Retreat at Montserrat

On January 16^th, 2020, I attended my 7^th Retreat at Montserrat Jesuit Retreat House on Lake Lewisville. It was another great retreat and re-focused me on my faith life and practice different styles of praying and being open to God. Every time I go to Montserrat, I learn some new thing that God wants me to know. This time is was “Clarity through Journaling”. In the past it has been “God forgives me, no matter how long it has been. “ Another year, while I was experiencing some health problems, it was “All will be well”. Every year, it is something that I need at that time.

However my attendance at Montserrat all started in a rather uneventful way.

I work at a funeral home. Back in December, 2010, one of my main duties was driving a limousine for the Families. One of my friends lost his Mom. We conducted the funeral and I drove the limousine for the family. Mike Grant (4709) got in the front seat with me while the rest of the family rode in the back. We visited.

Somehow the conversation turned to what he would be doing in January. He was preparing to attend the annual Saint Andrew Men’s Montserrat Retreat. He and about 30 other men had been going since the late 1970s. He shared his experience with me and invited me to join them. I had always seen the notice in the bulletin but never knew how to go about it. I asked him to email me more information about the retreat as it got closer.

He did and I signed up.

I was very blessed. Fr. Joe Tetlow led our retreat. A Master of a Retreat Director. He inspired me to return to confession after a long absence. I poured out my situation to Fr. Joe and he said the most welcoming words that I have ever heard. “Boy, you have really been going through an ordeal.” That word “ordeal” touched me, his sympathy touched me.

That retreat changed me. I have continued to return to Montserrat with the Saint Andrew Men and Mike. There is a plaque on the wall in Saint Joseph Hall that really speaks to me. “I come here often to find myself. It is so easy to get lost in the world”.

Besides returning to Montserrat, since that first retreat in 2011, I have become involved in my Knights of Columbus Council (9868) and in my parish. I do early morning cooking for our KC monthly breakfast. I have become involved in our Scripture Study program and our parish Retreat/Renewal programs. I have become a Eucharistic Minister, too. I have also discovered one of my charisms. I invite. I hope that I also encourage.

I found my charisms and my role thanks to Mike and his invitation to me. Much like Jesus’ call to Andrew and Simon/Peter on the seashore, or the God’s call from the burning bush to Moses, or God’s call to Samuel while he slept, or Jesus’ call to Paul on the road to Damascus, we Knights of Columbus call our brothers to join in and help others. To serve others as Christ serves us. To become Contemplatives in Action!

I will be forever grateful to Mike Grant (4709) for his invitation to me

Paul Bernardy

3^rd Degree

Saint Andrew Knights of Columbus 9868

Fort Worth, Texas