The Queen’s Birthday long weekend saw fourteen men attend the first of two retreats for 2008. Led by Fathers Anthony Denton and David Cartwright, attendees arrived on Friday night at Pallotti College in the Yarra Valley for three days of prayer and reflection to help in their discernment of God’s will for their lives.

The retreat was conducted in silence, a prospect at first greeted with a certain level of nervous apprehension by some participants. However, it did not take long for all to become comfortable with this relatively unfamiliar practice.

The program for the retreat included the recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours, daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration and talks by Fr Denton and Fr Cartwright. A visit from Archbishop Hart was also organised, as well as opportunities for confession, private prayer and scenic walks along the tracks surrounding the college. Night time involved movie viewings on the lives of Padre Pio and John Paul II, two of the greatest religious figures of the 20^th century. The retreat ended on Monday afternoon, leaving enough time for attendees to hurry home to watch Collingwood’s traditional Queen’s Birthday match against Melbourne!

“I think because we live in a culture surrounded by noise, it’s only natural for someone to baulk at the prospect of keeping unnecessary noise to a minimum. Most people think their head would explode if they weren’t allowed to speak for a few days. But once I got used to the silence, I found it much more conducive to prayer and reflection. There is a lot of truth to the saying that God speaks to us in the silence.’ - Retreat Participant