Tent of the Encounter, 4th edition

The season of creation is in full swing and in this fourth week a prayer meeting took place once again. This time, last Saturday, September 18, Father Peter “Subagyo” Stoll and all the Oblates of Mary Immaculate hosted us for a third time! We are at a loss for words to thank them. For this prayer, the theme of the tent was maintained but with a greater emphasis on the need to expand the space of our tents in order to welcome the unexpected. This unexpected which presents itself to us in countless ways and through which our Lord Jesus never ceases to present himself to us. Hence the importance, as St. Paul tells the Colossians, of putting on feelings of compassion, benevolence, humility, gentleness, patience and therefore of being ready to bear with and forgive one another (Col 3:12-13). Such virtues, no doubt, enable us to keep the door of our tent wide open and to make room for it!

This time of prayer began with the rap song Laudato Sii, composed by Sister McAbe, to set us on the right note. Through the readings and prayer intentions, well-chosen songs by the “Padri Bianchi” choir accompanied our reflection. We also had the joy of praying with the Philippine ambassador, his wife and members of the embassy. This embassy is well situated because it is flanked by two guardian angels! The property of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the convent of the Marist Sisters.

As on the other Saturdays, many participants came from the various congregations in the neighbourhood. Sheila Kinsey reminded us, with her well-known enthusiasm, of the next challenges to be taken up together in order to move forward with the platform Laudato Si’ in Action! A challenge that consists, as she so well summarised, in not consuming beyond our needs and in ensuring that future generations will also be able to benefit from a world, an earth, an environment that will be able to offer them a good living environment.

So don’t miss our next prayer time which will take place once again at the Oblates of Mary Immaculate on Saturday, October 2 at 4:30 pm. Until then, let us avoid the use of disposable plastic objects!

Martin Grenier