheduled to last on Thursday, October 14. This year's spiritual retreat lectures will be presented by Fr. Joseph Sweid, the patriarchal vicar for the Maronites in Jordan and the parish priest of Saint Charbel Church in Amman.

The retreat began with a prayers followed by a meeting with the Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Fr. Jamal Khader, which marks his first meeting with the priests of the Latin Patriarchate in the Kingdom since  his nomination as vicar.

The Christian retreat is a definite time spent away from one's normal life for the purpose of reconnecting, usually in prayer, with God. Spiritual retreats may have various themes that reinforce Christian values, principles, and scriptural understanding.

These  retreats are a time away from normal activities to spend time getting reacquainted with God, to examine the priorities of life as well as to make concrete and practical resolutions for improvement.  Furthermore, retreats can be a powerful step toward personal conversion.

Before Lord Jesus  began His public ministry, He spent 40 days in the desert praying and fasting as a  way to prepare for the important work ahead. Those were days of retreat. During His three years of public ministry, Lord Jesus would sometimes invite His disciples to "come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." Again, these were days of retreat.

When Lord Jesus entered forcefully into the life of St. Paul, He directed him to rise and go into the city, where he would be told what to do. For three days St. Paul neither ate nor drank, preparing himself to receive the spiritual direction of Ananias. Those, too, were days of retreat.

Prayer for priests who are on retreat this week

Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priests.
Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.

Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.
Set their souls on fire with love for your people.

Grant them the wisdom, understanding and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Inspire them with the vision of your kingdom.

Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.

Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our eternal priest.

Amen.