Retreat “Called. Needed. Sent.” with Fr John Bashobora in Licheń

Every journey with God begins with a desire. Sometimes, though, it leads further than we dared to dream.

Looking for a summer retreat, I had been dreaming of a workshop on charismatic ministry. I wanted to understand the gifts of the Holy Spirit better, to learn intercessory prayer and to see how to place them at the service of others.

As I browsed through one proposal after another, I quite unexpectedly came across the retreat „Called. Needed. Sent.” led by Fr John Bashobora at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Licheń.

It came as an enormous surprise to me.

Fr John Bashobora has been leading retreats and evangelisation meetings all over the world for years, and thousands of people come to listen to his teaching and to pray together. I never imagined that during the summer holidays I would be able to take part in four days of retreat led by him in Poland.

I went there longing to learn more about the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

I came back with something far more precious.

Not with a ready-made „recipe” for ministry.

But with the reminder that every gift is born out of a relationship with God, and that before we start asking „How am I to serve?”, it is worth saying: Here I am, Lord, for you called me.

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Four days of prayer and of discovering your calling

The retreat took place at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Licheń and was prepared by the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of the Diocese of Włocławek under the spiritual care of Fr Dominik Stempin. The Paschalny Deszcz community, which has served within the Charismatic Renewal for years, was also involved in organising the event.

The programme was very full, yet at the same time it left room for a personal encounter with God.

Each day began with the Rosary, with the worship of Jesus Christ, and then came the many conferences given by Fr John Bashobora, together with the Eucharist – the heart of every day of the retreat.

The evenings ended with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, joined with prayer for healing.

It was precisely this rhythm of prayer that made the retreat something other than theory: a real road leading to a deeper encounter with Christ.

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„Called. Needed. Sent.”

The motto of the retreat was not merely its title.

For four days it kept returning like a refrain.

Fr John Bashobora reminded us that every baptised person is called to proclaim the Gospel.

Not only priests.

Not only those in consecrated life.

Not only missionaries.

Every one of us.

That message rings out with particular force today, when the Church encourages lay people to bear witness courageously and reminds us that faith does not end within the walls of a church. Christ sends his disciples into families, workplaces, schools and everyday relationships. After all, Disciples – Missionaries is this year’s call of the Church!

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„Wake up!” – Wake up, Church

One of the most characteristic moments of the retreat was a short summons that Fr John Bashobora repeated again and again:

„Wake up!”

Start living! To the full! Yes, you!

It was a call to awaken the heart.

Fr John spoke of a Church that is meant to be alive, full of hope and joy. Of a community of people who are not ashamed of their faith and do not keep the Gospel to themselves.

These words rang out especially during our shared worship.

Father showed us how Heaven rejoices at prayer, how it dances, how it sings and how it positively leaps for joy.

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Joy is a testimony too

Every day, after the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, we gathered for worship.

There was singing.

There was prayer.

Raised hands.

The sound of instruments.

Loud singing, joy at conversion, at healing and at deliverance.

Gratitude.

Fr John often reminded us that heaven rejoices over every person who returns to God. It is hardly surprising, then, that a Christian too may live out their faith with genuine joy.

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Every baptised person is sent

That is the sentence that stayed with me most strongly.

Not everyone will become a missionary.

Not everyone will lead retreats.

But every one of us has been sent to bear witness to Jesus and to his Good News.

Sometimes only to our own family.

Sometimes to the people we work with.

Sometimes to one person who needs to hear a word of hope this very day.

That is where evangelisation begins.

Not on great stages.

But in everyday life lived in holiness, so that others come and ask: how do you do it?

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What did I bring back from Licheń?

I went there longing to learn more about the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

I came back convinced that the most important gift is a living relationship with God.

Because it is only from that relationship that the courage to proclaim the Gospel is born.

Peace.

Love.

And a readiness to answer the call of Christ.

Once again I discovered that time spent alone with God is not loneliness. It is a space in which it is easier to hear his voice and to put your own heart in order.

Perhaps that is why the motto of this retreat will stay with me for a long time.

Called. Needed. Sent.

Not only as the title of an event.

But as a reminder that each of us has our own place in the Church and our own road to walk.

I really do feel called, needed and – after this retreat – sent! Amen!

This retreat cannot be told in words, and I did not manage to record very much either, because I was so completely focused on the retreat itself – but you can see what I did manage here: A report from Licheń

My testimony

A few years ago I was clearing out the garage. On my headphones I was listening to a conference by Fr John Bashobora on YouTube. I did not know him at all; I had only heard people say that crowds came to his conferences and that there were never any places left. And Father, being Father, began to pray in intercession in the middle of the conference. Suddenly he asked: do you chew gum? Inwardly I said: I think that one is about me. And Father prayed for all those who chew gum, that they would stop. And do you know what? For three or four years now I have not had gum in my mouth 😀 Praise the Lord!