T
TimothyH
Guest
Just felt like saying that.
-Tim-
-Tim-
- Status
A
awsiukiewicz
Guest
Please tell me more about this…I am interested…tks
B
Bruised_Reed
Guest
I miss them.
M
Mrs_Sally
Guest
I have just received the scheduled for my area. Due to previous commitments I won’t be able to attend until maybe March. However I have also discovered that there are weekly confession times near me that I can get to! I have never received bad advice from my parish priests but I am very interested to attend confession with an Opus Dei priest.
A
ADiosgracias
Guest
How can I get the schedule for Atlanta Ga?
B
babochka
Guest
In my area, it is all done by word of mouth. It isn’t even advertised in the bulletin of the parish in which it is held.
M
Mrs_Sally
Guest
The same here. There are main Opus Dei “houses” and schedules for retreats, evenings of recollection, and confession are available there. I have never seen those schedules handed out anywhere else unless someone asks for them or know an Opus Dei member.
opusdei.us/sec.php?s=379
M
Marcin_L
Guest
Hi, Could you post some info regarding the recollection evenings with Opus Dei?
I’m going on my first recollection evening ever this Thursday and I’m not sure what to expect. I’m based in UK and as far as I know the group I’m going to join is very small. I have been thinking about what to expect, what I should take with me and what the dress code is. It may sound funny but I’ve never been to a recollection evening before so I’m a bit nervous but also excited. It will also be my second visit to the local OD centre as well.
T
TimothyH
Guest
3rd Friday of the month in the Adoration Chapel at St. Andrews on Riverside Rd. in Roswell.
7:30 PM is when the first meditation starts but the priest is usually there much earlier for confession.
I’m in Acworth/Kennesaw. Send me a PM and I’ll get you the email address of someone who can put you on the mailing list. Or you can call the Church to confirm the next meeting, introduce yourself to anyone there and ask to be put on the mailing list.
-Tim-
T
TimothyH
Guest
The one I go to starts at 7:30 PM (19:30 for you, I suppose
) but the priest is there much earlier for those who want confession. It is for men only. There is a Morning of Recollection the next day for women only. They are done in silence.The priest enters the adoration chapel with the Blessed Sacrament exposed and gives a 30 to 45 mintute meditation on a spiritual topic - sanctity through work, Christian friendship, etc. We go to another room for a brief talk on one of the virtues by a lay person, and then back into the chapel for a second meditation. Bennediction follows, after which there are usually snacks and a selection of really good books for sale.
Opus Dei has an apartment in Atlanta and the priest makes himself available Saturday evenings for spiritual direction for anyone who wants to go. You don’t have to be a member of Opus Dei to go.
My experience is that the priests are very down to earth and full of joy for being God’s chosen people, adopted sons of the Father and brother’s of Jesus Christ. Opus Dei has a reputation for being stodgy and structured, but I have found it to be anything but.
-Tim-
T
TimothyH
Guest
For those wondering, I first sent an email to Opus Dei from their website asking for more information on how to get involved in anything they had to offer. Someone from Atlanta contacted me a few days later.
Opus Dei does not advertise or recruit. You have to ask. Just send them an email from the Opus Dei website, note your location, and they should contact you after a little while.
-Tim-
Opus Dei does not advertise or recruit. You have to ask. Just send them an email from the Opus Dei website, note your location, and they should contact you after a little while.
-Tim-
M
Marcin_L
Guest
Thanks Tim, this is really re-assuring and more or less what I expected. Can’t wait till ThursdayThe one I go to starts at 7:30 PM (19:30 for you, I suppose
The priest enters the adoration chapel with the Blessed Sacrament exposed and gives a 30 to 45 mintute meditation on a spiritual topic - sanctity through work, Christian friendship, etc. We go to another room for a brief talk on one of the virtues by a lay person, and then back into the chapel for a second meditation. Bennediction follows, after which there are usually snacks and a selection of really good books for sale.
Opus Dei has an apartment in Atlanta and the priest makes himself available Saturday evenings for spiritual direction for anyone who wants to go. You don’t have to be a member of Opus Dei to go.
My experience is that the priests are very down to earth and full of joy for being God’s chosen people, adopted sons of the Father and brother’s of Jesus Christ. Opus Dei has a reputation for being stodgy and structured, but I have found it to be anything but.
-Tim-
F
Faithdancer
Guest
After contacting the Opus Dei Center in Los Angeles I was referred to a member in my area. We met for coffee, and I started attending EOR’s in January 2012. I’ve rarely missed and sometimes make it twice in a month.
M
Marcin_L
Guest
A few months ago I got interested in The Work and started reading & inquiring. The more I read the more I could hear God’s call. I had been saved from really evil things in my life previously by the Lord’s grace I believe, so when I sensed this call I felt I was summoned to pay back for whatever good I had received.
Initially I was wrestling with the call, I didn’t like the idea of 100% commitment, the notion of daily norms etc.
