Dual Preaching
Modern life is so rushed, pressured and busy. People speak about needing time to get away for quiet and prayer and they lament the lack of time and space in their lives to do so. So, Sr. Patricia Bruno, OP (a San Rafael, California Dominican) and I designed a parish retreat. If people couldn’t get away for a much-needed retreat, then we would take it to them. We call it, “A Busy Person’s Retreat.” When people hear the title, they nod their heads in agreement. They get it!
In a parish-based experience we provide what is common to many retreats: liturgical celebration, quiet, preaching, prayer, reflection on Scripture, journaling and community.
Our goals for the retreat have been to deepen the parish’s spirituality by focusing on the Eucharist and God’s presence through the Word of God. The retreat involves laity as much as possible. For example, we train lay ministers to be part of each evening service. From among these parishioners are also chosen “lay witnesses” who give brief reflections at the evening services. These WItnesses have proven to be a popular and powerful part of the retreat, as they reflect on how the Scriptures apply to their lives. They would never call themselves "preachers," but after hearing them, we would.
People ask, “Don’t you find all that traveling draining?” Yes, it can be tiring, but we take breaks to be with our communities and to retool for the road. We are also blessed by the people we meet through this preaching ministry. After all, we are members of the Order of Preachers, nourished by the Word we preach. Isn’t that what Dominic founded us to do–preach?
