Parish begins Lenten season with Marian retreat

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Father Alan Benander, O. Praem, (left) led the March 8-9 ?Lenten Retreat with Mary? at St. Mary Catholic Church in West Haven.

By Donna Masek

Special to the Intermountain Catholic

Approximately 30 people gathered the first weekend of Lent, March 8-9, to begin the journey through this holy season with a retreat dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

With retreat master Father Alan Benander, O. Praem. from the Norbertine Fathers at St. Michael’s Abbey in the Diocese of Orange, Calif., attendees began their two days of reflection by participating in the parish’s Lenten prayer services. It consisted of Eucharistic adoration, the Mass, Stations of the Cross, and a Lenten meal during which a movie on the life of St. Paul was shown. Before departing for the evening, Deacon Thom Rodgers led the Compline hour from “The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

The second day began with a Mass celebrated by Fr. Alan, the Office of Morning Prayer led by Deacon Jack Clark, and a welcoming address by pastor Fr. Gustavo Vidal.

Fr. Alan continued the morning with two talks: the first on the Hail Mary and the second on the Hail Holy Queen, incorporating his knowledge of apologetics and his experiences within the pro-life movement.

Parish guitarist Buzz Nietert enhanced the periods of silence after each talk with gentle musical interludes. Deacon  Clark led  the praying of the ‘Angelus’ at noon before dismissing attendees for lunch.

The afternoon segment of the second day began with a Holy Hour during which seven retreat participants  led the “Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary.” Deacon Howard Schuyler followed with a presentation on the Marian dogmas, highlighting the words of Pope St. John Paul II. Afterward, Deacon Clark led all in the chanting of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

Fr. Alan gave his final talk for the retreat on the “Act of Total Consecration” prayer by St. Maximilian Kolbe. Throughout the afternoon he offered the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

At the conclusion of the parish’s Vigil Mass, Fr. Alan assisted individuals in making or renewing of their Total Consecrations to the Immaculata in the Spirit of St. Maximilian Kolbe. He then concluded the  retreat.

Participant evaluations noted that many of those who attended the retreat greatly benefitted from both the talks and the multiple elements that encompassed their retreat experience.

For those seeking a meditative retreat experience, the next Militia of the Immaculata Lenten Retreat is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 28-29, 2020 at St. Mary Catholic Church in West Haven.

Donna Masek is an Immaculata Villages volunteer at St. Mary Parish.