By Malena Lanzeta
In a world where many seem to be losing hope, we, as Christians, hold fast to a powerful truth: there is a merciful God who loves us deeply and calls us to be His disciples. This belief is the foundation of our hope, and it is why, at the beginning of this year, our community gathered for a weekend retreat focused on deepening our understanding of our lay vocation.
As laypeople, we are called to preach the Gospel—a message of hope—in an often hopeless world. Our retreat took place at the Convento dei Cappuccini in Frascati, where the brothers graciously welcomed us into their home for the weekend.
Fr. Francisco Martinst, S.J., a biblical scholar, was our retreat guide, and he shared insightful reflections on the theme of hope, drawing from various biblical stories to illustrate the enduring power of this virtue in the midst of academic life’s challenges. He gave us key points that served as a rich resource for our personal prayer and reflection.
In addition to deepening our spiritual lives, we had ample time to share experiences with one another and build community. The retreat was marked by moments of prayer, celebration of the Eucharist, and fellowship, all of which fostered a spirit of fraternity among us. We left the weekend not only spiritually nourished but also strengthened in our commitment to live as witnesses of hope in the world.
