By Viktoriia Havaleshko
During this season of Advent, we gratefully experience the gift of joy and peace that comes with the coming of the Savior. Being part of a community allows us to share both moments of rejoicing and daily challenges, supporting one another with simplicity and trust.
Together, we set out on a spiritual journey toward Bethlehem — toward an encounter that heals, renews, and opens our hearts to hope. This is a time to welcome God’s light into our lives and to learn to recognize His presence in the ordinary moments of each day.
Our preparation includes not only shared daily prayer, but also simple acts of care. As a community, we decorated the dining hall, creating a warm, family-like atmosphere, and exchanged gifts through “Secret Santa,” so that even while far from home, we could experience joy and mutual fraternal support.
November House Meeting
As Advent approached, the community also set aside time for self-evaluation during a “house meeting.” During one of our November community evenings, in a spirit of prayer and unity, we came together to pray with St. Augustine’s invocation to the Holy Spirit: “Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.”
After a moment of quiet reflection, which set a tone of openness and grace for what followed, each person was given two slips of paper. On one, they were invited to write about something positive happening in the community; on the other, an area where improvement is needed. These were then collected and placed together on a shared board, forming a beautiful mosaic of gratitude and honest reflection.
As the responses were read aloud, we could sense both joy and sincerity — a reminder of how much good surrounds us and how much potential still lies ahead.
Finally, in a shared reflection inspired by the method of “Conversations in the Spirit,” the community divided into four small groups to discuss three guiding points that emerged from the first activity. Each person spoke in turn while the others listened attentively, without judgment, honoring one another’s perspectives.
- What touched us most from the shared reflections,
- What each person felt personally moved by, and
- What practical activities or initiatives could further enrich our life together as a community.
Each group brought their insights to a final plenary session, where ideas were shared openly and received with enthusiasm.
Photo: Karina Gandour