I started praying more frequently (well, let’s be honest, I actually started praying). I got hold of a few books by St Josemaria and read a bit everyday. I undusted my copy of the Gospel.
After a month I felt ready to take the next step. I searched the Internet for the nearest Opus Dei centre and… here we go! … there was one in my very town! I found the contact name and email address and sent a message. After two days I got a reply and invitation to the centre for a chat.
I went quite unsure what to think of it all. I was beginning to be doubtful about the whole idea, the house where the centre was located did not have any plate outside and I managed to come across a few negative comments on Opus Dei being a secret sect on the Internet in the meantime, as well as a couple of stigmatizing Youtube videos. See, these are the moments when it is easiest for the devil to approach us and discourage. Despite doubts and suspicions, I went on.
The guy I met was called Jim and he looked like a typical middle aged English man. He looked at the watch as soon as I passed the doorstep and nodded with satisfaction (later I was going to find out that faithful of the Prelature try do do everything very very well, punctuality included).
Jim had a very good long chat with me, described briefly what I already knew of The Work and wanted to know an awful lot about myself. Finally, he invited me to the next Evening of Recollection in a month time.
I decided to carry on with what I was doing in the meantime, which was prayer, daily Mass as often as I was able and regular Reconciliation.
Two days ago the time came to attend my first Evening of Recollection.
It was in a way as I had expected it to be, with some surprise elements though. Most liturgy, for example, was said in Latin, which was a very intriguing experience. Also, you could sense the atmosphere of friendliness and joy, as if we were all a bunch of old friends, although half of the people had never been to this particular centre before.
After the Benediction, I approached the priest to ask him for any contact details as I imagined my further formation would be in his charge. He turned up to be based in London and only “covering” for the full time priest, who is normally based in the centre.
I feel a bit “left by myself” now. Should I approach Jim again for further formation or should I seek it myself? Is there anything else available apart from monthly Evening of Recollection which I will be definitely attending? Or is it something I would only get upon member application? I admit I am seriously thinking of doing this but as St Josemaria writes, it is not the decision to be made lightly.
Does anybody have any experience in these matters?
God bless!
(I’m sorry for possibly odd style and errors, my first language isn’t English)
Initially I was wrestling with the call, I didn’t like the idea of 100% commitment, the notion of daily norms etc.
- If I think or try to think of God at every moment of your life, do I not get exhausted or discouraged of it?
- Am I able to think of my work as a gift to God?
- Am I capable of thinking of “hidden” jobs as equally important because God sees them?
- Can I smile in most uncomfortable situations thinking that I cannot be as bad as the Passion of Jesus?
- Can I thank God for my enemies for they help me in my sanctification?
- Can I give EVERYTHING to Him?
I started praying more frequently (well, let’s be honest, I actually started praying). I got hold of a few books by St Josemaria and read a bit everyday. I undusted my copy of the Gospel.
After a month I felt ready to take the next step. I searched the Internet for the nearest Opus Dei centre and… here we go! … there was one in my very town! I found the contact name and email address and sent a message. After two days I got a reply and invitation to the centre for a chat.
I went quite unsure what to think of it all. I was beginning to be doubtful about the whole idea, the house where the centre was located did not have any plate outside and I managed to come across a few negative comments on Opus Dei being a secret sect on the Internet in the meantime, as well as a couple of stigmatizing Youtube videos. See, these are the moments when it is easiest for the devil to approach us and discourage. Despite doubts and suspicions, I went on.
The guy I met was called Jim and he looked like a typical middle aged English man. He looked at the watch as soon as I passed the doorstep and nodded with satisfaction (later I was going to find out that faithful of the Prelature try do do everything very very well, punctuality included).
Jim had a very good long chat with me, described briefly what I already knew of The Work and wanted to know an awful lot about myself. Finally, he invited me to the next Evening of Recollection in a month time.
I decided to carry on with what I was doing in the meantime, which was prayer, daily Mass as often as I was able and regular Reconciliation.
Two days ago the time came to attend my first Evening of Recollection.
It was in a way as I had expected it to be, with some surprise elements though. Most liturgy, for example, was said in Latin, which was a very intriguing experience. Also, you could sense the atmosphere of friendliness and joy, as if we were all a bunch of old friends, although half of the people had never been to this particular centre before.
After the Benediction, I approached the priest to ask him for any contact details as I imagined my further formation would be in his charge. He turned up to be based in London and only “covering” for the full time priest, who is normally based in the centre.
I feel a bit “left by myself” now. Should I approach Jim again for further formation or should I seek it myself? Is there anything else available apart from monthly Evening of Recollection which I will be definitely attending? Or is it something I would only get upon member application? I admit I am seriously thinking of doing this but as St Josemaria writes, it is not the decision to be made lightly.
Does anybody have any experience in these matters?
God bless!
(I’m sorry for possibly odd style and errors, my first language isn’t English)
- Status