May 4, 2025 Brian Gill

Hope and Faith Strengthened at Clergy Retreat in Lahore

Lahore: The Archdiocese of Lahore hosted its Annual Clergy Retreat from April 30th to May 3rd, 2025, at Arooj-e-Mariam Renewal Centre, Lahore. The retreat, themed “Believers of Hope and Heralds of Hope,” was organized by the Archdiocesan Fraternity Committee under the guidance of His Grace Archbishop Benny Mario Travas, Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Lahore.

Renowned theologian, Fr. Emmanuel Asi preached the retreat, drawing inspiration from the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year focus, “Pilgrimage of Hope.” Through profound reflections and sessions, Fr. Asi guided the clergy in exploring hope as a sustaining virtue in Christian life and priestly ministry. The retreat featured thought-provoking discussions on topics such as Visionary Hope, Prophetic Hope, and the Beatitudes as seeds of hope.

Also Read: Archbishop Travas Leads Prayer Service for Pope Francis

In the concluding Eucharistic celebration, the Archbishop emphasized the core mission of every apostolic life: to help people encounter Jesus. He highlighted three key pillars for priests to become true heralds of hope:

Encounter with Jesus: A deep, personal relationship with Christ is essential for priests to offer Him to others.
Death Experience: Embracing the Cross, like St. Paul, reveals life’s true priorities and enables priests to become messengers of hope.
Doing God’s Will: Priests are called to bring hope to people in their struggles by doing God’s will here and now.

The retreat concluded with a solemn Eucharistic celebration con-celebrated by His Grace Benny Mario Travas, Rev. Fr. Asif Sardar, Vicar General of Archdiocese of Lahore, Fr. Emmanuel Asi and the diocesan clergy. This sacred time of reflection, renewal, and recommitment empowered the priests to return to their parishes as true believers and bold heralds of hope.

The Annual Diocesan Clergy Retreat served as a powerful reminder of the importance of hope in priestly ministry. As the clergy dispersed to their respective parishes, they were equipped with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of their role as messengers of hope in a world filled with challenges and uncertainties.

Through this retreat, the Archdiocese of Lahore reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing the spiritual growth of its clergy, enabling them to effectively serve the faithful and spread the message of hope and redemption. As the priests embark on their mission, they are reminded that they are not alone, but are supported by the prayers and guidance of their Archbishop and fellow clergy.

Source: The Catholics: Lahore Focus