BOSTON — Thirty participants gathered last week in the St. Anthony Shrine auditorium here for a Lenten commuter retreat sponsored by the staff of the Franciscan Center for Spiritual Direction.
The spiritual directors planned the March 3 event day and were present to lead prayer, give presentations, and sit with people for mini spiritual direction sessions. Carol Wysopal opened the day with prayer. Raymond Mann gave the opening presentation.
Afterwards, retreatants had the option to experience centering prayer and lectio divina faciliated by Rene Perreault or attend a presentation given byJohn Maganzini. Other opportunities included seeing one of the directors for spiritual direction, journaling, and participating in silent prayer and reflection.
After lunch, the participants re-gathered with a prayer of gesture. John Hogan gave the afternoon reflection, and the same opportunities that were offered in the morning were repeated. The day ended with a closing prayer and sung blessing by Gene Pistacchio. One of the retreatants remarked, “This is just what I needed to help me enter the Lenten spirit.”
The day was nicknamed a “commuter retreat” because all the participants came into Boston either by car, train, bus, or subway, according to John Maganzini.
— Sr. Margaretta Flanagan, MFIC, pictured at left in photo, is director of the Franciscan Center for Spiritual Direction at Boston’s St Anthony Shrine.