On a recent weekday in July, the Lay Assumptionists in Sturbridge, MA experienced a refreshing, spiritually life-giving and joyful retreat day at Emmanuel House in Worcester. The theme of the day was “Pilgrims of Hope – Servant Leadership.” The presenter and facilitator was Sandy Piwko, Vocation and Volunteer Director for the Religious of the Assumption. The day began with a period of silent prayer, followed by presentations, music, private reflections, journaling, brief small group discussions and a shared meal. During the day, with the guidance of Sandy, the Lay Assumptionists focused on the virtue of hope and being open to the daily surprises of Christ’s presence in our lives, who has been a ‘servant leader’ exemplifying hope in our lives and a time when hope sustained us through a difficult moment. Appropriately, this day was an invitation for us to delve more deeply, during this Jubilee Year of Hope, to serve more intentionally, more compassionately and creatively, in sharing the hope we have in Christ.
