The friars at the St. Anthony at the Baths (La Vigna) General House in Rome, started their 2024-25 academic year with a spiritual retreat at the Rivotorto Friary in Assisi. The retreat was conducted on September 22-28, 2024.
Friar Mateusz STACHOWSKI preached the retreat. On Sunday afternoon, September 22, the friars departed Rome for Assisi. When they arrived, they held a short meeting to define their program through Monday afternoon. They decided to leave the rest of the day free for prayer and personal reflection, then attend Eucharistic Adoration at 6:00 p.m. On Monday morning, the friars attended Mass presided over by the Guardian of Rivotorto. After Mass, most of the friars took the opportunity to go to the Basilica of St. Francis in order to visit the tomb of St. Francis for personal prayer and meditation.
On Monday afternoon, September 23, the preacher, Friar Mateusz, arrived. After Adoration, the friars held another short meeting to define the program for the next few days. They scheduled Mass with Morning Prayer at 8:00 a.m.; followed by a lecture at 10:00 a.m., lunch at 1:00 p.m.; a second lecture at 4:00 p.m.; Office of Readings and Evening Prayer at 7:15 and dinner at 8:00.
On Friday Morning, September 27, after the morning lecture, the friars conducted their first House Chapter. They clarified their schedule and calendar for the 2024-25 academic year, and defined various offices and responsibilities in the community. The retreat ended on Saturday morning, September 28, with Mass and Morning Prayer. After breakfast, the friars returned to Rome.
Friar Gregory Abangiba AMORE
