HS Scholars go JAMming

The PJPS High School Scholars had their first taste of spiritual retreat last February 11 -12, 2012.  About twenty nine (29) scholars attended the Jesus and Me (JAM) sessions at the Mother of God Renewal Center in Muntinlupa City.  Ms. Jackie Chua, volunteer coordinator for the retreat, was able to gather more than 20 volunteer facilitators coming from different Catholic Charismatic Communities to help in the retreat. Generous benefactors also helped in financing the overnight activity. Jesuit Fathers Joseph Haw (Executive Director) and Eli Lumbo (Associate Director) helped design the retreat and facilitated some of the activities with the assistance of Henry Palmones and Von Castrodes from Jesuit Volunteers Philippines (JVP).  

The JAM Retreat  aims to introduce the scholars to a closer personal relationship  with Jesus.  The talks focused on Jesus could be a personal friend --someone they can trust and rely on in times of difficult challenges.  

The grace of the retreat was felt by the volunteer facilitators themselves as they listened to the scholars' stories and realizations during and after the retreat.  One of the volunteers writes:I was moved, I broke down, when one child said "Life is unfair."   I was stirred because at her young age, she can already see the injustice inthe world, the imbalance.  True, life is not fair. It is life's reality that she has discovered so early in life.  And yet, what most of us has missed usually, she was able to grasp and treasure ---- sure life treats us unfairly, but God is good to bring us people, opportunities in order to deal with life.  Sure there are a lot of things to be bitter about, but there are also a lot of people, circumstances, things to be thankful for.