Summer on the Shore

At San Alfonso, we are always working to expand our vision of being a place of welcome and one in which people can draw closer to God in a profound way. Part of this visioning is to connect more with the missionary priorities of our Baltimore Province, in particular, immigrants and young adults. With this in mind, we were happy to host two such groups
on the weekend of July 5-7, 2024. One was a women’s retreat in Spanish and a retreat for the Chinese young adult community from the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, NY. Additionally, our annual Redemptorist Young Adult Retreat took place here on the weekend of July 19-21, 2024.
The theme for the Hispanic women’s retreat led by Fr. Joe Tizio and Fr. Frank Skelly, C.Ss.R. was “The Eucharist and the Hungers of the Human Heart.” Using the story of the Road to Emmaus allowed retreatants to reflect on their own hungers and, like the disciples on the road, recognize Jesus in the “breaking of the bread”(Eucharist), the fulfillment of their longings. In addition to the retreat talks, there were opportunities for Mass, confession, and an evening ritual in which each retreatant was offered the opportunity to individually reverence the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance. In all, there were approximately 35 women in attendance, and most had come from our Redemptorist parishes, such as Sacred Heart of Jesus in Baltimore, Visitation in Philadelphia, and Immaculate Conception in the Bronx, as well as our former Redemptorist parish of St. Cecilia’s in Manhattan. The feedback from their experience here at San Alfonso was positive and there is hope that similar retreats for the Hispanic community will be offered in the future.

On that same weekend, Fr. Song You, C.Ss.R. led a weekend retreat for the Chinese young adult community from Brooklyn. The theme of that retreat was “March Forward and Taste the Greatness of God and Friendship.” It consisted of a series of retreat talks as well as coming together for prayer and worship in adoration and time to grow as a community. We pray that the spiritual nourishment received will continue to sustain them as they grow in their faith.
Finally, on July 19-21, we hosted our annual Redemptorist Young Adult Retreat, with the theme for this year being, “Hungers of the Heart.” Led by a team of 4 young adults as well as Fr. Denis Sweeney and Br. Ken Stigner, C.Ss.R., the retreat was designed in such a way so that retreatants could come together to reflect upon shared experiences of the hungers they have and to share about the significance of the Eucharist and its power to transform lives. Situated within this was a keynote talk presented by Cristina D’Averso-Collins, who serves as Director of Campus Ministry at Monmouth University. She spoke about becoming a Eucharistic people in the world. The young adults who attended were grateful for their time at San Alfonso and are hopeful to be able to return in the future.

San Alfonso is a place in which we say, “God and sea come together.” We pray that as we continue to welcome people of all walks of life to this hallowed place, we can continue to be ministers of hospitality and help others to grow in their faith and with one another. †