More than 1,500 people joined the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal for the 2020 Diocesan Retreat on the subject of ‘Healing in Christ’. The one-day online Retreat was broadcast on the Friars’ Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/StPioFriary/ and is still available ‘Listen with Father’ for anyone who missed the live event!
Being online-only not only enabled many more people to join in than the original pre-pandemic plan for the Retreat to be residential at Hinsley Hall over three days would have permitted; it also allowed the retreatants to give immediate feedback and ask questions of a Friar moderating the Facebook comments without interrupting the speaker’s train of thought.
The day began at 9am with Holy Mass and ended at 5pm after Holy Hour with music and prayers. In between were a morning and afternoon session, the first introduced by the Rector of St Patrick’s Mission, Fr Giles Barrie CFR, and the second by Fr Gabriel Kyte CFR who has a particular healing ministry, with testimonies from their brother Friars about how they had personally experienced in their own lives God’s power to heal physically, emotionally and spiritually.
As the Retreat came to a close and it was almost time for the Friars’ regular broadcast of Night Prayer, they published the following ‘Healing Prayer at Bedtime’:
Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, go back into my memory as I sleep. Every hurt that has ever been done to me – heal that hurt. Every hurt that I have ever caused to another person – heal that hurt. All the relationships that have been damaged in my whole life that I’m not aware of – heal those relationships.
But Lord, if there is anything that I need to do – if I need to go to a person because they are still suffering from my hand, bring to my awareness that person.
I choose to forgive, and I ask to be forgiven. Remove whatever bitterness may be in my heart, Lord, and fill the empty spaces with your love.
Thank you, Jesus. Amen
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