Home/Stay Informed/All Diocesan Articles

All Diocesan Articles

Program Awakens Retreatants to Holy Spirit’s Presence in Their Lives

Posted on February 29, 2024 in: News

Program Awakens Retreatants to Holy Spirit’s Presence in Their Lives

“God loves us more than we love ourselves…not only when we’re holy. He loves us simply because of who we are.”

With these words, Jean Soder, a member of the Awakening Team set the tone for a day of retreat for people across the Diocese who will be received into the fullness of the Church this Easter as part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program. 

She encouraged participants to imagine a mother looking at her baby she is holding in her arms with great love and tenderness. “Now imagine God holding you and looking at you in the same way.”

Soder, a parishioner at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Coventry, challenged participants to allow Jesus Christ into their lives and to stay connected to the Holy Spirit. “If you meet me and forget me you will not have missed anything, but if you meet Jesus Christ and forget Him, you will have lost everything,” she said. 

Soder is one of ten members of the team heading “Awakening: How is the Holy Spirit at Work in Your Life?,” a program designed to offer participants ways to deepen their faith lives through rediscovering God’s unconditional love and learning more about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It also aims to help people develop a richer and more meaningful prayer life and experience the mercy of God through a deeper understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

The Awakening Program is usually offered as a four-night program but was reformatted as a one-day retreat for Catechumens, those who will receive the Sacraments of Initiation into the Church, and Candidates, who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation during Easter services at their individual parishes. Over 80 people attended the retreat, including godparents and sponsors of the retreatants as well as members of their parish RCIA teams who are accompanying them in deepening their faith. 

The Retreat included a series of talks given by team members witnessing how God has touched them, and how the Holy Spirit has worked in their lives as well as instruction on what the gifts of the Holy Spirit are and how team members see those gifts active in their lives.

Andrea Hoisl, director of the Office of Faith Events, which oversees the Awakening Program, said most people can relate to God as a parent and to Jesus as a sibling, but for some, their understanding of the Holy Spirit sent to us as Jesus’ advocate here on Earth is more complex.

“We want people to awaken to the ways that the Holy Spirit is present to them all the time and playing a vital part in their lives.” She said the team’s hope is that through their witness of concrete ways the Holy Spirit is acting in their lives, retreatants will recognize similar experiences occurring in their own lives. “This is the goal of Faith Formation to inspire others to share their gifts and talents to help build God’s kingdom here on Earth,” she added. 

Team Member Bob Beaulieu, also a parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Peace, gave a lively and moving witness about times in his life when he knew the Holy Spirit was guiding to either make better choices or peacefully resolve conflicting issues he was facing. He shared his conversion story recalling the time when he was a construction worker building a house of prayer in Maine. During a break, he was walking through a nearby field when unexpectedly this question came to him – “Do you want Jesus Christ in your life?” He answered, “Yes!” He was overcome with tears and began audibly crying. “I was certain Jesus Christ was beside me. I sensed his embrace and felt an incredible peace wash over me. I felt Jesus telling me, ‘I love you.’”

That experience changed Beaulieu’s life inspiring him to begin reading Scripture and becoming more involved in learning about and teaching others about his Catholic faith. “God orchestrates things for our benefit…to give us an important message to move away from sin to become a better person,” he said, adding, “It’s the Holy Spirit that guides you in ways that you wonder about sometimes.”

As part of an afternoon session discussing the importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Team Member Glen Miller, a parishioner at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Rockville and Tolland, shared his personal journey of going to confession after an 18 year absence and how it healed his relationship with the Lord. “When I left the confessional that day, all that weight that I didn’t know I was carrying around left me. I knew I was forgiven. There is no sin greater than God’s ability to forgiven None!”

He added, “Going to confession and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a means for you to be in right relationship with God.” 


Other members of the Awakening Team taking part in the retreat include Deacon Kim Thompson of Our Lady Queen of Peace; John and Susan Sedensky of Sacred Heart Parish, Groton; Joe and Anne Marie Osowski of St. Joseph Parish, Occum; and Fr. Ray Introvigne, Spiritual Renewal.  
Christian Choma a member of the RCIA team at Good Shepherd Parish in Columbia and Hebron, called the retreat an ideal opportunity for Catechumens and Candidates to build relationships and share commonalities with others outside of their parishes who are also coming into or returning to the church. “This was very impactful for our parishioners to hear the team sharings. The more in-depth stories of faith that we’ve heard today helps to solidify for our candidates what we’ve been teaching in our program.”

