St. Albert Priory Community Retreat 2025: A Journey Back to Our Foundations

From March 2 to March 5, 2025, the Dominican friars of St. Albert Priory in Hong Kong gathered for their annual community retreat, guided by Retreat Master Fr. Maximo P. Gatela, O.P., from the Dominican Province of the Philippines.  This year's retreat, themed "Back to the Foundations," focused on reinvigorating the four pillars of Dominican life: Prayer, Study, Community Life, and Preaching.

The retreat commenced on the evening of March 2 with the Rosary and Evening Prayer, setting a reflective tone for the days ahead. Each morning began with a solemn celebration of the Eucharist at 6:30am, where the First Talk of the Day was thoughtfully integrated into the homily, emphasizing the pillar of Preaching. Morning Prayer was also incorporated into the Mass, enhancing our communal worship experience.

At 10:00am each morning, the community gathered for midday prayer followed by the second talk of the day, fostering the pillar of study. These talks provided valuable insights and encouraged deep reflection on our spiritual journey.

Afternoons were dedicated to strengthening our Community Life through meetings and discussions at 3:00pm. On the first day, we explored the future ministries of our community in Hong Kong. The second day focused on potential talks for our ongoing formation, while the third day was devoted to discussing ways to further improve our community life. 

Each day concluded with the Rosary and Evening Prayer at 6:20 p.m., allowing us to end our day in contemplation and gratitude.

This retreat was a profound opportunity for us to reconnect with the core values of our Dominican vocation. We emerged from this experience with renewed spirit and commitment to our mission. We are grateful to Fr. Maximo P. Gatela, O.P., for his guidance and to each member of our community for their active participation and dedication.