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Massachusetts Area Retreat, September 19-23, 2022

“The Divine Love of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary through the Gospel of Matthew”

Thirteen brothers of the SS.CC. area community in Massachusetts began an annual retreat on Sunday, September 19 at Attleboro, Massachusetts, famously known for the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette.

The La Salette Retreat Center is one of the last remaining retreat centers in the area. Fr. Michael Simone, S.J., a Jesuit priest of the USA Midwest Province, is the Retreat Director. He received a Ph.D. in Northwest Semitics and Assyriology at Johns Hopkins University, and then worked at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, where he taught Scripture and preaching.

Fr. Michael presented two daily conferences which mainly focused on the Gospel of Matthew and on the topics of Divine Love, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Each conference was coupled with Scripture and points of prayer that allowed space for reflection on the SS.CC. charism and spirituality. As part of these conferences, Fr. Michael was able to share a number of amazing visceral stories, that were drawn from his own experience as a Jesuit.

It was a joyous and fulfilling time of brothers praying, reflecting, and fellowship. On the last day of the retreat, Jubilarians Fr. Columban Crotty, ss.cc., who celebrates 70 years as a professed member, and Fr. Michael Mary Shanahan, ss.cc. who celebrates 60 years as an ordained priest in the Congregation, celebrated mass for the community.

The retreat was filled with wisdom and hope as the group anticipates the ordination of Deacon Patrick Tukidia, ss.cc. in the coming week. Despite the diversity in age and experience of the community, all the brothers participated actively, learning from each other and sharing extensively about their lives and work experience.

Thank you, Fr. David Lupo, ss.cc., for organizing, once again, the annual area community retreat and also our gratitude to Fr. Michael Simone, S.J., for gifting us with the wisdom of his Jesuit Spirituality.

Check out the photo gallery: Massachusetts area retreat photos

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