Lauren Cooper from St. Mary’s Parish, Portland will be confirmed at Easter. After participating in the Awakening RCIA retreat she said, “I feel more connected in my understanding of the Holy Spirit.” She said taking part in both the retreat and the RCIA program have helped her develop and deepen her relationship with God giving her a similar appreciation and awareness of her faith as her fiancé has as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Marriage this November.

Another retreatant Lance Harbec of St. Patrick Church, East Hampton said he appreciated the chance to meet and discuss his faith with other people as well as learn more about the Holy Spirit and how it works in our lives. “What I learned here today, I will put into practice.” 
 

By Mary-Jo McLaughlin


Most Viewed Articles of the Last 30 Days

Press Release: Joint Statement Regarding Agreement Establishing Compensation Fund
DIOCESE OF NORWICH AND CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVORS REACH AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING COMPENSATION FUND FOR SURVIVORS AS DIOCESE SEEKS TO EXIT CHAPTER 11 Joint Statement from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich, Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, the Association of Parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich, and Catholic Mutual Relief Society of America Norwich, CT, February 14, 2025– The Diocese of Norwich, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, the Association of Parishes, and Catholic Mutual Relief Society of America are pleased to announ...

Read More

Pope Francis’ Message for Lent 2025

Posted on February 25, 2025 in: News, Lent

1388

Pope Francis’ Message for Lent 2025
In his message for Lent 2025, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of living one’s life as a constant journey of conversion, choosing to walk in peace and hope aside one’s fellow humans. “May the hope that does not disappoint, the central message of the jubilee, be the focus of our Lenten journey toward the victory of Easter,” the pope said in the message, released Tuesday.  He also quoted St. Paul’s exclamation in the first letter to the Corinthians: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? W...

Read More

2025 CT March for Life Coming on March 19th
For those who recognize the value of all life, the early months of the year offer many opportunities to publicly declare the sanctity and dignity of every human person. On Jan. 19, Archbishop Coyne was the main celebrant for a Pro-Life Mass & Baby Shower Collection at St. Mary Church in New Haven, part of Blessed Michael McGivney Parish. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, the Mass provided time for prayer and the chance to donate baby items for the Connecticut Pregnancy Resource Centers. Mary, Gate of Heaven Parish hosted a Mass for Life on Jan. 20 at St. Rober...

Read More

Rite of Election Welcomes Catechumens on First Sunday of Lent
On Sunday, March 9, the First Sunday of Lent, the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Norwich was filled with faith and anticipation as catechumens from across the diocese gathered for the Rite of Election. This significant step in their journey toward full initiation into the Catholic Church marks their formal enrollment in the Book of the Elect, bringing them one step closer to the Easter sacraments. With our diocese still awaiting the appointment of a new bishop, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Hartford presided over the celebration, offering words of encouragemen...

Read More

‘Carlo Acutis, I am in Your Hands’: Catholic Pediatrician Recovers from Cancer
María Dolores Rosique, known as “Lola” by her family members and friends, is pictured here when she was hospitalized. A second-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis accompanied her at her bedside. | Credit: Courtesy of Lola Rosique With a radiant smile, pediatric physician María Dolores Rosique, who goes by “Lola” among family and friends, recounted with renewed faith her testimony of healing after overcoming aggressive abdominal cancer. She testifies that her recovery began after visiting the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis in Assisi, Italy, and placi...

Read More

Latest Employment Opportunities

Posted on March 05, 2025 in: News

429

Latest Employment Opportunities
Looking for a job? We have some open positions that can be found at  NorwichDiocese.org/Employment.   The updated page includes listings for several employment opportunities within the diocese.     The latest job listings are for a Cook at the Academy of the Holy Family - Click Here and a  Spanish Teacher, 2025-2026 School Year — St. James School, Danielson - Click Here   Other job postings are online as well Be sure to keep the link to NorwichDiocese.org/Employment handy

Read More

Latest Articles
The Hidden Vocation: The Generous Single Life
Diocese to Host New England Basketball Tournament
Pope Francis’ Prayer Intention for the Month of March
Rite of Election Welcomes Catechumens on First Sunday of Lent
Share Easter Joy With the Children of St. Vincent de Paul Place
Norwich Diocesan Cemeteries Spring Cleanup Reminder
Lent and the Call to Generosity: Serving Christ in Others
24 Hours for the Lord
Recently Added Galleries
Click to view album: 40 Days for Life 2024
Click to view album: Blessing of the Fleet 2024
Click to view album: Mass of Ordination for Fr. Eric Carl Hosmer, Fr. Julian Felipe Cuervo-Lozada and Fr. Alexander James Pandolfe
Click to view album: Norwich Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (NDCCW) 46th Annual Layette
Signup for Weekly Newsletter

     

    Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
    201 Broadway
    Norwich, CT 06360-4328
    Phone: 860-887-9294