By: Menchu N. Ealdama  (St. Catharines DIP)

Twenty-two candidates, including 3 from St. Catharines DIP, joined the Solo Parents Encounter (SPE) #10 which was held on May 21-22 at the La Consolata Missionaries Centre.  Fr. Dominick Mbah presided over the weekend.  The reflections and teachings he gave were complemented by the powerful testimonies given by Vicky Nisce (“Masks”), Theo Ly (“Change of Status: Parenting”) and Leonie Dolleton (“God’s Love”). The St. Catharines’ connection came in the person of our own Tellie Ferrenbach who shared on “Sharing, Caring, Bearing:  Gift of Community”.  

Fr. Dominick likened the SPE experience as the candidates’ own road to Emmaus, on which they trudged, like the two disciples, feeling defeated, discouraged, perhaps depressed, even despondent, weighed down by the “baggage” brought on by the guilt or unresolved issues stemming from a divorce or separation, or the death of a loved one.  But much like their walk on the road to Emmaus would transform the lives of the disciples, the lesson they take away from the SPE weekend can bring the candidates the peace, hope and joy which they desire.  To discover healing, Fr. Dominick exhorted them to be patient and to pray always because, like the stranger the disciples met, they are not alone.  Jesus’ abiding presence is always with them. 
 

A big component which brought so much power to the SPE weekend was the sharing the candidates did and as they shared, the “resurrection” that happened in their lives during the weekend became evident.  As Fr. Dominick happily pronounced, out of “chaos and confusion”, the weekend showed a way back to “order” because now they have come to learn that in their life’s journey, Jesus makes the same journey with them. It is as they open their hearts to Jesus that He will point them to His Word of promise in scripture that tells them that He will always stand by them, turning their despair into hope, their defeat into victory.  As they keep walking with Jesus, the road opens up to a great highway of companionship, conversation, belief and hope.  Praise be to God!

What is a SOLO PARENTS ENCOUNTER?

The Solo Parents Encounter Weekend of the BLD Catholic Covenant Community* is a spiritual renewal program for individuals who are:

• Widowed
• Separated
• Divorced
• Single Parents
• Married with spouse working abroad
• Married with a spouse who is incapacitated or bedridden

It is a live-in retreat weekend that allows the participant to experience God in a personal way. It is not a parenting workshop or a counseling session. The atmosphere is one of joyful praise & worship done as a community combined with quiet, prayerful reflection done privately. 

Objectives

• To know the love of God and recognize His workings in our lives
• To receive the Lord’s grace, healing, and restoration
• To have a fresh awareness of our ‘solo’ role at home, in the workplace, community, and society
• To realize our need for growth in faith and evangelization
• To have a conversion of heart, a renewal of mind and a transformation of life that will ultimately lead us to bring God’s message of love to others         

Process

A priest presides over the weekend aided by several individuals who will share their lived ‘solo’ experiences. With songs, prayers, and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, the participants will be led through a series of:

• Inspirational teachings
• Personal testimonies and witnessing
• Private reflections
• Group dialogue and activities

Registration Requirements

• A completed Personal Information Sheet (provided)
• Payment of registration fee ($135.00) which covers food and lodging for two nights and three days

 Sporsorship Organizational Chart

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  • Click here to view sponsorship organzational chart

Contacts

• Sylvia Centeno (416) 293-7265
• Edwin Geronimo (416) 785-1442
• Linda Canaria  (416) 551-7303

…and twenty-one more were added to their numbers...

“Look around you and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting…
One sows and another reaps.” John 4:35b, 37

Click here for SPE # 7 Photos

Even at the outset, it was evident that this Solo Parents Encounter Class #7 will be somewhat different from the past SPE’s. We see in this class the fruits of the various BLD Missions.  From St. Barnabas in Scarborough, we have four graduates; from St. Margaret Mary in Hamilton, we have four graduates; and from BLD St. Catharines, we have two graduates – that’s almost half of those who attended.  Indeed, the Holy Spirit blows where He chooses and all we can do is respond in awe! 

From Class Reunions to Ministry Gatherings to full-fledged Assemblies

It is hard to believe that seven years have passed since the inception of the Solo Parents Ministry in Toronto.  Like a mustard seed, it was small, obscure and hardly noticeable but its enormous growth over the past few years is hard to ignore.  With every Solo Parents Encounter that passed, it became increasingly obvious that the Solo Parents Ministry was called to a ministry that is unique to the ones currently addressed by our community. 

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Here's a collection of class photos from previous Solo Parents Encounters. Click on an image to view an enlarged photo.