Shivamigga: For six grace-filled days, the priests of the Diocese of Shimoga stepped away from the demands, schedules and responsibilities of pastoral ministry to spend quality time with the One who called them.
Held from September 13 to 18 at Sannidhi; Pastoral Renewal Centre, Shivamogga, the annual clergy retreat was a Psycho-Spiritual Retreat guided by Rev. Fr. Dr. Gregory Pinto, SVD, of Pune, under the inspiring theme “Holiday with the Lord.”
The retreat began with the warm welcome extended by the Apostolic Administrator Most Rev. Duming Dias to Fr. Gregory Pinto and the clergy gathered from across the diocese. The priests were invited to enter these days with openness, allowing the Lord to refresh their minds, heal their hearts and renew their commitment to priestly ministry.
A Journey Within: The retreat offered a rich blend of spiritual reflection and psychological insight.
The opening session, “The Felt Experience of God’s Love,” invited the priests to move beyond merely knowing about God’s love and to experience it personally. This was followed by “Self-Awareness,” encouraging an honest look at one’s emotions, relationships, strengths, struggles and inner motivations.
The theme “Our DNA is Divine” led the priests to rediscover their identity as beloved children of God. The retreat then courageously addressed different addictions that can take priests away from the Lord and affect priestly ministry, inviting deeper self-examination and freedom.
“Healing begins when we have the courage to acknowledge what hurts.” The session on “Healing the Hurt Feelings” provided space to recognize and bring personal wounds before the Lord. The following reflection on Non-Violent Communication (NVC) highlighted the importance of empathy, attentive listening and healthy communication in priestly relationships.
Rediscovering the Joy of the Call
One of the highlights was the reflection on “The Joy of Being a Priest.” In the midst of pastoral pressures, the priests were reminded of the grace and privilege of their vocation.
The session on Human Intimacy and Consecrated Celibacy explored the human and spiritual dimensions of relationships and the meaning of celibacy as a gift offered to Christ and His people.
The retreat culminated in “Pentecost Re-experienced – The Holy Spirit.” The priests were invited to renew their openness to the Holy Spirit, the source of strength, courage, wisdom and missionary zeal.
The retreat concluded with the Holy Eucharist, celebrating God’s faithfulness and the grace received throughout the retreat.
A Renewed Journey Back to Ministry
At the conclusion, Rev. Fr. Veeresh Moras expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the retreat. Very Rev. Msgr. Stany D’Souza, Delegate of the Apostolic Administrator, presided at the Holy Mass and conveyed the greetings, wishes and information of the Apostolic Administrator.
The six days at Sannidhi became much more than a retreat. They became a sacred pause—a time to rest, reflect, heal, rediscover and renew.
“They came away from their ministry for a while, only to return to it with a renewed heart.”
Holiday with the Lord became a beautiful reminder that the priest’s first mission is not simply to work for Christ, but to remain with Christ.
Report & Photos by Fr Franklin D’Souza