Retreat Focuses on the Mystery of Creation

by Caleb SC · Published November 21, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2019

St Peter’s parish in Strand, near Cape Town, held an intergenerational retreat on respect for God’s creation. (Photo: Steven Rees)

An intergenerational retreat was held for parishioners and confirmation candidates of St Peter’s parish in Strand, near cape Town, on the theme “The Mystery of God’s Creation”.

The retreat was facilitated by Dominican Sister Katy van Wyk of Johannesburg.

The background for the theme was Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, the first creation account in Genesis, and some chapters from the Book of Job.

In her introduction, Sr Van Wyk quoted the 20th-century rabbi Abraham Heschel: “Awareness of the Divine begins with wonder, awe and radical amazement.”

She explained that being in awe of God’s creation leads to deep gratitude and respect.

“This attitude also opens our eyes to see and to hear the cries of our Earth and to want to do something about it, however small,” she said.

Sr Van Wyk invited participants to reflect on how the theme might fit in with their everyday lives generally, and then show it applied to the confirmation candidates.

“The questions God posed to Job (38-40) not only leave us marvelling at his creation but lead us to ponder more deeply, and find ourselves speechless, humbled, and like Job, to just respond: ‘Wow, my eye has seen you (42:5),’” the Dominican Sister said.

Participants welcomed the fact that the intergenerational retreat helped parishioners get to know one another better through sharing in large and small groups.

Fr Bernard Makore and Deacon Lester May also participated in the retreat.