A NEW BEGINNINGAlways start anewas a Lasallian Family

(Br. Rafa Matas)

Retreat 1

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Opening Prayer

Motivation

WerecallwhattheRulesaystotheBrothersbutwhichwecanwellextendtothewholeLasallianFamily:"TheBrothersfindamodelfortheirwholelifeinStJosephwhosharedintheworkofsalvationbythehumaneducationofJesusChrist.Theyinvokehim,rememberingthattheFounderplacedtheInstituteunderhisprotection."(Rule75).

Aswebeginthesehoursofretreat,weturntoSt.Josephtohelpusonourjourney.Hewhohadto"startanew"inhisacceptanceofMary,inhisjourneytoBethlehem,inhisflighttoEgyptandinhisreturntoNazareth,alwayswithhiseyesfixedonGod,enlightensthewayweliveour"Iadoreinallthings",ourdesiretofollowGod'swillinourlives,whichoftenentails"startanew".

Hymn(canbereplacedbyahymnknowntoall):OJoseph,thehusbandofMaryfaithfulhelpofChristGodandman.MightyPatronsaintoftheChurch,ProtectoroftheentireLasallianFamily.Lightandbreathofawalkingpeople.

Youlivedyoursilentyears,brushingtheskinofthewood,youspentyourlifeasaworker,fromdawntodusk.

Daybydayyouputinyourefforts,intheserviceofChristandtheBlessedVirgin.Yousetupyourhomeamongmen,themostbeautifulhomeonearth.

OJoseph,greatloverofwork,ofpeoplewithwearyhands.Increasethezealofourstrength,foramorebeautifulworldeveryday.

OJoseph,goodfatherofyourhome,Youwholovedthegreatestloves,Bringustogetherasbrothersandsisterstoallhumanity,IntheonlyloveofJesusChrist.Amen.

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Looking at Joseph(Twochorus)All:"Thosewhopractiserighteousnessandthinkrighteouslyintheirheart,willreceivetheblessingsoftheLord".

Howlittleweknowaboutyou,Joseph!TheGospeltellslittleaboutyourlife,AlmostaslittleasaboutyourwifeMary.GenerationsofChristianshavelongedToknowmuchmoreaboutyou,ButtheGospelfocusesonJesus,Thatchildyousawbebornandgrowup,instature,wisdomandgracebeforeGodandthepeople.

TheGospelsimplytellsusthatyouwere"righteous".ItdoesnottellusthatyoudoubtedMary,yourwife,whoborethemysteryofGodinherwomb.Itseemstotellusthatyoudidnotdaretobesoclosetothatgreatmysterythathadfounditswayintoyourhome.

Wecouldhavecalledyou"advocateofgooddreams";Godknowswhatyourdreamswere,inthem,Godledhiswayforyou.Andyouhadnohesitationin"takingMaryintoyourhome".or"intakingtheChildandhismother".tofleefromHerodtoaforeigncountry.

Yourlifewasnoteasy;Youhadto"startafresh"manytimesagain.YouhadtoleavethewarmhomeinNazarethinwhichyouwerewaitingfortheSonofGodandofMary.PerhapsyouwerebeginningtofeelathomeinBethlehem,buttheChild'slifewasindangerand,onceagain,youhadtosetoff...

Yourcallousedhandleadingthatchild'shandthatseemedasifwasgoingtocontinueyourcraftsmanship.Andmanyhappytimestogether,asanintimatefamilysharingasimpletable...

Whatwasyourdeathlike?Oldpietyhasthoughtitearly....butwewouldliketothinkthattherighteousandgoodmanstillhadtimetolistentohisfellowcountrymen,surprisedbyJesus'message:

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All:“Isn't this Jesus, The son of Joseph the craftsman?”.

GlorytotheFather…

All:"Thosewhopractiserighteousnessandthinkrighteouslyintheirheart,willreceivetheblessingsoftheLord".

(Briefmomentofmeditativesilence)

Proclamation of the Good News according to St. Matthew(Mt2,1-22)

WhenJesuswasborninBethlehemofJudea,inthedaysofKingHerod,behold,magifromtheeastarrivedinJerusalem,saying,"WhereisthenewbornkingoftheJews?Wesawhisstaratitsrisingandhavecometodohimhomage."

