WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH – Priests serving in the Diocese of Raleigh gathered Sept. 18 – 22 for their annual retreat. The retreat director this year was Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B., chancellor of Belmont Abbey College. He previously served the college as an assistant theology professor, vice president for academic affairs, and as interim president.
The retreat is “a wonderful opportunity for the bishop and priests to come together for prayer, contemplation, fraternity and recreation,” said Father Jim Labosky, director of the Office of Continuing Education and Formation of Priests and co-coordinator of the retreat.
Father Labosky added that this event is the only time of the year when brother priests meet for an extended period of time.
“Our committee is most grateful to Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama for his support, encouragement and contagious smile,” he said.
Abbot Solari’s presentations focused on respect, obedience, patience and thanksgiving. He emphasized that among the most fruitful parts of the retreat are simply the time together and the forming of communion amongst the brotherhood of priests.
He encouraged priests to be amazed at the immensity of the gift God has given them in the priesthood by enabling them to celebrate sacraments, including the Eucharist. He also reminded the priests of the diocese to prioritize their own prayers lives and that the greatest fruit of prayer is peace, not answers.
In addition to daily Mass, evening prayer time and reflections led by Abbot Solari, the priests offered prayers before the Blessed Sacrament for all those discerning their vocations.
Special thanks to Fathers Mark Betti, pastor of St. Brendan the Navigator, Father John DeGuzman, parochial vicar of St. Michael the Archangel, for sharing photos of the 2023 retreat.