PCF Annual Retreat

October 2 - 7, 2007

For this year annual holy retreat, Fr. Antonio Bermejo, Jr. led the pcf student-priests to reflect on this general theme taken form the Letter to the Hebrews 5, 6.1: You are a priest for ever... For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Our Retreat Master is a Filipino from Capiz. He is at present a professor of Liturgy at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross and Director of Studies of Collegio Ecclesiastico Internazionale Sedes Sapintiae.

These were the themes each day we made ourselves familiar with in our meditations and prayers: First Day 2 October 2007: God is near. Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sanctus Deus per omnia saecula saeculorum. Second Day 3 October 2007. Setting our priorities. The three imperatives: to pray, to provide care, to preach. Pope Benedict XVI. Eucharistic existence: So for us the words of institution must be more than a formula of consecration: they must be a "formula of life". Pope John Paul II, Letter to Priests 2005. Third Day 4 October 2007: Confession and spiritual direction. Sin and lukewarmness. Unity of life and rectitude of intention. Constancy and perseverance in the spiritual struggle. Mortification. Fourth Day 5 October 2007. Humanity of Jesus Christ : Priestly conduct and behavior. Humility and simplicity and poverty. In love with Christ, in love with the Church, in love with our priestly vocation. The Blessed Virgin Mary. Fifth Day 6 October 2007: Celibacy and chastity. Grace of God and personal correspondence. Freedom and responsibility. Unity and obedience. The whole PCF community was really very grateful to you, Fr. Jun, for the "tabor" experience in collegio in one week.