WhenKingHerodheardthis,hewasgreatlytroubled,andallJerusalemwithhim.

Assemblingallthechiefpriestsandthescribesofthepeople,heinquiredofthemwheretheMessiahwastobeborn.

Theysaidtohim,"InBethlehemofJudea,forthusithasbeenwrittenthroughtheprophet:

'Andyou,Bethlehem,landofJudah,arebynomeansleastamongtherulersofJudah;sincefromyoushallcomearuler,whoistoshepherdmypeopleIsrael.'"

ThenHerodcalledthemagisecretlyandascertainedfromthemthetimeofthestar'sappearance.

HesentthemtoBethlehemandsaid,"Goandsearchdiligentlyforthechild.Whenyouhavefoundhim,bringmeword,thatItoomaygoanddohimhomage."

Aftertheiraudiencewiththekingtheysetout.Andbehold,thestarthattheyhadseenatitsrisingprecededthem,untilitcameandstoppedovertheplacewherethechildwas.

Theywereoverjoyedatseeingthestar,andonenteringthehousetheysawthechildwithMaryhismother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures andofferedhimgiftsofgold,frankincense,andmyrrh.

AndhavingbeenwarnedinadreamnottoreturntoHerod,theydepartedfortheircountrybyanotherway.

Whentheyhaddeparted,behold,theangeloftheLordappearedtoJosephinadreamandsaid,"Rise,takethechildandhismother,fleetoEgypt,andstaythereuntilItellyou.Herodisgoingtosearchforthechildtodestroyhim."

JosephroseandtookthechildandhismotherbynightanddepartedforEgypt.

HestayedthereuntilthedeathofHerod,thatwhattheLordhadsaidthroughtheprophetmightbefulfilled,"OutofEgyptIcalledmyson."

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WhenHerod realized that he had been deceived by themagi, he became furious.He ordered themassacreofalltheboysinBethlehemanditsvicinitytwoyearsoldandunder,inaccordancewiththetimehehadascertainedfromthemagi.

ThenwasfulfilledwhathadbeensaidthroughJeremiahtheprophet:

"AvoicewasheardinRamah,sobbingandloudlamentation;Rachelweepingforherchildren,andshewouldnotbeconsoled,sincetheywerenomore."

WhenHerodhaddied,behold,theangeloftheLordappearedinadreamtoJosephinEgyptandsaid,"Rise,takethechildandhismotherandgotothelandofIsrael,forthosewhosoughtthechild'slifearedead."

Herose,tookthechildandhismother,andwenttothelandofIsrael.

ButwhenheheardthatArchelauswasrulingoverJudeainplaceofhisfatherHerod,hewasafraidtogobackthere.Andbecausehehadbeenwarnedinadream,hedepartedfortheregionofGalilee.

Hewentanddwelt inatowncalledNazareth,sothatwhathadbeenspokenthroughtheprophetsmightbefulfilled,"HeshallbecalledaNazorean."

(Personalmoment)

Litanies to Saint JosephAtthiscriticalmoment,whenweareexperiencingtheconsequencesofthisglobalpandemic,weturntoSt.JosephandaskhimtomediatewithJesus:thathemayreceivethosewhohavediedduringthisyear,especiallythosewhohavediedalone,withoutthecompanyoftheirbelovedones.Wealsothinkofthosewhomthepandemichasleftinfinancialruin,jobless,withoutprospectsinlife.Tothosewhoseheartshavebeentouchedbythevirusofindifference,hopelessnessandlackofhorizons.Letusprayforthosewhofinditdifficultto"startanew"theirjourney,theirlife.

(Youareinvitedtonamesomeoneyouknowwhohassufferedfromanyofthesesituations).

