The ROYA West Coast Ladies Spring Retreat took place on the weekend of June 7th to June 9th at the Holy Cross Monastery in Castro Valley, California. It was an enjoyable weekend filled with many activities: glass icon painting, hikes, volleyball, conferences and church services. Despite the short time we spent together, there was a strong sense of fellowship between all of us.
Our speaker was Father Stephen, the abbot of the monastery, who welcomed us with open arms. He spoke to us multiple times, where he emphasized the importance of being good soldiers for Christ. He also encouraged us to stay strong in our Orthodox faith, especially when it comes time for us to choose our husbands. Father Stephen wasn’t the only one to welcome us with open arms. Brother Lubomir attended to our every possible need. He took a break from his duties around the monastery to take us on a long hike through the nearby regional park. Although it was strenuous at parts, the views from the top were definitely worth it.
We attended Vespers on Friday and Saturday night, and Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, which was followed by the 5-year memorial service for Archimandrite Theodor, the founding abbot. Father Theodor was very loved and known by many of the girls attending our retreat and it was a blessing to be there for his memorial service.
Our West Coast Retreat was one of the three Spring Retreats organized by the Romanian Orthodox Youth of the Americas (ROYA), our Metropolia’s youth organization. The New York Ladies’ Retreat and the Toronto Gentlemen’s Retreat took place on the weekend of May 31st to June 2nd. Thank you to everyone who participated! Glory to God for all things!
Teodora Girlonta
