Arlington Bishop Michael F. Burbidge
celebrated the opening Mass for the Retreat for People Facing Serious Illness
held at the San Damiano Spiritual Life Center in White Post Sept. 22-24.
He began his homily by reflecting on the words of the
opening song: “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”
“You can be assured that the Lord will speak to you the
message He wants you to hear during this sacred time together,” Bishop Burbidge
said. “I encourage you throughout these days to allow that time to simply be
still and serene here in chapel, here in the Lord’s presence and just repeat
those words: Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening. You will leave here
knowing the message that God wanted you to hear.”
This year’s theme touched on what so many needed — rest.
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened. And I will give you
rest.” (Mt 11:28).
“Together we pray for one another,” said Bishop Burbidge,
“that the Lord will increase our faith in His victory on the cross and our
faith that He is true to His promise when He says to us, ‘Come to me, all who
are burdened and I will give you rest.’”
This year, the seriously ill were joined by caregivers or
spouses, nurses, doctors, helpers, a counselor and two priests — Father Robert
C. Cilinski, pastor of Church of the Nativity in Burke and program director of
the retreat, and Father Jack T. O’Hara, parochial vicar of Holy Family Church
in Dale City.
Taylor Oncale attended the retreat with his wife, Boo.
Taylor said his kidneys were damaged during his two tours of duty during the
Vietnam War.
“We asked Father Cilinski to say a prayer for us because I
am over the age limit for getting on the kidney transplant list and he invited
us to the retreat,” said Taylor. “I have never been on a retreat before and it
seemed like a nice opportunity.”
More than 1,000 seriously ill people have sought rest and
comfort at the retreat since it began in 1978 at the Dominican Retreat house in
McLean. They came in wheelchairs, with walkers, and even on a stretcher.
The retreats ended in 2015 when the Dominican Retreat
facility closed, but started once again this year with the help of diocesan
Catholic Charities.
The relaxed retreat schedule accommodated the needs of the
retreatants who can met with priests or team members during free time, and with
counselors from Catholic Charities.
The retreat included talks, daily Mass, anointing of the
sick, meals, sharing, Holy Hour and benediction.
The original retreat in 1978 was the first of its kind in
the United States, according to Father Cilinski.
It was founded by Missionhurst Father Paul Wynants, Dorothy
Garrett, Jo Magno and Steve Kulenguski and supported by the Dominican Sisters
of St. Catherine de’ Ricci, who ran Dominican Retreat. The Cursillo Movement
continues to support the retreat through prayers, financial assistance and
letters of support to the retreatants.
Cindy Kulenguski served as a nurse for the retreat. Her
husband was one of the founders. “He died 11 years ago, but left a big part of
himself on this retreat,” she said.
Kulenguski helps others, but said she gets more out of it
than she gives.
“It is kind of like a renewal of God’s love,” she said. “I
get fed from the people who come. I get spiritual renewal from watching them,
from the priests, seeing their faith and hope and feeling lots of different
emotions.”
