By Erin Maguire
Special to the CS&T
More than 40 young adults gathered at the peaceful, woodsy Malvern Retreat
House on the weekend of Jan. 20 to develop a closer relationship with
Jesus through His mother.
Led by Capuchin Franciscan Father David Engo of St. John the Evangelist
Parish in Center City, the retreat focused on total consecration to Mary
in accordance with the writings of St. Louis Marie de Montfort.
“When you offer retreats and events that are authentically Catholic,
the young adults are drawn by truth,” said Abbie Langsdorf, assistant
director of young adult ministry for the Office of Youth and Young Adults.
She organized the retreat.
“Young adults need Jesus Christ today,” Langsdorf said. “They
are broken, wounded, confused — and are seeking truth, joy and love.
Through Mary’s beauty, gentleness and love, we will find all the
things that we are longing for because they live within the heart of Jesus.
She will lead us to all we need.”
Father Engo explained that Mary, who is the spouse of the Holy Spirit,
is the foundation for devotion to the Holy Spirit. He added that Mary
also “brings us to Christ. He is always going to work through the
Blessed Virgin Mary.”
Combining talks, Eucharistic adoration, confessions, personal prayer time,
Mass and a rosary procession, the retreat encouraged the participants
to surrender themselves to God’s will. A coffee house and recreation
time provided opportunities for them to form a community holding them
accountable to that promise.
During Saturday night’s Eucharistic adoration, Father Engo carried
the monstrance around the kneeling circle of retreatants, inviting them
to ask the Lord to grant specific intentions.
Jason Buck of SS. Simon and Jude Parish in West Chester led the music,
softly strumming his guitar and chanting: “I love you, Lord. I’m
yours. I love you, Lord. I’m yours.” Alice Quick, a junior
at Immaculata University, and Fernando Cartagena of Bensalem accented
Buck’s vocals with a blend of violin and drums.
OYYA has hosted young adult retreats for more than five years but this
was the first weekend retreat, and its fruits were evident.
“Women’s faith-sharing groups are starting because of it.
New friendships have started because of it. People are seeking spiritual
direction and, most importantly, the young adults are seeking to have
a relationship with the Blessed Mother and Our Lord,” Langsdorf
said.
One retreatant, Stephanie Longo of Our Lady of the Snows Parish in Clarks
Summit, said she hopes to start a young adult group in her parish.
Added Lori Boccuzzi of St. Martin of Tours Parish in New Hope: “I
was inspired to find so many people my own age who were passionate about
the same things I am. …
“Devotion to Mary is something so important to me, and the more
I can learn about her place in my life, the closer I can come to know
her son,” Boccuzzi added.
Langsdorf plans to offer the retreat again next year. She would also like
to offer separate retreats for young men and women in the future. The
next big project for OYYA will be its Theology on Tap series this summer.
To learn about young adult events, visit OYYA’s Web site: www.oyya.org/yam.
Erin Maguire is a parishioner of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Horsham.