Erika Rosas, the apostolic outreach coordinator for Mater Ecclesiae College.

By Marlenne Ríos

May 26, 2009. Greenville, RI. Erika Rosas, a 24-year-old consecrated woman from Tijuana, Mexico is the apostolic outreach coordinator for Mater Ecclesiae College. In this interview Erika touches on the main objectives of the College’s “Come and See” retreats and “Impact Weekends”, as well as her personal experience from her work on these activities.

Q: What is the main objective of the “Come and See” retreats and “Impact Weekends”?

Erika: The main objective is to create an environment of silence and friendship, where the girls will be able to have a personal experience of Christ.

Come and See retreats and Impact Weekends are held every month. Young women, ages 16-28, from all over the United States and other countries, such as Mexico and Canada, attend these activities.

We offer them several tools to encounter Christ and to meet the needs of a challenging world; for example, they have a prayer course, which teaches them how to develop their relationship with Christ. In addition, a Legionary priest is available to hear confessions. On Sunday morning we preach a half-day retreat for the participants. This moment of silence helps them to take to heart everything they have received.

Q:

	Retreatants pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel of Mater Ecclesiae College.

What is the difference between “Come and See” retreats and “Impact Weekends”?

Erika: The difference between the two is that “Come and See” retreats are for young women who are interested in discerning a vocation to the consecrated life in Regnum Christi or who want to know more about our lifestyle.

“Impact Weekends” are open retreats geared at young women who want to come and have a personal experience of Christ’s love, to let him impact their lives so that they can make an impact on the world.

Q: What is the type of formation given at an “Impact Weekend”?

Erika: It is an integral formation. We provide not only spiritual tools to make an impact on the world, but also the human, apostolic, and intellectual tools they will need to do this. We offer different talks and dynamic workshops. For example, they receive an apologetics workshop, a bioethics round table, a feminine psychology workshop, and a movie forum.

The purpose of these formative sessions is to equip them to defend their faith and to know the principles behind the Church’s teachings on moral issues. It also teaches them to analyze the messages they receive, the values or anti-values they contain, so that they can be prepared for the media culture.

Q: What have you learned from working with these activities?

Erika: Sometimes people come to these activities not knowing what to expect. But it is amazing to see what God does in their souls. When I have asked them, “What is it that helped you the most?” Their answer is: “The testimony of the consecrated women… to see so many young women giving their lives for Christ. How can these beautiful young women be giving their entire lives to Christ, when they could be out there doing so many other things?”

I think that getting to know the Person who these young consecrated women love so much is what ignites the fire in their hearts.

In these retreats each participant has the opportunity to stop and disconnect from what she is doing, to stop her daily routine and have a moment of silence. Christ is waiting for this moment to pour out his graces on them.

The next Impact and Come & See retreats at Mater Ecclesiae College will be on the weekend of July 10-13, 2009. Interested young women can call (401) 949-2820 or e-mail movrc@inteducators.org for more information.