Spending time in prayer alone with God is such a wonderful thing to do! At a Spiritual Retreat organized at Reach Out Mbuya Community Health Initiative (ROM)-Banda site over the weekend, staff were seen deeply talking heart to heart with God and this was a sign that the Holy Spirit was at work.
Over one hundred members of staff gathered to renew their relationship with God, who revealed self through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
During adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Holy Spirit truly manifested Himself in different aspects and some of the staff who experienced this special gift testified and thanked God for that opportunity. “I had a unique opportunity, experiencing the power of God, and when I looked up to the Blessed Sacrament, I saw the face of Jesus.” Said one of the staff who attended the retreat.
Referring to the day’s theme; “Remain in me as I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, unless it remains part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5) the main celebrant, Fr. James Ssebayiga from Bukalango called upon the participants to love those around them because we all leave for others. Using the metaphor of a physical tree branch he picked from one of the flowers on the compound, Fr. Sebayiga said, “Each one of us needs the other, just like these mall leaves and branches do to each other. We therefore need to have Jesus Christ in us, so that He also remains in us.”
Fr. Ssebayiga also advised members of staff to work for excellence in all that they do so as to yield the best results. They should desist from ill behaviors such as rumors, hatred, disrespect and unhealthy competition so as to positively contribute to the organization, their families, personalities and community at large.
Citing 1Corinthians 6:17-20 and 1Corinthians 3:17-20, Fr. Ssebayga reminded the participants that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit which should be respected and used for the Glory of God.
As a way of showing gratitude to the Almighty for the wonderful achievements He has enabled them to realize, staff members, all full of joy presented their thanksgiving gifts to Fr. Ssebayiga, who also blessed them.
ROM Executive Director Josephine Kaleebi thanked Fr. Ssebayoga for accepting to pray with the ROM community and giving such a wonderful sermon that left all participants desire for more.
At ROM, spiritual retreats are organized every quarter to enable staff reflect on their lives and improve their relationships with God.
