Militia Immaculatae Lenten retreat to offer meditation

Friday, Feb. 20, 2015

WEST HAVEN — The Militia Immaculatae of Saint Mary Parish in West Haven invites the Diocese of Salt Lake City to its Lenten retreat, “Bringing Light into the Darkness,” on March 15. 

The theme was created by the international Militia Immaculatae for the Apostolic year, said Donna Masek, MI volunteer and St. Mary parishioner. “With that in mind, the retreat will be a quiet afternoon of reflection during the holy season of Lent.”

Tom Devereux, a lay ecclesial minister and St. Mary parishioner, will offer the first talk, “Light and Darkness in Sacred Scripture: Go and Light Your World;” followed by a period of meditation before the Blessed Sacrament. 

The keynote talk also will be followed by silence and meditation. Each speaker will provide participants with questions for reflection. 

“We will offer an hour of quiet meditation before God in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament before the keynote talk,” said Masek.

Keynote speaker Christine Rossi is a Militia Immaculatae volunteer from the archdiocese of Kansas City, Kan. The author of Heads Up! A Zillion Ways to Survive Negativity in Your Life and an MI national board member, Rossi established the Ave Maria Village Immaculatae 10 years ago in Kansas, and has since started a Militia Immaculatae Center there as well.

Rossi’s talk, titled “Our Lady: Mary, Dawn of the Redemption,” is about Mary being Our Lady of Light, “because Mary came before the dawn of the day, before the sun rose; she came in quietly before the great son, before the birth of Jesus,” said Rossi. “I will speak about how Mary is our model in the Militia Immaculatae and how we need to be enthusiastic, which means God within, to spread that light that Mary brought to the world. We will talk about spreading that light, such as being positive about things in the world, even though they seem glum like news reports. When people find their gift or purpose of life, then the real purpose of life is to give that gift away.”

That refers back to Rossi’s book on surviving negativity, because “we share the light throughout the book through balance, order, humor, prayer, and physical exercise through a combination of different things,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how much knowledge or education you have, it’s what you do with what you have; it’s about the power you have over negativity and spreading the light.”

Rossi will give an additional talk on the Total Consecration to Our Lady in the Spirit of Saint Maximilian Kolbe for those who would like to make the consecration. 

“Total Consecration is a way of helping us order our lives so we can hear the voice of God and follow it,” said Masek. “When we connect spiritually to Our Lady, she helps us organize our lives so that we can hear her son and do whatever he tells us; but we have to be quiet.”

Masek also will give a talk for those who have already made a Total Consecration but would like to deepen their spirituality and their relationship with Our Lady and Jesus Christ. 

St. Mary pastor Father Gustavo Vidal will offer a greeting and be available throughout the day, as well as celebrate the Rite of Total Consecration at the closing of the retreat. Deacon Jack Clark will preside over the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Buzz Nietert, a St. Mary parishioner, will provide the music. 

What: Militia Immaculatae Retreat 

When: March 15, Mass 11:30 a.m., retreat 1 p.m. 

Where: St. Mary Catholic Church, 4050 South 3900 West, West Haven

Cost: $10, includes lunch and a light dinner