Good Friday Retreat

A preview of some of the more important readings is done in meditation form, as in a directed retreat. We meet in the morning of Good Friday for two hours in an informal Spiritual Retreat either in our usual meeting place or at one of the group's home.

NOTES - Good Friday retreat for RCIA

Opening prayer:

Lord open our hearts and minds to your presence. Guide our steps along our journey of faith today and always so that we may come closer to you every day.

Genesis 1:1 – 2:2. GOD LOOKED AT EVERYTHING HE HAD MADE AND HE FOUND IT VERY GOOD.

Choose ONE of the pictures on the table.

Look at the general scene and let thoughts about it come into your mind.

Now concentrate on details.

Think of God’s Hand in this scene or part of it.

Thank Him for everything in it and for helping you visualize His creation and His power.

You can jot notes to share with the rest at the end of this meditation.

Exodus 14:15 – 15:1. THEN THE LORD SAID TO MOSES, “….AND YOU LIFT UP YOUR STAFF, AND WITH HAND OUTSTRETCHED OVER THE SEA, SPLIT THE SEA IN TWO, THAT THE ISRAELITES MAY PASS THROUGH IT ON DRY LAND.”

God has worked many miracles for his people and is still working miracles for each of us on our journey of faith. As you have gone through the RCIA process, you have traveled on a journey similar to the Israelites. God called you from the slavery of sin to the freedom of loving God and others. You have broken with your past life to discover a new life with God. All along your journey, He has guided you and protected you.

Share your answers to the following questions together.

How are you different from when you started the RCIA process?
What was the most wonderful thing God did for you on this journey? (Memory, Person you met, Prayer experience etc)
What was the most difficult part of the process for you?
How did God guide you and protect you through that difficult time?

Ezekiel 36:16 – 28 I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART AND PLACE A NEW SPIRIT WITHIN YOU, TAKING FROM YOUR BODIES YOUR STONY HEARTS AND GIVING YOU NATURAL HEARTS.

Sit in a comfortable position… Close your eyes… Now breathe in and out… With each breath imagine that your mind is sinking deeper… deeper… To the center of your heart…

Continue like this for a minute. You are still breathing and thinking… From your center… from your heart… Now ask God to show you your heart… What is it like?... What needs to be changed in your heart?... Reflect for a minute on this. After the meditation, draw the outline of two hearts, the old and the new. In the old write or draw the things that need to be changed. In the new write or draw what the new heart has that the old one does not.

Epistle Romans: 6:3 – 11 WE WERE INDEED BURIED WITH HIM THROUGH BAPTISM INTO DEATH, SO THAT, JUST AS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD BY THE GLORY OF THE FATHER, WE TOO MIGHT LIVE IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.

Share your answers to the following:

In baptism, we die with Christ. It is natural to be afraid of loss. What fears do you have about changes this step will make in your life?
In baptism, we are raised with Christ. What hopes do you have about your future in the church?

Gospel:

Describe how people were buried in the time of Jesus.

Describe the tomb. Like the picture in the handout, today, the Tabernacle in the church is left open. Why?

Reflect upon this picture and its meaning for a few moments then read the Gospel

according to current year.

(Year A Matthew 28:1 – 10; Year B Mark 16:1 – 8; Year C Luke 24:1 – 12)

Stand in silence for a few minutes reflecting on the miracle of Christ’s resurrection, His promise to us and His presence in our lives.

Closing prayer

Lord, You are the resurrection and the life.

We have journeyed from darkness to light,

From being alone to belonging;

From doubt to faith.

Guide us on the next step of our journey

To renew our commitment –

A covenant with the living God,

The Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.

Amen

JESUS’ GREETING TO HIS FRIENDS AFTER HIS RESURRECTION WAS “PEACE!” LET US CLOSE BY GIVING EACH OTHER A SIGN OF PEACE.

HANDOUT - Good Friday retreat for RCIA

Opening prayer:

Lord open our hearts and minds to your presence. Guide our steps along our journey of faith today and always so that we may come closer to you every day.

Genesis 1:1 – 2:2.

GOD LOOKED AT EVERYTHING HE HAD MADE AND HE FOUND IT VERY GOOD. Genesis 1:31.

* Take a picture from the table; examine it closely in every detail; try to see what reminds you of God in it; share with the rest. (same as one of the very first sessions)

Exodus 14:15 – 15:1.

* How are you different from when you started the RCIA process?

* What was the most wonderful thing God did for you on this journey?

(Memory, person, comment, experience….)

* What was the most difficult part of the process for you?

* How did God guide you and protect you through that difficult time?

Ezekiel 36:16 – 28

Ask God to show you your heart.

What needs to be changed in it?

Draw two hearts and within each draw symbols to show the (Before and After)

change God has effected in you.

Epistle Romans: 6:3 – 11

Share your thoughts about:

* In Baptism we die with Christ. It is natural to be afraid of death. What fears do you have about changes this step will make on the rest of your life?

* In Baptism we are raised with Christ. What hopes do you have about your future in the church?

Gospel (Year A Matthew 28:1 – 10; Year B Mark 16:1 – 8; Year C Luke 24:1 – 12)

After the reading of the Gospel, stand in silent meditation for a few minutes reflecting on the miracle of Christ’s resurrection, His promise to us and His presence in our lives.