The invitation for a three-day retreat was a welcome opportunity to get in touch with oneself and to let out that voice within. The retreat venue was a monastery, Arnold Janssen Klooster, in Wahlwiller-Wittem in Limburg province. The theme, How to be a faithful professional?, put the retreat in a perspective of graduate students with work experience as professionals.
From Nijmegen, I traveled by train and bus to the retreat venue with a South African participant from Radboud University for about two hours. As the train from Heyendaal station in Nijmegen moved, the passing sceneries and shrinking view of the landscapes of the city indicated that we were going away.
To get to the monastery, we needed to walk uphill on a winding road. When we reached the vicinity, a distinct certainty dawned that we were in the right place. As if to welcome us, the entrance door suddenly opened. Inside, a smiling nun led us to the dining hall where the retreat facilitators and participants were already having their lunch. The warm reception from the facilitators, participants, and sisters marked a positive impression in the beginning. We arrived around lunchtime, and so, food and its smell and sight made the two-hour trip truly worth it.
There was a diverse group of participants coming from 10 different countries, namely, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. After a brief introduction, we were paired with another participant for a walk around the vicinity of the monastery with assigned points to share and discuss. We were to share the things we wanted to learn from and give to the retreat, our positive and negative experiences as a professional in our home country, and the meaning of retreat for us. We were allowed to walk by pairs around the area of Walhwiller-Wittem as long as we should get back to the venue at a specified time. The area was a huge plantation field dotted by few houses and
fenced ranches bordered along walking trails. The afternoon cool breeze accompanied our walk and exchanges of personal thoughts and experiences.
When we resumed, the pairs had quite a number of things to share to the whole group. The common expectation was to have a break from the rigors of studies. Meeting new people was also mentioned. Some participants shared their positive and negative experiences as a professional in their own countries.
A member of the Missionary Sisters-Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) which is the host institution of the monastery shared to the group the history, missionary activities, and spirituality of the congregation. She also intimated her vocation story including her experiences in the Philippines as a missionary. Afterwards, an open discussion on issues such as the secularism in the Netherlands and the relationship between spirituality and sexuality followed. Sister Claudia pointed out that spirituality and sexuality are like two sides of one coin; they go together. She said that in the Book of Genesis, when God breathed to give life to humankind, our body became an instrument and expression of a spirituality.
The first day of retreat concluded with a French film, Of gods and men.
There was an opportunity to celebrate the Holy Eucharist with the sisters at the chapel in the morning the next day. Then, it was the turn of the guest speaker, Erik de Jongh, Ph.D., to talk about the theme of the retreat- How to be a faithful professional? He started with the previous night’s discussion on spirituality differentiating it with religion, although the two are interrelated. Every religion, be it monotheistic, theistic, or non-religious, has a spirituality that speaks about a "way." If one does not find a way, s/he gets lost. If one does not have a way to follow, s/he is not going anywhere. He stressed the importance of knowing clearly this way or pursuing to know a way to follow for one’s life.
Erik expounded the concept of professionalism by drawing out the positive traits associated with it such as respect, enthusiasm, commitment, honesty, responsibility, etc. Then, an activity was made to focus on one positive trait and relate that with our work experiences and religious beliefs. After the group sharing, Erik highlighted to establish a disposition to serve and collaborate as a professional. He further elaborated that as a professional, certain scientific knowledge and skills are required. To contextualize the role of professionals in an ever changing society, Erik stressed the need to innovate and deal with change. This is where spirituality becomes relevant because it guides the professionals to make good decisions in given situations.
In the afternoon of the second day, we went to a nearby German city, Aachen, for a field trip. We visited the majestic Aachen cathedral and its treasury museum. Most of us were surprised to discover a German city near theborder of the Netherlands with such history and religious significance.
The day was declared free after the Aachen trip.
On the third day, the morning exercise and prayer were exhilarating. They brought back prayerful atmosphere to the retreat. Then, there was an activity to make sketches to show dilemmas in the workplace. The dilemmas at times shook our lives and we often got lost on what to do. In times like that, our spirituality provides anchor to our decisions that reflect our values, purpose and goals.
In the last activity, a time for silence was given. There were five points to reflect upon while in silence. There was also an option to talk with the retreat facilitators during this time. The last reflection point was about a message to take home after the retreat.
I remember my disposition in the beginning of the retreat. I had this sentimental longing for connectedness. When Sr. Claudia reminded me of the Book of Genesis which narrates that God breathed in me giving and sustaining me a life, I felt connected to the core of my existence.
As the train moved closer to Nijmegen after three days in a monastery in Wahlwiller-Wittem, there was a sense of coming home. The trees and landscapes seemed familiar which conveyed a voice within me that stirred my heart, mind and soul in praise, and connected me to this beautiful creation – life. I knew that there were fifteen others seeing and feeling this way and finding their way back home.
