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Retreat centre in Bukit Mertajam opens |
| Posted by Diocese of Penang (pgdiocese) on Oct 11 2006 |
8 October 2006 issue of The Herald
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Sunday, Sept 24, 2006 was an auspicious day for all the residents and parishioners of Bukit Mertajam.
They witnessed the culmination of years of painstaking labour — the completion and blessing of the Living Spring Retreat Centre by His Grace Bishop Antony Selvanayagam.
Sr Lily Bong, IJ said in her welcoming address, that the Centre was conceived in May 1994 and born on January 1, 2005, a gestation period of more than 11 years. The objective of Living Spring Retreat Centre is to offer space and opportunity to people of all walks of life, particularly lay men and women to be empowered so that they can empower others in turn.
This is also in line with the main thrust of PMPC III where greater emphasis is being placed on the BECs in the building of Christ-centred communities, and the Centre’s role will definitely serve as an invitation/call of the Laity in the Church in the building of BECs.
In Sr Bong’s own words, “What better way to be empowered than to come to know their God better, to relate with Him more intimately and to serve Him more selflessly?” Through individualised retreats, retreatants come to know themselves as God knows them, to accept themselves as God accepts them and to love themselves as God loves them.
As an added feature to the Centre, a beautiful Grotto dedicated to Our Lady and a walkway stood in its grounds.
To date, the Living Spring Retreat Centre has welcomed 43 retreatants who made retreats from two to eight days at any one time. Although this may seem like a small beginning, Sr Bong likened the Centre to the mustard seed which grows into a tree where birds come to find shelter. With Jesus as the Patron of Living Spring and His Mother as Patroness, Living Spring Retreat Centre will undoubtedly become like an oasis in a desert.
In conclusion, Sr Bong thanked His Grace and all those present who, in one way or other, had contributed toward the fruition of the Centre.
Intending retreatants may contact Sr Bong at 04-5301230, email address at lilybongij@hotmail.com or call: 019-5471016. The Centre’s website can be found at http://retreatcentrebm.blogspot.com.
His Grace, Bishop Antony Selvanayagam of Penang Diocese leads a prayer at the opening of the Living Spring Retreat Centre.
Last changed: Oct 11 2006 at 4:16 PM
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