The priests that participated in the XI National Retreat organized by the Sacerdos Pastoral Center.

From February 17th-22nd the Sacerdos Pastoral Center of Italy organized a spiritual retreat for diocesan priests. Last year the retreat was under the direction of the late Cardinal Francis Van Thuân Nguyen, the Vietnamese prelate who survived years of imprisonment by communists to lead the Vatican´s Commission for Peace and Justice, may he rest in peace. This year Cardinal Giovanni Canestri, Archbishop Emeritus of Genoa, Italy, led the week of prayer. The theme for the retreat was "I am with you always even till the end of time." His Eminence offered a series of reflections coming to grips with the challenges every priest faces in the third millennium. The week´s activities were held at the Our Lady of Castel di Guido Convention Center, located on the outskirts of Rome.

His Eminence, originally from the North of Italy, shared his experiences as a priest in the diocese of Rome, first as a pastor and then as a spiritual director at the Roman College. In 1961 he was a consecrated an auxiliary bishop of Rome. He later served in Tortona, Cagliari and finally in Genoa. John Paul II elevated him to the rank of Cardinal in 1988.

On Friday the 21st the participants visited the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum and had a special Eucharistic concelebration at the Center for Higher Studies of the Legionaries of Christ. The seminarians and priests were present for the ceremony presided over by Cardinal Canestri. After the Mass the priests were invited to dine with the community.

These types of events are a service that the Legion of Christ offers to the Universal Church helping its ministers to cultivate their spiritual life. For more information on the activities of the Sacerdos Pastoral Center please visit their Web site at www.sacerdos.org.