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| Seminar/Retreat with Fr. Jozo Zovko April 7 thru April 11, 2002 Holy Family Institute Siroki Brijeg Bosnia-Hercegovina |
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The Holy Family Institute in Siroki Brijeg was the site of a retreat with Fr. Jozo Zovko. The above photo was taken from the church of the Assumption and the Franciscan monestary. |
The interior of the Institute is of marble. Single and double rooms are simple with a bed and desk for each person. A carpeted conference room was the site of the seminar presentations given by Fr. Jozo, translated by Nancy Latta. Meals were on the lower level of the Institute, served by young girls in their teens who live at the Institute. These are girls whose parents were killed in the war. The chapel was the center of prayer and worship throughout the day and Holy Mass before supper in the evenings. Simple beauty and warmth of inlaid wood welcomed and surrounded us. Upon entering, shoes must be replaced by hand-knit socks, both for warmth on the chilly rainydays, and for silence. Meeting Jesus here in His Eucharistic Presence, hours were given to searching, opening up, surrendering and letting go. |
Things of life and in the heart block God's presence, keeping Him from being in the first place each day. One by one the 'blocks' were named and presented to God. I learned to give these things to God and allow Him to take them from me. There were deeply hidden parts of my life blocking God's presence. Gently and graciously they were exposed; gently and graciously healing entered, replacing the stumbling blocks with stepping stones. |
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