MANRESA SCHOOL FACULTY & STAFF RETREAT 2010
By: Loi Mandario

The annual retreat of the Manresa School Faculty and Staff this year was divided into 4 batches & held in different venues and dates.  This was the product of the consultation made last year by the Manresa School Administration to the members of the faculty and staff for the latter to discern the type of retreat they would like to have. 

1st Batch
# of retreatants	58
venue	Carmelite Missionaries' Retreat Center, Tagaytay City
faciltitator	Fr. Dave Dominguez, MCCJ
2nd Batch
# of retreatants	25 probationary teachers
faciltitator	Dr. Tessa Rossana
3rd Batch	(individually directed retreat)
# of retreatants	20
venue	Sacred Heart Novitiate Retreat House in Novaliches, Quezon City
facilitator(s)	Emmaus Team headed by Francisca Bustamante
4th Batch	Psycho-Spiritual Integration
retreatants	newly hired employees
venue	CBCP Tagaytay City
facilitator(s)	Sr. Felisa Molina, FI

Everyone had a very meaningful and fruitful retreat. Thanks for the support of the Manresa School Administration for our spiritual growth and development.

WHERE GOD IS…
- an excerpt from my Spiritual Journal during my 4-day directed retreat in Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novalices, Quezon City
by Loi Mandario

I rushed to prayer on the first day of our retreat in my longing to personally encounter God.  I sat down on the chapel, opened my Bible and read the passage: “When you call on me, I will listen.”  (Jer. 29:12).  I called God, expecting  His answer right away.  But to my frustration, He did not hear me… So I called on Him again but he seemed deaf.  Was He playing a trick on me?   I gave Him a chance to answer, but He was quiet.

I continued reading the passage, “You will seek me and find me when you reach for me with all your heart. I will let myself be found by you. (Jer. 29:13-14).  

“But this God that I desired and longed for is lost!  I cannot see Him! I cannot hear Him.  I cannot feel Him!” My frustration built up but my longing grew even stronger, so strong that I shouted , God where are you?

“Loi, you cannot dictate God, He comes in simple and quiet ways”.  Marie, my retreat guide, told me.  “Did you seek Him with all your heart?” Yes, no, how?  I asked myself.  How can I seek God with all my heart? “Recognize that longing and be patient”, Marie added.

So I waited patiently, very patiently and wholeheartedly for my loving and faithful God.  “I will never give up, I will never lose hope”, I told myself.  “I believe He would come any moment, somewhere, somehow”.

The waiting is not easy.  It was like pulling giant weeds that block the Lord’s way.  But I had to do it, without reservation, without hesitation. I survived the second day without God’ appearance.  I have to obey Marie when she tells me, “Be still and have more patience.  Be sensitive to Him, LISTEN.”

It was on the third day that I became so still inside me… so quiet that I started to hear the singing of the birds, the swaying of the trees, the rustling of the leaves, the whisper of the cold, gentle breeze… & little by little God unfolded Himself to me uniquely … mysteriously … unexpectedly …through His own masterpieces:

 Ten Things Through Which God Revealed Himself To Me

	THE SWING  (God’s invitation…) “Come sit and be with me.  Relax & feel my presence in the cold, gentle breeze.  Trust me when I swing you to the full.  DO NOT BE AFRAID. I am with  you.”
	THE FIRE TREE (God’s Magnificent Beauty…) The fire tree said to me, “Look at me!  I am beautiful.  I shower the ground with my flowers.  You too are beautiful in the eyes of God & always remember that God’s beauty never fades.”
	THE FOUNTAIN (God’s loving presence…) The fountain said:  “My water overflows but it never runs dry. How much more of God’s own LOVE for you!  Believe & you will see.”
	THE DEAD TREE (God’s purpose…) “I am God’s creation too.  I may seemed useless but I can still be re-made into becoming USEFUL.  May you see God in me.”
	THE OLD NIPA HUT (God’s selfless-giving…) “Don’t you know that I give shelter to the goat & sheep here? God placed me here that I may give myself to others just as He gave Himself to you.”
	THE BENCH (Companion…)  “Come, let’s have a talk.  I am always here waiting for you. Be still & know that I am your God.”
	RAMBUTAN (God’s blessings…)     God created me & has given me abundant fruits. I enjoy the blessings God has given me!”

THE CONSULTATION ROOM (Sacred Space…) 
“God said to me, “Seek me & reveal who you are to me & I will let myself BE FOUND BY YOU.”

THE BIRDS (Thanksgiving…) 
“Hello, we are God’s joyful creations. Come, sing with us.  Let us give thanks & sing praise to Him for allowing us to see Him, to experience Him, to love Him!”

On that day, God revealed himself to me neither in thunder nor in lightning, but in the stillness of my heart when I patiently waited & wholeheartedly sought Him. 

On that same day, I sat there in the garden full of love, joy & serenity.

There is harmony.  There is beauty.  There is purpose.  There is life. 
Everything has meaning.  EVERYTHING IS GOD!

“I see you, I experience you, I love you, I thank you, LORD.”