BERATOK — More than a hundred friends and guests of the Congregation of the Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak (SSFS) witnessed the blessing of the Greccio Retreat House by Archbishop John Ha on the morning of 25 April.
The short speech by Archbishop John Ha echoed the joy and sentiment of all those present at the simple ceremony. The Archbishop said he was glad and thankful to God for there is finally a retreat house in the Archdiocese.
Being the first of its kind in the Archdiocese of Kuching, Greccio Retreat House is a dream come true for the SSFS. For many years they have been planning for a retreat house to serve the spiritual need of the Christian community in the Archdiocese, but time and again the idea had to be put off due to many constraints.
Greccio Retreat House is situated at 21-Mile Kpg Beratok, approximately an hour’s drive away from Kuching. It covers an area of more than 13 acres. The retreat house, enveloped by nature and away from the bustling traffic, offers a quiet and tranquil environment conducive for prayer and solitude.
The name ‘Greccio’ is rooted in the Franciscan Tradition. Greccio is an old hill town in Central Italy where St Francis of Assisi re-enacted the birth of Jesus, thus creating the very first Nativity scene in history. Having the aim of St Francis in mind, the SSFS hopes that the retreatants who spend time at the House would rediscover and be reminded of the love of Christ.
Greccio Retreat House is fully equipped with basic amenities and is currently able to house about 20 people. According to the SSFS, they are in the midst of extending the facilities to cater to the needs of individual retreatants and bigger groups.
Those interested to know more are kindly requested to contact on site manager Luke Laiti (014-8992683) or at grecciorhssfs@gmail.com for further enquiries.
Audrey Yu
