Meeting 1 - We Are Oasis!¶
Meeting Goal¶
Direct people to look at this group, this retreat, their parish community as a gift.
Analogy: when we find out that we received a gift, we simply enjoy it and want to see what it is (whether a book or a movie etc.). We do not watch it in detail yet! We want to know its name.
Prayer¶
Adapted to the possibilities of the group.
“Greatest Values” in Which We Now Participate¶
(The animator prepares a large sheet of paper.)
Let’s list (and write down) values/things that make this retreat time extraordinary.
Probable answers: Scripture, Church, Mass, Cross, Holy Spirit etc. Probably no one will write “ourselves” or “community”.
Attention should be paid to the uniqueness of the fact that we are meeting.
Undoubtedly, the vast majority of what is called conversation between people today should be more accurately, in the exact sense of the word, described as chatter. In general, people do not really speak to each other; everyone, although turned to the other, speaks in reality to a fictional instance whose existence is exhausted in listening to him.
—Martin Buber
Let’s ask:
How many experiences of such a true meeting with a person do we have?
We can subject our contacts to a “critical look” – to what extent there is openness to each other in them. One of the basic things that attracts (more or less consciously) in Oasis is that here one really talks, and not discusses from behind the bastions of one’s SELF.
Do we as Oasis “veterans” look at the community with gratitude at all?
Do we appreciate this something truly extraordinary, that another person wants to talk to me about something more than the prices of new mobile phone subscriptions?
What We Already Owe to the Community¶
If we receive something, it would be bad not to even notice it – then we do not give ourselves a chance to be grateful for the gift.
We write down on a sheet (the animator must discern whether on one common or private ones) things/events which, in our opinion, would not have taken place in our life if not for the community.
“Touching” the Value of Community¶
(this is the essential part of the meeting on which the greatest emphasis should be placed)
The community is a much greater value than the retreat plan/this outline. We ourselves can give each other the most. We would like to “prove” this to ourselves now.
From now on, the meeting will not even be substantively led by the animator. Oasis makes no sense if we do not speak words to edify others. Above all, at the very beginning, on this first day we want to realize this.
Let everyone write down one question they want to ask the whole group (including themselves). This is not an easy task – we must discern what to ask so that thanks to it we all leave this meeting richer (which does not mean it has to be a twisted philosophical question!)
Next, we will answer these questions for ourselves. However, in order not to “dilute” this meeting, let’s agree that we try to answer in 4 sentences! They will certainly be enough to build up our neighbor for the glory of God if only we try.
Summary¶
Without a shadow of irony:
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
—Heb 10:23-25
“Without” an outline we were able to deeply enrich each other. Community is a huge value if we approach it consciously (we answer “for the other” and not to show off in front of the other). It is also a difficult thing – because it depends on ourselves….
And that is why we joyfully cry out “We Are Oasis!”.
Applications¶
One has already been – the intention of tomorrow’s Mass. Perhaps it is worth adding something else.