The Life in the Spirit Seminar is a Catholic retreat that is built for all levels of faith. It’s an opportunity to be inspired by Christ's love and example.
The weekend is made up of 7 testimony sessions accompanied with small group discussions, time for praise and worship, Adoration, Reconciliation, Holy Mass, and many other activities. Come with an eager, open heart ready to experience a new prayer life and to build relationships with other brothers and sisters in Christ as we are all witnesses to God.
Session 1
The first session offers a simple presentation of God's life, God's unconditional love, and the ongoing personal invitation to a relationship with God. The first session also explains the seminar as an opportunity for spiritual formation.
Session 2
The second session focuses on the importance of Christ and the gift of salvation. Jesus is shepherd, healer, lord, and redeemer. Being a Christian and living in the spirit of Jesus involves committing and recommitting ourselves to a way of life. The presentation explains the basic Gospel message and what it means to live as disciples in God's kingdom. We are presented with the daily choice between good and evil, between sin and redemption. This is a sobering invitation.
Session 3
The third sessions centers on the promise of new life in Jesus. It helps participants realize the goodness of the gift being offered to them. An explanation of how Jesus lived in the spirit is given. The baptism of Jesus becomes our model and a witness is given on the place of gifts, fruits, and charisms of the spirit in daily life.
Session 4
The fourth session is the preparation for commitment to Jesus Christ and openness to the Spirit. This is the talk in which the process of conversation is explained as an essential part of the Christian life. This is the talk in which people are called to reorient their lives as needed. The presentation explains how to turn to the Lord, (repentance and faith) and what is involved in being baptized in the Spirit. In the personal contact with the faith sharing facilitator and/or sponsor, the people in the seminar can work out any problems and receive personal help.
Session 5
The fifth session is for renewal of Baptismal vows and prayer for Baptism in the Spirit. People also experience a variety of gifts and charisms that are closely related to a release of the Spirit. The whole session is set aside for prayer.
Session 6
The sixth session is about persevering in our baptismal vocation as disciples of Jesus. Participants are challenged to make the decisions and changes necessary to maintain the life in the Spirit, which they have experienced in some way. The focus of the presentation is on prayer, community, scripture, Sacraments, and service.
Session 7
The seventh session is the final session. It offers a vision of both transformation and mission through the life in the spirit. The Holy Spirit is at work changing us and enabling us as church to change the world. As we choose to grow in personal relationships and join ourselves ever more closely to the body of Jesus we will bear fruit. We must persevere in this work despite trials and difficulties.