We invoke you, Saint JosephLord,havemercy R/Lord,havemercyonus.Christ,havemercy, R/Christ,havemercy.Christ,hearus, R/Christ,hearus.GodtheheavenlyFather, R/HavemercyonusGodtheSonRedeemeroftheworld, R/HavemercyonusGodHolySpirit, R/Havemercyonus

HolyTrinity,whoartoneGod, R/Havemercyonus

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HolyMary, R/PrayforusStJoseph, R/PrayforusEminentdescendantofDavid R/PrayforusLightofthePatriarchs R/PrayforusHusbandoftheMotherofGod R/PrayforusGuardofOurLady R/PrayforusStepfatheroftheSonofGod R/PrayforusThoughtfuldefenderofChrist R/PrayforusHeadoftheHolyFamily R/PrayforusRighteousJoseph R/PrayforusCastJoseph R/PrayforusPrudentJoseph R/PrayforusStrongJoseph R/PrayforusObedientJoseph R/PrayforusFaithfulJoseph R/PrayforusPoorJoseph R/PrayforusPatientJoseph R/PrayforusModelforworkers R/PrayforusExampleofloveforthehome R/PrayforusProtectorofthefamilies R/PrayforusComforttothosewhosuffer R/PrayforusHopeforthesick R/PrayforusAdvocateforthedying R/PrayforusProtectoroftheHolyChurch R/PrayforusPatronandProtectoroftheLasallianFamily R/Prayforus

LambofGod,whotakesawaythesinoftheworld, R/Forgiveus,Lord.LambofGod,whotakesawaythesinoftheworld, R/Hearus,OLord.LambofGod,whotakesawaythesinoftheworld, R/Havemercyonus.

V/HemadehimmasterofhisHouse.R/ANDPRINCEOVERALLHISDOMINIONS.

V/Letuspraytogether.R/OGod,whochoseSaintJosephtobethehusbandofyourBlessedMother,webegyoutograntusthat,sinceweveneratehimasourprotectoronearth,wemaydeservetohavehimasourintercessorinheaven.Youwholiveandreignforeverandever.Amen.

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For personal reflection

Timeforprayerand/orpersonalreflection.Thefollowingtextmaybehelpful:

Youareinvitedtoreturntoyourself.Inthesilenceofyourheart,takealookatthemomentswhenSt.Josephhadtostartanew.YoumayfindithelpfultorereadtheGospelpassagealreadyproclaimedinprayer.

Thinkofeachof themomentswhen Josephhad toconsiderhowto respond tohisdreams, to themanifestationsofGodthroughtheangel.Dreams,notdaydreams,thatdemandedachangeofdirectionforhimandhisfamily.

In lifeweoftensettle intoourcomfortzones,weseeksecurity,weopt foreasyways,werunawayfromwhatmakesusuncomfortableorforcesustoretakeourcourseinlife,uninstallorquestionourcomfortzone.

Yes,thereisnodoubtthatwearealsoaccompaniedbyapassionforideals,although,unfortunately,whenfrustration,disenchantment,contradictionoreventhewearandtearofdailyeffortcomealong,itismoredifficultforustoexperienceunconditionalavailability.

Whohasn't experiencedmomentsof crisis?Haven'tyoueverhad theperception that theworld isfallingapartonyou?Itisveryhumanandfrequentthatanillness,thedeathofafriendorarelativeoranacquaintance,apersonalbreak-upatwhateverlevel,acrisisofidentityand/orvocation...or,when,asinthistimeofpandemic,everythingseemstobemeaningless.Itisdifficulttoovercomethedarknightswhentheyappearinourlivesand,infaith,tocarryoursmallorbigcrosses.OurFounderinvitedus"tolovethecross"whenitappearsinourlife(cf.Meditation121.1.2)andtocontinuetowalkinunionwiththecrossofJesusChristbecause“thisunionandlovewillsootheyourpainsandmakethemmuchmoretolerable”(Meditation165.2.2)butweknowhowdifficultitiswhenthetimecomes.

Eachofthesesituationsisfrighteningandprovokesmanyquestionsonus:whyme?whatcanIdo?willIhavethestrengthtomoveforward?willIbeunderstood?willIfindhelpfroma"Cyrenian"?Questionsthatoverwhelmandevenparalyseus.Andyet,weknowthatthereisnochoicebuttokeepwalking,therearenoalternativesthatdonotinvolvestartinganew,yes,sometimesfromscratch.

ItwasJoseph'sexperience.ItwasalsotheexperienceofStJohnBaptistdeLaSalle.

Saint Joseph’s lifewas full of comingsandgoings,upsanddowns.Thinkof themomentwhenhelearnsthatMaryispregnantwithouthimbeinginvolvedinit.Itisalogicalhumanreactiontorunawaystealthilyoutoflove,soasnottoharmthepersonwithwhomhehadthoughtofcreatinganewfamily.Hemusthavethoughtwhydidshedothistome,whatshouldIdo...Itmustnothavebeenaneasymoment.Changeofplans!Whatachange!

However,withtimeandthankstoadream,heunderstoodthathehadtomoveon,todevelopanewproject.Icannotputmyselfinhisshoes.HisfaithinGodwassogreat,sogreatastotakeMaryintohishomeand,ontopofthat,totakechargeofasonwhowasnothisownandwhomhewouldhavetoeducateasifhewere.Joseph'sresponsewasoneofabsolutetrustinGod,whetherheunderstooditrationallyornot,andofcompletegenerosity.

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Andthestorycontinues,forhemustsetoutontheroad.Heisagoodcitizen,andhemuststartanewjourneytoBethlehemtocomplywithcensusrequiredbythecivilauthorities.Thecircumstancesarenotthemostappropriate,asMaryisalreadyinanadvancedpregnancyandI imaginethattheroadisnotthemostsuitableforawomaninhercondition,howeverstrongshemightbe.Therearemorethan150kmtogobut,theretheyare…Weallknowwhathappened.Asifthatwasn'tenough,sheexperiencedrejection,"therewasnoroominanyinn"becauseofoverbooking?Whatdifferencedoesitmake!Whatawaytostartagaintheexpansionofhisfamily.Thejoyofhavinghersonwasaccompaniedbythesadnessofnotfindingadecentoratleastsuitableplace.Thatisthewaythingsare.Wecanimagineheranguish,hernerves,heranxiety.Fortunately,theyfoundastable,humble,butatleastitwasasheltertospendthenight.Andsobeganhisexperienceasafather.

Andwhenthingsseemedto"returntonormal",theywerealreadyregistered,hiswifeMarywasmoreorlessrecovered,thechildwasfine(withhiscries,Iimagine),anotherunexpectedproposal.Itwasnotpossibletoreturnhome.Theyhadtoflee,andfaraway!Somanyfamiliestodayaregoingthroughthisexperience!Ofcourse,therearemanydifferentreasons:work,economic,politicalreasons.Allofthemrequireanewstart.Always!

ThethreeofthemarealreadyontheirwaytoEgypt,withonlywiththeclothesontheirback.Anotherchange of plans and, this time, heading towards insecurity, uncertainty... their responsibility andthesafetyofMaryandJesusisaboveallelse.Theyhavetoemigrateandfindawaytosurviveintheunknown.

Whentheyweremoreorlesssettled,anotherchangecame.IfIhadbeenJosé,Iwouldhavepreferrednevertosleepforfearofhavinga"newdream".Butweknow...myplansarenotyourplans.Andit'stimetouninstall.Again,timetotaketheChildandhismotherMarytoreturntotheirhomeland.Whatanuisance!Alogicalreactionwouldhavebeen:hey,that'senough,we'restayinghere!Butno,heisamanofdeepfaith,ofabsolutetrustinGod,andheseeksthestrengthtoreturntoIsraelfromwhereverhecanfindit.Ontheroadagain,backtothebeginning!

ThiswasalsotheexperienceofourFounder.Anongoingstartingover.AlwaysopentoGod'sdreamforhislife,readyto"adorehimineverything"untilhislastbreath.Hehadtostartanewwhenhehadtotakecareofhiswholefamilyafterthedeathofhisparents,whenhecommittedhimselftohelpAdrianNyel,whenhedecidedtohosttheteachersathishome,withhisfamily,whenhedecidedtogoandlivewiththeminanotherhouse(youcanmentallyaddotherexperiencesofstartinganewtocompletewhatyouhaveread).Andso,fromcommitmenttocommitment,hestartedanewasmanytimesasnecessaryinordertorespondtowhatGodwasaskingofhim.

ThiswholeexperienceofJosephandSaintJohnBaptistdeLaSalleremindsusofourownjourney.Apathwaywhich,formostofus,hasnotbeenlinear.Therehavebeenmorethanonecurveandbrokenline.Changesofcommunity,changesofmission,ofresponsibility,ofplacesandspaces...andyet,formostofus,theyhavenotbeenchangesof"necessity"forsurvival.Imaginethosewhoareforcedtoleavetheircountry,theirvillage,theirfamilyenvironmentinsearchofabetterfuturefortheirfamily.Realdramastostartoverandoveragain.

