Palm Sunday weekend and ideal for our Spring Retreat, helping us to focus on the coming Holy Week ~ today was the day, with about 30 of us from Advent Church, including quite a number of our fellowship students.  A day retreat, like a ‘Quiet Day’, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, based in one of the conference rooms of St. John’s University, and wonderfully led by Fr. Gino Picca, S. J. 王秉鈞神父 from Holy Family R. C. Church, Taipei.  Such a lovely friendly person!  He was ordained in Taipei in 1969, but first came to Taiwan from Italy in 1964 and has been here ever since!

And here we all are….

After lunch we walked around the Stations of the Cross – which go all around Advent Church, with prayers and readings at each station. The carvings were designed locally and carved in Mainland China.  The rain held off, but it was kind of foggy all day!

And in case you’re wondering what’s happening at our new church centre ~ the workers are busy there every day doing all the interior fittings.  This was the scene at lunchtime today….

So to preparing for Holy Week, and one of the ways of meditation Fr. Picca shared with us was using the Lectio Divina and its 4Rs ~ read, reflect, respond and rest ~ ah, lots to think about, lots to put into practice!