CNGN Media

As one of her annual events, the guild had the retreat at the Servants of Charity, House of Providence, Yemetu, Alaadorin on Saturday, 12th April.

It started with the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by praying the Rosary, Confession, talk and closed with the celebration of the Holy Mass.

In attendance were the Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Stephen Balogun and some Catholic Nurses of Ibadan Archdiocese.

The Retreat Master, Rev. Fr Joseph Young Aniaga, in his talk, described the season as a period of Penance. He said a Christian retreat is a definite time, set aside to connect to God in life, to leave house, work, to be in the presence of God to pray.

He admonished that Lenten Season is a period to contemplate the very motive God has in purpose for us and set goals, and to see our work as a call and not just a profession. It is a time of team building/ unity, time to communicate, plan and strategize, solve problems,  reexamine goals and objectives as individuals and that the choices we make differ, which will enable us accomplish the works God entrusted unto us.

As we are in the "Jubilee of Hope", like Late Pope Francis declared, Fr Aniaga encouraged us to see ourselves as "Pilgrims of Hope", not to loose hope, but to be a sign of hope to others. As Nurses, we must not harbor hatred against one another and even patients. To always find it in our hearts to forgive so as not to serve as barriers to what God wants to give us.

He admonished that we put the sacrament of reconciliation back to the center of the Church, not to distance ourselves from it because when we humble ourselves and go for confession, it is God who forgives, not the Priest.

He advised us also to always begin each day with joy, in gratitude to God with praises, thanks, worship and adoration Psalm 118:24. Not to loose faith, trust and hope in God.

He finalized with encouragement to be determined to hear, listen and be obedient to God, ask what God wants from us each day through Prayers for ourselves and for our patients.

The retreat was rounded up with the celebration of the Holy Mass. In his homily, Rev. Fr. Aniaga preached that whenever God makes a promise, He fulfils in His time {appointed time}. And that we have been entrusted with a mission to accomplish, this mission is to give a smile, a worthy therapy, healing remedy to our patients.