Reverend Father Kelvin Ugwu, a Catholic priest on mission in Gambia, recently shared a story on his official Facebook page about a life-changing retreat he attended before his ordination to the priesthood. The retreat took place at the MSP Formation House in Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Father Ugwu described the 30-day retreat as a period of total isolation from the outside world, where participants spoke to no one, not even to themselves. "We were totally cut off from the outside world. It is a retreat where you talk to no one and no one talks to you," he wrote. There were no radios, TVs, newspapers, or phones, and food was served silently at designated times and places without interaction with the cooks.
During the retreat, Father Ugwu fasted, eating only dinners, and engaged in seven prayer sessions each day, each lasting no less than an hour. These prayer sessions focused on meditation and contemplative prayer, which he considers the highest form of prayer, often conducted without words.
A unique aspect of the retreat included daily one-hour charity work, such as weeding or other creative activities that would not distract others but contribute to the community. This blend of prayer and service fostered a deep connection with God and the surroundings.
Father Ugwu recounted moments of deep spiritual engagement during his prayer sessions, where he would lose consciousness of the physical world and experience profound peace. This intense spiritual practice revealed to him a deep sense of his unworthiness and nothingness.
The retreat had a lasting impact on Father Ugwu, refining his view of God and his call to the priesthood. He highlighted three key takeaways from his experience:
1. Experiencing God deeply and personally: This made material possessions lose their significance and underscored the superficiality of worldly gains.
2. The true nature of prayer: Prayer as a heartfelt communication with God, beyond loud proclamations, leading to a deeper connection and understanding of divine presence.
3. Radiating divine qualities: Genuine prayer and connection with God bring about an effortless radiance of peace, love, joy, and truth.