About 45 participants gathered at the Providence Center in Edmonton for a retreat entitled The Truth Will Set You Free. Facilitated by Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie OMI, the retreat was basically on self awareness as it surfaces in the 12 Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Four of those Steps are on self awareness: Step 1 - we are powerless over something or someone in our lives; Step 4 - we make a searching and fearless moral inventory; Step 6 - we name our defects of character, especially anger and grief, and get ready to have God heal us of these, and Step 10 - we do a daily moral inventory and we are wrong, promptly admit it.There were five sessions beginning Friday night. Each session closed with a hands-on ritual that deepened what was presented in that session. There was time for prayer, some sharing, support group meetings and one-on-one sessions with the help of spiritual directors. The retreat was organized by the program coordinator at Providence Center, Debbie Doornbos who was assisted by her staff. Plans are to have another retreat next year at about this time on the theme of Fellowship in the 12 Step program.
The picture above is of the closing circle and ritual.
A portable library of self-help books and books on recovery and addictions awareness materials is on display for the participants to use during the retreat.
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