First retreat for candidates to the Federation of Mothers of Costa Rica, October 2025.
By Elisa Velázquez Yépez
Our first silent retreat was an experience that would take us deep into our hearts to find Jesus. Far from our daily responsibilities and tasks, we set out to open ourselves to an encounter with God and the Blessed Mother.
The welcoming committee prepared a “secret spiritual friend” activity, and in each room, a little box full of gifts awaited us: rosaries, chocolates, letters full of affection, and, most beautiful of all, the preparatory prayers that each sister in the founding course had made for one another. Another group prepared a detailed guide with the agenda for each day, so that we would have no doubts about where to go at any given moment. Thus, the foundation was laid for each one to live an experience of love, encounter, and recognition as beloved Little Daughters of the Father.
Father Marcel Mourás and Cecilia Brunner prepared reflections and motivations to guide the retreat. The first reflection focused on seeing in our sacred history what we can be thankful for, since it comes from the Father who loves us. The second reflection was on the coming of the Holy Spirit, in the image of the Upper Room, into our lives. The final reflection: God calls us to be his instruments. History is not only historical knowledge but also a reminder and an update on historical events.
By shining our personal ideal and finding where we are happy, we can make God the Father call us by the name he thought of for us.
During the days of the retreat, the combination of crafts that connected us with a point of reflection and the conducive atmosphere gave way to the embellishment of a simple and holy branch, a branch from a pepper tree that came from the Family of Hope Shrine.
The Mission tree was there to be conquered and to allow an encounter with Jesus in our hearts.
At first, we did not know how a simple heart-shaped piece of paper or a cardboard cylinder would give way to prayer chains or the creation of a beautiful monstrance, always with Jesus at the center.
The meditations were profound, writing our history as our own Magnificat or our Sorrowful Mysteries.
A dynamic for understanding how the solidarity of destinies is lived emerged during the recitation of the Way of the Cross, using colored papers as we retraced the passion of Christ.
Each meal warmed us on the cold and rainy days at the House of the Poor Clare Missionaries, and two strong earthquakes shook our souls and bodies during the nights we were there.
The most special moment was the two hours of silent Adoration with beautiful instrumental music and candlelight in front of the cenacle. There we implored the Holy Spirit for his gifts and, hoping to be like the apostles, we left filled with courage to bear fruit upon our return home.
Finally, the pepper branch, which, like salt, is a spice that gives flavor to the world, was transformed into a beautiful tree decorated with crafts that connected each impulse and talk from our advisors with the goal of the retreat: to truly feel and recognize ourselves as Little Beloved Daughters of the Father.
October, 2025
Translation: Kathleen Colunga
