By: Scottie Cabes (TEC New Orleans)
Scottie was a team member on TEC New Orleans's retreat in June 2021, which was their first retreat following the onset of the pandemic, while local case numbers were low. Each TEC community is advised to continue monitoring their local cases, safety precautions, and restrictions as future TEC weekends are planned.
I was beyond blessed to have been a part of our TEC community’s first retreat in 17 months. Preparing for the retreat felt a bit different this time, and not necessarily because of any Covid-related restrictions, but because of the fact that the usual retreat center we use for TEC (called Rosaryville) was under new ownership. Along with not having been there in well over a year because of the virus, the possibility of the retreat center being completely different on the inside was quite tough to process. The whole ride up by myself that Friday afternoon (which is always one of my favorite parts of the weekend), I was getting my mind straight and my prayer life focused as I usually do, but that fear of the unknown was slightly present. I also kept wondering how the retreat would be because of Covid protocols, even though we were blessed enough to not really have any serious requirements or restrictions going into the weekend.
Once I saw Rosaryville as I approached it in my car, I felt a calm sense of peace. That nostalgic feeling of TEC resurfaced, and I thought, “Wow, we’re back!” I parked and walked in, and immediately the smell of Rosaryville hit me and it seemed as if we were picking up right where we left off without any real delay. The inside of the retreat center was not that altered or changed. It felt the same! The retreat itself was a joy as well, and it honestly did not feel different at all. It was a much needed experience for the many people who attended and worked it. We were gifted with a retreat taking place during a time of cases being low and restrictions being lifted, so there were not really any insurmountable hurdles in that regard.
It truly was the way God intended it to be, and His Will was carried out by our conforming to it. Our Lord provided us with a true sense of normalcy after a year and a half of everything being “different than it used to be,” and all we had to do was trust Him before, during, and after. We owe this all to those who led the retreat, but also those in Heaven praying for us, especially our Blessed Mother Mary and St. Joseph. Overall, this TEC retreat was a blessing from Christ, Who called us all together, had us encounter Him while we were there, and is counting on us each and every day.
