By Anastasia Pinto
ARICCIA — This semester, our community embarked on a deeply enriching retreat centered on the “Graces of the Jubilee Year 2025” and the transformative power of hope. Guided by Rev. Daniel Huang, SJ, a professor of missiology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, we reflected on three key aspects: “Recovering Lost Hope, Renewing Hope, and Sowing Seeds of Hope.”
The retreat brought together 27 participants, including Lay Centre residents and staff from 18 nationalities, as well as three non-resident guests from Haiti, Russia, and the United States. It was held at the “Casa Divin Maestro,” nestled in the serene hills of Ariccia, which became a sacred space for our journey of hope.
Called by God
In his first session, “Recovering Lost Hope – Trusting in God’s Initiative,” Fr. Daniel invited us to reflect on how our coming together for this retreat was not by chance, but rather the result of God’s call and initiative. He also guided us to contemplate Michelangelo’s iconic fresco “The Creation of Adam,” chosen as the retreat’s central image, accompanied by a deeply assuring thought: “I can trust that God brought me here, and that it is His call for me.”
One of the main aspects of this retreat that Fr. Daniel encouraged us to reflect on was not just knowing about God, but knowing Him in a deeper way and allowing ourselves to be known by Him.
As Fr. Daniel shared, hope is not just an emotion but a grace and a virtue—a gift of the Holy Spirit that can be nurtured through discipline, prayer, and, most importantly, a deepening relationship with Jesus.
“I truly admire the time of reflection shared with my brothers and sisters,” said Meskerem Semere, a resident from Ethiopia. “To serve others and make a positive impact, understanding one’s gifts and capacity is essential. This retreat has reminded me to pray daily and seek God’s voice, hoping to understand my full potential, calling, and gifts, as I am still on a journey of discovery. I believe there is a reason I am here.”
Esther Müller-Vocke, a Lay Centre resident from Germany studying spirituality, led an examination of conscience (“Examen”) during one evening prayer. She described the retreat as a deeply meaningful experience, saying: “The sharing of tasks made it feel like a collective journey—not just receiving, but also giving together.”
Hope comes from love
Quoting Pope Francis, Fr. Daniel emphasized that “Hope is born of love,” urging us to continue sowing seeds of hope while acknowledging that Christ works through us in the world.
“It’s not just about asking whether we have hope, but what and who we love,” he said. “Hope is not just for ourselves; it is hope for others, recognizing that hope flourishes when love is put into action.”
His final exhortation centered on the idea of “Entering the Holy Door with faith,” allowing ourselves to be led by Jesus, and embracing the journey as a community of pilgrims, not tourists.
Alongside the sessions, the retreat included morning and evening community prayers, group sharing, time for reflection and personal prayer, and daily Eucharistic celebrations.
Wenxuan Thérèse Yuan, a Lay Centre resident from China, gave a testimony during one of the prayer services, saying: “After all, we have a God who, on the very first Good Friday, gladly descended into the underworld. If He would go there, He would go anywhere—be it a corrupted society, a wounded Church, or a broken heart.”
We also experienced moments of joy and fellowship through a convivial evening, culminating the retreat with a closing activity of exchanging meaningful gifts for our prayer partners.
Photos: Karina Gandur
