The annual retreat was organised by the OCDS Council of the Commissariat, chaired by Fr Hipólito Rodríguez, with the support of our Superior, Fr Grover Cáceres, and the OCDS Delegate, Fr Fernando Chávez. Sixty-six lay members of the Discalced Carmelite Order from Abancay, Arequipa, Cusco, Ica, La Libertad and Lima participated in the retreat at the Siloé Centre of the Camillian Fathers.
This time of meeting, reflection and fraternity was led by Most Rev. Oswaldo Escobar Aguilar OCD, Bishop of Chalatenango, El Salvador. He gave us practical advice regarding our prayer life in the light of the teaching of St. Teresa of Jesus, as well as some criteria from Thoughts on the Love of God to “discern” the quality of our prayer life.
He concluded by encouraging us not to resist the voice of the Lord and the action of the Spirit that we have received during the retreat, to allow ourselves to be guided by the Lord and, above all, to remember that we are missionary disciples and that, as Saint Teresa says, our goal is to produce “works” and fruits of the Spirit.
