Opening Prayer
Sign of the Cross
Heavenly Father, We come before You with humble hearts as we prepare for our TEC weekend. We thank You for the gift of this time to seek Your presence and to deepen our relationship with You and bring others closer to you.
Pour forth Your Holy Spirit upon us, O Lord, that we may open our minds and hearts to Your divine will. Grant us the grace to listen attentively to Your word, to reflect deeply on Your love, and to respond with faithful hearts to Your call.
Bless our retreat with the light of Your guidance and the warmth of Your love. May it be a time of spiritual renewal, healing, and transformation. As we journey together, may we grow in unity and love, supporting one another in faith and in truth.
We entrust this Novena and our retreat into the hands of our Blessed Mother, Mary. Through her intercession, may we be drawn closer to Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Saint of the Day
From a Catholic perspective, the Virgin Mary holds a unique and exalted place in salvation history. She is honored as the Mother of God because she gave birth to Jesus, who is fully God and fully man. Her Immaculate Conception—being conceived without original sin—allowed her to be a pure vessel for Christ.
Mary’s fiat (“Let it be done to me,” Luke 1:38) at the Annunciation demonstrates her perfect obedience to God’s will. She remained a perpetual virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus. Throughout His life, she played a crucial role, from nurturing Him in Nazareth to interceding at the Wedding at Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle at her request (John 2:1-11).
At the foot of the Cross, Jesus entrusted Mary to His disciple John, symbolizing her spiritual motherhood over all believers (John 19:26-27). Catholics also believe in her Assumption—that she was taken body and soul into heaven—and recognize her as Queen of Heaven.
Meditation on the wedding at Cana
The miracle of the wine was great, but greater still was the miracle of Mary’s persuasiveness. It seems that God wanted to demonstrate the strength of her influence. Despite Jesus’ words—“My hour has not yet come”—His plans seem to yield to Mary’s will. Who must Mary be in God’s eyes to hold such power?
The Incarnation came through Mary’s plea, the Birth as a reward for her longing, and now the hour of His public manifestation is also brought forth by her. If He was incarnated, born, hidden for 30 years, or began His public ministry—it was all through Mary. The Son of God does nothing without her. Are you not amazed by God’s will to associate Mary with His works?
If this is so, your salvation and holiness must also come through her. Entrust yourself to Mary with confidence, just as she entrusted everything to her Son. She had not yet seen His miracles, yet her faith was unwavering.
Throw yourself into Mary’s arms without fear. Show her your needs, for she lacks nothing—and neither will you, if you turn to her for help.
– Mary Mondloch, TEC volunteer
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen
Intentions
Through the intercessions of the Saints we pray for TEC 284
- The team, that they stay open to the Holy Spirit in their lives before and during the weekend- we pray
- The Tecites- That those attending or thinking about attending. That the spirit move their hearts to be open to the TEC weekend. – We Pray
- For all members of the TEC community that they still feel the spirit working in their lives to be Christ for others. -We Pray
- (Feel free to add any special intentions you would like prayed for) – We Pray
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, in Preparation for this retreat we lift our hearts in gratitude for Your boundless love and mercy. We thank You for the graces and blessings bestowed upon us during these days of prayer and reflection. With humble hearts, we invoke the intercession of the saints who have accompanied us on this journey. Saints who have gone before us, lighting the path with their faith and devotion:
- Mary, Mother of God- Pray for us
Through their intercession, may we be strengthened in our faith and inspired to live lives of holiness and service.
Lord, bless our TEC retreat with Your divine presence. May it be a time of profound encounter with You, of healing, renewal, and transformation. Fill our hearts with Your love, that we may return to our daily lives as witnesses of Your grace, carrying the light of Christ to all we meet.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen
