From March 11 to 14, Father Carlos Skertchly, LC, led some spiritual exercises for the priests of the Diocese of Viana in the State of Maranhão, Brazil, under the theme: “VOCATION (disciple and instrument); MISSION (apostle and missionary); HOLINESS (saint, intercessor, healer).”

For the 35 participants, these were days of a “Encounter with God, Father of Mercy,” who lovingly reminds us of the call to know, love, and follow Christ. The preacher proposed “rediscovering one’s vocation as priests, ministers of that love and mercy of the Father. And to pray with faith: Lord of the harvest and shepherd of the flock, make your strong and gentle invitation resonate in our ears: Come and follow me!”.

The clergy of Viana also includes 8 priests who received their formation at the Pontifical International College Maria Mater Ecclesiae in Rome and at the Seminary Maria Mater Ecclesiae in São Paulo.

It was proposed to the participants to learn how simple the Word of God is, how love with which He welcomes repentant sinners is, and how comforting it is to entrust oneself confidently to Him. Examples, among others, included: Peter, Paul, Francis of Assisi, Anchieta, Mother Teresa, John Paul II…

With Mary, Mother of Silence, who keeps the mystery of God, the following was sought:

1) To rediscover the missionary zeal and fervor, so characteristic of a priest of Christ, and meditating on his mission, to have a new experience of Pentecost: “Spirit of holiness, divine breath that stirs the universe, come and renew the face of the earth. Stir in us priests the desire for full unity, to be, in the world, a sign and effective instrument of the intimate union with God and the unity of all humankind. Come, Spirit of love and peace! Spirit of communion, soul and sustenance of the Church, make the richness of charisms and ministries contribute to the unity of the Body of Christ …”

2) To feel “capable of becoming fully disciples and missionaries.” Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, Way, Truth, and Life, the human face of God and the divine face of man, and missionaries who await His coming to guide their steps, and thus follow and love Him in the communion of the Church, celebrating and living the gift of the Eucharist, carrying one’s own cross, driven by the call to evangelize. Disciples and missionaries who want to row out to sea, so that our peoples may have abundant life in Christ, and build fraternity and peace with solidarity.

3) Finally, a retreat for the clergy of Viana to rediscover holiness as a calling from God. Holiness as a path that helps us remember that although we are sinners, we are ministers of God’s mercy. “We know, therefore, that the pursuit of holiness can always restart through repentance and forgiveness. However, we also feel the need to ask for it individually, as priests, on behalf of all priests and all ministers” (Congregation for the Clergy, The priest, minister of Divine Mercy, March 9, 2011).