Together on the Journey: A Weekly Word from Archbishop Hebda
We mark today the feast of the Triumph of the Cross. It’s always striking for me that we speak of the “triumph” or “exaltation” of the cross, knowing that our world has never seen such a tragic execution as the crucifixion of the sinless one, Jesus. And yet we know that it was only through Jesus’ gift on and through the cross that we have the hope of a share in his divine life.
Today’s feast calls us all to enter into the silence of Good Friday and to reflect on how the Lord lovingly calls us to share in the cross. No one did that more perfectly than the Blessed Mother. We will be seeking her intercession tomorrow under her title, Our Lady of Sorrows. The liturgy will remind us of Simeon’s prophecy on the day of the Presentation that a sword would pierce Mary’s heart. Her life, while filled with the joy of being with Jesus, also was marked by many sorrows. Think about the anguish of the flight into Egypt or the loss of Jesus when he remained in the Temple. And what could have been more tragic than standing at the foot of the cross? St. Luke tells us that Mary “kept all of these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51). It was in the quiet of her Immaculate Heart that she found meaning and strength.
As we face the crosses in our own lives, we’re encouraged to follow Mary by going into the silence of our hearts. Retreats, in that perspective, can be a great source of healing. The Church requires every priest to make an annual retreat, but we know that the benefits of a retreat extend to our lay faithful as well. We certainly heard that at our 2025 Synod.
We’re blessed in our archdiocese by many opportunities for retreats. I was particularly delighted to learn of the experience last year of the 50 Latino women who gathered for a healing retreat sponsored by the Office of Latino Ministries and made possible by the generosity of those of you who support our annual Catholic Services Appeal. I was so moved to hear from Estela Villagrán Manancero, director of Latino ministries, how these women—having experienced many sorrows of their own—found great comfort as they spent this dedicated time pondering the Lord’s love for them.
Retreats aren’t only for those who need healing. (Though I think that describes most of us—who doesn’t need healing, at least to some degree?) A retreat is a wonderfully counter-cultural response to an increasingly noisy world. In the First Book of Kings, we read how the Lord was manifested not in the wind, the fire, or the earthquake but in “a light silent sound” (1 Kings 19:12). A retreat is an opportunity to seek silence and, in it, encounter our Lord who—as St. Teresa of Calcutta described—speaks “in the silence of the heart.”
I’m encouraged to hear that hundreds in our archdiocese are preparing to go on retreats this fall, including those who will be making our Damascus retreats (offered for Spanish-speaking men and women) and taking advantage of the offerings at our local Catholic retreat centers.
It might seem like an odd time to talk about finding silence, when fall activities are in full swing, and back-to-school routines are still being ironed out. But it’s precisely at times like these that those quiet moments are most necessary. I encourage you to consider exploring your own possibilities for finding some silence, including retreat options. Prioritize a place in your calendar this fall or winter at one of the beautiful retreat houses within our archdiocese or just a short drive beyond our boundaries. Even a mini retreat at your parish could be a blessing. I’m confident you will find your time to be well spent. As Sister Anita always told us in fifth grade: The Lord is never outdone when it comes to generosity.
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