St. Thomas, Eustis, held a diocesan-wide retreat, “Re-Ordering Our Lives Through Lent,” at Canterbury Conference Center, Oviedo, on Feb. 23-25. “Having the retreat on Thursday through Saturday after Ash Wednesday was the perfect start to the Lenten season,” explained the Rev. Matthew Perreault, retreat organizer and rector at St. Thomas.

Perreault’s background in retreat ministry during his years as a layman prompted him to initiate the gathering, although he had never held a Lenten retreat. “When organizing the retreat, I kept hearing the Lord say, ‘Feed my sheep,’” he said. “I  thought it would guide us to be faithful to the exhortation of, ‘Keep a Holy Lent.’”

Archbishop Gregory Kerr-Wilson, retreat leader | Courtesy St. Thomas, Eustis

He approached the Most Rev. Gregory Kerr-Wilson of the Anglican Church of Canada, who led the retreat, with several dates. “The theme of the retreat seemed especially appropriate for Lent,” Perreault said.

Kerr-Wilson spoke over nine sessions on the themes of Lent, Christian discipline and the ordering of our lives in the church, covering the following topics in order:

– What Is Lent?

– The Discipline of Silence.

– The Purpose of Disciplines.

– The Discipline of Almsgiving.

– The Discipline of Prayer.

– The Discipline of Fasting.

– The Corporate Disciplines of the Church: Mass and Offices.

– The Fruit of the Spirit.

– A Personal Rule of Life.

In addition to the lectures, the retreat included Morning and Evening Prayer, Masses on Friday and Saturday nights, and Compline each night before the corporate silence began. Participants at the retreat also took part in silent group and individual reflection.

Twenty-five people attended. “A half-dozen parishes were represented,” said Perreault. “A handful of the clergy accompanied the laity. Bishop Brewer was one of the clergy who attended.”

Archbishop and Mrs. Gregory Kerr-Wilson enjoy time with Bishop Brewer. | Courtesy St. Thomas, Eustis

Kerr-Wilson, who ordained Perreault, is the archbishop of the Diocese of Calgary and the Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert’s Land, which includes 10 dioceses within a regional area. His particular passions are for the renewal of the church’s life and ministry through deepening discipleship so that it more fully embodies the presence of the risen Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit.

“I had never heard Kerr-Wilson speak on the discipline of silence,” Perreault said. “It was helpful, especially in the context of a communal retreat. We kept a silence each evening, as in First Kings 19. Just being quiet, we could hear God’s still, soft voice, just like Elijah did when he pushed the noise away.”

Perreault didn’t know what to expect from the retreat. “I appreciate what God and the archbishop had to share,” he said afterward. “I especially appreciated the sermon on martyrdom by Bishop Patrick Augustine at Saturday night’s service. Saturday was the Feast of St. Matthias, and Friday was the Feast of St. Polycarp. Martyrdom has implications in our lives today.

“The opportunity for stillness and prayer in such a beautiful setting was one of my favorite parts,” Perreault said. “Being able to slip away from all of the stress of life for three days was another. All of the gluttony jokes as we went into the dining room amid the discipline of fasting was another favorite part.”

Perreault plans to hold another retreat in 2024 and will announce details this fall. He said, “It is an excellent opportunity for all in spiritual progress to spend time with God and take stock.”