Certainly,forallofus,thepandemicisalsoforcingustostartmanythingsanew.Atleasttoadapttonewsituationsandunforeseenevents.Atatimeliketheonewearepassingthrough,itisgoodtotakestock.Askyourself:Howdoyoureacttothechangesinyourlife?howdoyouinterpretsuchchanges?doyoudiscoverGodinthem?

This timeofpandemic,on theotherhand,opensus to feeldeeplyunitedwith thosewhohavenochoicebuttoleavetheirhomeland,andnotonawhimorfortourism.Hopefully,theywillfindinusaplaceofunderstandingandwelcome.

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MayJoseph'sexample,hisgenerosity,hisabilitytoadapttoGod'swill,toseekanswerstoeverymomentofcrisis,toputhimselfinothers’shoes,alsoinMary’sandJesus’...makehimamodeltoimitate.St.JohnBaptistdeLaSallerightlytellsus:"TakeSaintJosephasyourmodel,forheisyourpatron,andstrivetobeworthyofyourministryandtoexcelinvirtuebyfollowingtheexampleofthisgreatsaint."(MF110,1,2)Nodoubthewasagreatpointofreferenceforhim.

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For sharing conversation

Ourproposaldoesnotrequireanorder.Ifanyquestionsappear,theyareforguidanceonly.

1.WecouldsilentlyviewthePowerPointpresentation"WithaFather'sHeart",whichisincludedintheresourcesfolder.2.Itisamatteroffreelysharingwhatyouhavefelt,thought,experiencedduringthistimeofprayerand/orpersonalreflection.Itisgoodtoprioritisetwoorthreeideasifpossible.Letusenrichourselvesbyavoidingexhaustiverepetitions.3.Ifnecessary,thesearesomepossiblequestions:- WhathasstruckyoumostaboutJoseph'sstory?why?- Doyouhaveanypersonalexperiencesthathavecometoyourmindasaresultofyourreflection?- Haveyoueverhadto"startanew"?howhaveyouexperiencedit?whathashelpedyoutowalkwithmorestrength?

4ª.Whoevermoderatesthemeetingcouldendbymakingabriefsynthesisandmotivatingthefinalprayer.

Closing prayer(Proclaimedbetweenareaderandall)

WITH A FATHER'S HEART.Lasallian Prayer to Saint Joseph (Br.RafaMatas)

Reader:Saint Joseph:youareamodeleducator,togetherwithMary,weLasallianscalluponyourfatherlyheartacknowledgingyouasPatronandGuardianoftheentireLasallianFamily.

All:Beloved Father,helpustoliveourhumanityinfaithandbebearersoftheseedsthatmakeourcommitmentbearfruitintheLasallianEducationalMission.

Reader:Father of tenderness:teachustoactwiththefirmnessofafatherandthetendernessofamother,alwaysholdinginhighesteemthoseattheheartofourmission,justasyouandMaryknewhowtodoitwithJesus.

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All:Obedient Father:helpustodiscoverGod'swillandtoliveour"Iadoreinallthings",our"Fiat"infidelity,likeMaryattheAnnunciationandyourSonJesusinGethsemane.

Reader:Father full of mercy:teachushowtowelcomeothersinafatherlyembrace,andtotouchtheirheartstoprovidethemallthegoodthatwecan,especiallythemostvulnerable:thedestitute,theneedy,theexiled,theafflicted,thepoor,thedying,thelastandtheleast,whoarethefavouriteonesofyourSon.

All:Father of creative boldness,helpustoovercomedifficultieswithpassionatefidelityandcreativityandembracetheadversitiesthatweencounteronourjourneytowardsJesus.

Reader:Father in the silence at the workshop:teachushowtobethankfultoGodforourworkandtofeelsympatheticwiththosewhoarewithoutwork.

All:Father of silent presence:helpusnottofeelthatwearethecentreofeverythingandtocollaborategenerouslywiththeparentsofourstudentsintheirhumanandChristianeducation.

Reader:Saint Joseph,weplaceourhomeandourcommunityintoyourhands.HelpustobeattheserviceofJesus'plan:TheKingdomofGod.Teachustoloveandbegratefulforthegiftswehavereceived.Likeyou,SaintJoseph,maywealwayslookwiththeeyesoffaith.Andletusactwithafather'sheart.Amen