During the recent winter school break in Poland, a retreat for children and youth took place at the friary in Niepokalanów Lasek. The friary belongs to the Province of the Immaculate Mother of God in Poland (Warsaw). The theme of the retreat was: “Happy are the Merciful.”

The retreat was conducted under the patronage of St. Faustina Kowalska, St. Saint John Paul II, and our Lord Jesus in the image of “Jesus, I Trust in You.” The focal point of each day was Mass and meditation on the Word of God. An important moment at the end of each day was the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, before which the children and youth were able to show their love for the Lord Jesus and Our Lady.
The meeting was also a time to gather in groups and offer services to one another. The participants were tasked with performing works of mercy toward another person drawn by lot.
In addition, they spent the evenings happily playing games together. Another nice experience was the visit they made to Niepokalanów to see a presentation entitled: “The Mystery of the Lord’s Passion.” At the end, everyone was given a rosary along with a holy card and a prayer card to recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
The participants left Niepokalanów Lasek feeling happy and content. At the same time, they expressed hope and anticipation regarding the next meeting.

Sister Teresa Maria GRABOŃ, SFMI