Ottawa Catholic Young Professionals
Ottawa Catholic Young Professionals is a local group devoted to the spiritual and professional development of Catholics in the workplace.
On March 18, Ottawa Catholic Young Professionals held its Lenten retreat at St. Maurice, bringing in about 100 attendees.
Talks were given by two priests: Fr. Gerard Monaghan, a diocesan priest currently working with the Ottawa Catholic School Board and Fr. Lodewicus Barnard, SJ, a priest visiting from South Africa.
Fr. Gerard spoke on living the holy moments that God desires for us — namely, to remember to live in the moment despite the often frantic pace of our lives and to embrace God’s will in the daily moments of our lives.
Fr. Lodewicus spoke on returning to the Father, framing his talk within the daily practices of Ignatian spirituality and introducing the attendees to the various daily spiritual practices utilised by Jesuits — including offering up our day every morning, looking back on our day every night with what is known as the Examen, and fostering our spiritual development through taking on regular devotions and spiritual reading.
The day concluded with the celebration of the sacraments: a time for Reconciliation and then Mass.
The Ottawa Catholic Young Professionals Lenten Retreat provided not only a valuable opportunity for professional networking and social fellowship, but also fruitful accompaniment and guidance for attendees on their Lenten journey.
More information on Ottawa Catholic Young Professionals can be found on their website and Facebook page here:
