Following in Fr Dehon's footsteps in the education and formation of young people, the Dehonians of Belarus organised a retreat for altar servers from Dehonian parishes from 2 to 4 January.
For the Founder of Dehonians, Fr. Leon Dehon, working with young people was of great importance. He was deeply concerned with the Catholic and fully Christian upbringing of young people. That’s why he was the initiator of the Patronage of St Joseph and St John’s College — which helped the French youth to grow up in an atmosphere of respect for human dignity and social justice. Following the example of Fr. Leon Dehon, Dehonians engage in youth ministry in various ways nowadays. One of the example of what we do in this field is leading groups of Altar Servers.
From January 2-4th, 2025, a retreat for the Altar Servers from our dehonian parishes took place in Postavy, Belarus. The event was attended by 23 altar servers and lectors. The retreat was led by Fr. Eduard Sinkevich SCJ and Fr. Aleksiej Venckevich SCJ, who sought to show during these days how important it is to serve God—not only at the altar but also in everyday life.
The prayer meetings aimed at the liturgical and spiritual formation of the altar servers, who serve daily in the parishes of Postavy and Warapajevo, where Dehonians work. Each day, participants took part in the Eucharist and communal prayers, learning how to draw strength to become better people. Special interest was shown in interviews with priests and lectors, during which participants could listen to insights about priestly and religious life. Attention was also given to the great responsibility lectors have in setting a good example for younger altar servers.
There was also time for integration and relaxation. A table tennis tournament raised the participants’ adrenaline and brought joy to everyone, especially the winners. The retreat concluded with the Eucharist, during which the Liturgical Altar Service collectively thanked God for the time spent, hoping for further fruitful encounters.
