Power and Purpose of the Retreat
Jerome on the Cross
Our Enslaved African Ancestors Stripped
The Path of the Suffering Savior: JESUS CHRIST is a weekend Lenten Retreat and require participants to commit to all three days, for maximum benefit.
Description of The Path of the Suffering Savior: JESUS CHRIST RetreatThe Path of the Suffering Savior: JESUS CHRIST is a weekend retreat based on the Stations of the Cross that represents each of the Biblical stops that Jesus Christ made on His journey to Calvary. Participants “make” the Stations from the 1st Station, “Jesus Is Condemned to Death” to the “Resurrection,” an added 15th Station.
Need for the RetreatThe retreat addresses basic needs expressed by Catholics present and absent from the Catholic Church. To meet those needs, ORACLE Religious Association has taken a familiar devotion, like the Stations of the Cross, and presented it within the context of Black life and Catholic spirituality.
Content of the RetreatWhile on the journey, there are substantive Bible based and fresh Catholic teachings on each one of the Stations. The Catholic Christian doctrine is interwoven with past and current life experiences. The Lectio Divina teaching method engages the sojourners and places them on the Path of Jesus Christ. Participants identify with the human experiences of Jesus’ journey as they relate Jesus' experiences to the crises in their own lives. For example, how might participants relate to Jesus’ trial (their experiences of injustice); to a Veronica outreach (helping and asking nothing in return); a Simon-Jesus encounter (forced labor, threat of death); and women weeping for their children (auction block, immigration policies)? Station by Station, participants bring their lives to Calvary.
The Application of Catholic Doctrine in the RetreatIn the retreat teachings, Catholics are led to see what they already know in memorized prayers, like the Apostles’ Creed. For example, what did Christ do after he died and was buried? Answer: And I quote: “… He descended into hell…” According to The New Catechism of the Catholic Church, Jesus also preached to all those in hell [Hades (Greek), Schoel (Hebrew)]; and He led the captives (believers) free. These are fresh teachings built on what’s commonly known. Sources: Eph. 4:9-10; Acts 3:15 and The New Catechism of the Catholic Church - Par. #1, Subtopics: #632 and #633.
Participants find themselves shocked at the depth of Catholic teaching and spirituality. One would hear comments like, All the while for years, I had been saying these prayers, or making these Stations, I never knew it meant all that. The Encounter: Jesus Christ The ORACLE Retreat Meditations help facilitate participants’ encounter with Jesus Christ. The meditations serve as magnets through the Lectio Divina teaching method. As one participant put it, referring to the Nail Meditation: “With me holding the 4 nails tight in my hand, I was struck by that 4th nail where they posted on the Cross the inscription, INRI. I’m a young adult. The meditation challenged us to reflect on what I’m posting. Was my posting death dealing or life giving?”
In teaching content with meditations, there are culturally specific resources required: The PATH Prayer Book and a set of PATH Prayer Cards. The optional resources are the 11” X 17” PATH Meditation Posters. The artwork displayed within the resources are Kenyan Stations of the Cross paintings by Br. Michael O’Neill McGrath, OSFS (used with permission).
The retreat facility is adorned with an Afri-centric décor (fabric and Br. McGrath’s Kenyan Stations of the Cross); and an Enthronement of Afri-centric icons.
The MealsThe Path of the Suffering Savior: JESUS CHRIST Jesus often ministered through meal fellowship. The retreat provides participants with several meals together. When the soulfood is good, folks are happy and interact with one another. This lends to strong community bonding across gender and social strata.
Description of The Path of the Suffering Savior: JESUS CHRIST RetreatThe Path of the Suffering Savior: JESUS CHRIST is a weekend retreat based on the Stations of the Cross that represents each of the Biblical stops that Jesus Christ made on His journey to Calvary. Participants “make” the Stations from the 1st Station, “Jesus Is Condemned to Death” to the “Resurrection,” an added 15th Station.
Need for the RetreatThe retreat addresses basic needs expressed by Catholics present and absent from the Catholic Church. To meet those needs, ORACLE Religious Association has taken a familiar devotion, like the Stations of the Cross, and presented it within the context of Black life and Catholic spirituality.
Content of the RetreatWhile on the journey, there are substantive Bible based and fresh Catholic teachings on each one of the Stations. The Catholic Christian doctrine is interwoven with past and current life experiences. The Lectio Divina teaching method engages the sojourners and places them on the Path of Jesus Christ. Participants identify with the human experiences of Jesus’ journey as they relate Jesus' experiences to the crises in their own lives. For example, how might participants relate to Jesus’ trial (their experiences of injustice); to a Veronica outreach (helping and asking nothing in return); a Simon-Jesus encounter (forced labor, threat of death); and women weeping for their children (auction block, immigration policies)? Station by Station, participants bring their lives to Calvary.
The Application of Catholic Doctrine in the RetreatIn the retreat teachings, Catholics are led to see what they already know in memorized prayers, like the Apostles’ Creed. For example, what did Christ do after he died and was buried? Answer: And I quote: “… He descended into hell…” According to The New Catechism of the Catholic Church, Jesus also preached to all those in hell [Hades (Greek), Schoel (Hebrew)]; and He led the captives (believers) free. These are fresh teachings built on what’s commonly known. Sources: Eph. 4:9-10; Acts 3:15 and The New Catechism of the Catholic Church - Par. #1, Subtopics: #632 and #633.
Participants find themselves shocked at the depth of Catholic teaching and spirituality. One would hear comments like, All the while for years, I had been saying these prayers, or making these Stations, I never knew it meant all that. The Encounter: Jesus Christ The ORACLE Retreat Meditations help facilitate participants’ encounter with Jesus Christ. The meditations serve as magnets through the Lectio Divina teaching method. As one participant put it, referring to the Nail Meditation: “With me holding the 4 nails tight in my hand, I was struck by that 4th nail where they posted on the Cross the inscription, INRI. I’m a young adult. The meditation challenged us to reflect on what I’m posting. Was my posting death dealing or life giving?”
In teaching content with meditations, there are culturally specific resources required: The PATH Prayer Book and a set of PATH Prayer Cards. The optional resources are the 11” X 17” PATH Meditation Posters. The artwork displayed within the resources are Kenyan Stations of the Cross paintings by Br. Michael O’Neill McGrath, OSFS (used with permission).
The retreat facility is adorned with an Afri-centric décor (fabric and Br. McGrath’s Kenyan Stations of the Cross); and an Enthronement of Afri-centric icons.
The MealsThe Path of the Suffering Savior: JESUS CHRIST Jesus often ministered through meal fellowship. The retreat provides participants with several meals together. When the soulfood is good, folks are happy and interact with one another. This lends to strong community bonding across gender and social strata.
Jesus is Condemned to Death
Eucharistic Celebration
Catholic spirituality finds full expression in the Eucharist. The retreat teachings, prayers, and meditations come to bear on the participants’ understanding of the Eucharist and living in the Mystery of Faith. On the PATH they lived in the Mystery of Faith. Therefore, the Eucharistic Prayers begin to make more sense, and the reception of Holy Communion (the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ). The Eucharistic Celebration leads the worshipping Catholic community to a glimpse of Glory. Alleluia!
EvaluationsRetreat evaluations include testimonials and evaluation forms completed (using the Likert scale and written comments). ORACLE’S Board of Directors receives from participants the necessary data to improve future retreats. Added to that document are testimonials that reveal the impact this retreat is having on people’s lives. Kindly, see the following sheets. Participants’ location, age and gender give clarity to the impact.
.png)
Prayer Book and other resources are available in our website store