All of a sudden, 2019 became a very difficult year for people in Hong Kong. Shocked by the unexpected political and social crisis, many were concerned for the welfare of young people. Xavier House Ignatian Spirituality Centre, a Jesuit retreat house located on the small island of Cheung Chau, reached out to the city and organised day retreats for young people.

The five-hour retreats, which were held at St Ignatius Chapel and Wah Yan College Kowloon, started with an orientation and guided relaxation to ground the retreatants in God’s love and bring a sense of security amid the chaotic and threatening external environment. This was followed by a brief input, guided prayer and individual spiritual direction. Retreatants were free to join the prayer sessions or enjoy some quiet time in the campus. The retreat concluded with small group sharing on the fruits of the day and large group feedback.

The Xavier House team was encouraged by how the participants of the first day retreat appreciated their effort to reach out and shared how young people need prayer time during this period of chaos. Seeing these as signs to continue, they ran a total of six day retreats from August to December, serving more than 260 young people. The whole process was an experience of discernment for them, too, as they learned to listen to the Holy Spirit.

The team members had different feelings in early August when the situation first turned to violence. Some of them who had committed to accompanying young people considered how to reach out, as most young people do not come to a retreat house by themselves; other members, moved by the sacrificial acts of youngsters, wanted to offer something but were unsure what a retreat house could do; some members were convinced that Ignatian discernment has something to offer young people who experience confusion in their hearts. Without a chance to share at the time, they pondered these thoughts in their hearts.

“In mid-August, a friend asked me if Xavier House could do something since many young people were suffering from such critical situation. I felt this question somehow had answered my prayer, so I asked two companions,” shared one member of the team. They noticed movements and counter-movements: one member who had been walking with young people was deeply moved but was uncertain of how her companions’ would respond. Another member was unfamiliar with accompanying young people and had no idea how to work it out.

Despite the doubts, the members noticed God’s vestige. “Before going to sleep, I asked God to inspire me if this was His will. I woke up the next morning with some ideas about prayer, silence, and individual spiritual direction. The ideas seemed not very feasible at the time but somehow they moved me.” Another continued, “I bumped into [a team member] the next day and we went out to lunch; the whole plan was worked out smoothly just within this lunch hour. This was a consoling sign.” Moreover, the support from both chapel and school to serve as venues for the retreat was a further sign for the team.

From their few experiences in accompanying young people through their confusions and struggles, they agreed that it was important to have prayer time in quietude and to be aware of one’s inner movements. Moreover, young people find it difficult to trust strangers, so individual spiritual direction was preferable to group spiritual conversation. When they met to work out the programme details, there was peace although they were still not certain how it would work out.

When the proposal was presented to the larger team, other spiritual directors were generous to offer their support. However, they also raised different concerns. “Five hours of retreat is too long for young people.” “They may not want to share with spiritual directors who are much older.” “They would rather go to a protest than participate in a retreat.” Some of the team members were shaken by these comments and there were counter-movements: some doubted their capacity, the feasibility of the retreat, and whether this was God’s will. Until one of the core members remarked on the importance of communal efforts and the boldness to speak when the Spirit moved.

“I sensed my incentive to actualise this youth retreat fade when voices of difficulties piled in,” shared one member. “Then I heard the other core member reflect sincerely and courageously; she made us appreciate our idea even if there were a lot of ‘buts’. As she named the movements of our discussion, the atmosphere in the team calmed. I found my heart was clearer to discern whether the so-called difficulties and fears were from ourselves or from the evil spirits. I believe without this critical turn, we would not have come to a decision to organise the retreat.”

Another member responded, “In fact, I carried doubts, and I prayed to our Lord to bring His people if this was His will. I was moved to tears when I saw that around 60 people had signed up for the first day retreat.”

One other member was certain to go forward; this certainty somehow also encouraged the rest of the team. Now as they look back, they appreciate how the Spirit has moved each of them in companionship.

The team also noticed ripple effects of the day retreats. Later in the year, they were invited by Wah Yan College to run workshops for their teachers, and the teachers in turn developed a programme, “Unity in Diversity”, for their students to bring the message of mutual understanding and acceptance. These fruits were beyond their imagination.

Reflecting on the whole process, the team is beginning to understand what it means to say that the “Universal Apostolic Preferences is a spiritual path for us to be led by the Spirit.” What is fundamental is not so much focussing on what to do as it is to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Then the Lord will lead us to see more clearly what He wants us to do. [Xavier House Ignatian Spirituality Centre]