MTA Province – Annual Retreat 2026

From 24 to 28 August, the MTA Province (Tamil Nadu, India) held its annual retreat at its Sion Shrine in Madurai. The preacher was Fr Alexandre Awi Mello, our Superior General, and the meditation on the final day was led by the Provincial Superior, Fr Jose Amaladoss.

In keeping with the direction set by the Province at its annual meeting in March this year, Fr Alexandre structured the retreat around the threefold theme: ‘Fidelity, Fraternity and Mission for Schoenstatt – a Emmaus Journey’.

The first two days invited us to reflect on our fidelity to ourselves, to Jesus, to the Blessed Mother and to our vocation in the Sion Community, living with integrity. The third day delved deeper into our fraternal life within a community of trust, healing and belonging, highlighting the “Fraternal Covenant” as a means of overcoming difficulties and seeking holiness in community life. The fourth day focused on our mission as the ‘pars motrix et centralis’ of the Schoenstatt Movement, seeking to renew our apostolic zeal through shared responsibility for our common responsibility. Finally, Fr Jose linked the theme of the retreat to the life of the Triune God. Created in the image of the Trinity, we are called to receive the Father’s faithfulness, to relate to one another fraternally in the Son, to discern and be transformed by the Holy Spirit, so that we may give ourselves generously to the mission.

There was a wonderful atmosphere of silence, contemplation and openness. The daily Eucharistic adoration sessions were very well prepared by the Fathers themselves; there was also a beautiful night vigil. Having recently carried out the visitation, the retreat provided an opportunity for Fr Alexandre to offer feedback and explore in greater depth certain aspects he had observed during the visit. After almost two months in India, this was the Paterfamilias’ final engagement before returning to Schoenstatt for the Sion Feast.