On the weekend of November 7 and 8, 2020, a two-day catechism retreat for Sunday school students took place in our parish of the Dormition of the Theotokos in the city of Jeonju. The main topic of the two-day discussion was: “Our freedom in Christ“.
The program began on Saturday with the morning Service in the church. Then followed the first discussion on the subject of the two-day catechism.
After that, the students had fun with indoor games until Lunch time. Later, accompanied by Staff members, they visited the church of the Dormition of the Theotokos, which is under construction, as well as the adjacent Church Hall. During their tour, they had the opportunity to see the progress of the project and to think about the operation of their new church in the near future.
They then went to one of the largest parks in the area and did climbing exercises and played soccer. After the game was over, they returned to the parish hall for a short rest, which was followed by a further discussion in the church, based on the words of the apostle Paul: Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5:1).
The students were especially happy when, for the first time in their lives, they lit all the candles of the Holy Altar as well as the main church, as part of a lesson for the preparation of the holy church before Vespers. Then they together attended the Great Vespers for the feast of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel and listened to the sermon on the work of the Holy Angels, after which dinner followed and thus ended the first day of the program.
The next day, the students participated in the Service of Matins (Orthros) and in the Divine Liturgy, after which they spent some time reading and making comments all together on Christos Gousidis’ book: “The visit to the loft“, which has been translated into Korean, and which refers to the childhood of Saint Nektarios, on the occasion of his feast the next day.
With the help of God, immediately after lunch, the two-day retreat in Jeonju was concluded.