The “Inner Liberation” Retreat, organized by Brazil West National 13, was held under the joint coordination of the Curitiba 1, 2, and 7 Local Coordinations. The retreat was specifically for Prayer and Life Workshops (PLW) Guides.
These coordinations are part of the Brazil West Zonal Coordination. The retreat’s animator was Mari Carmem Filipak Torres, and the coordinator was Celia Regina Cabral dos Santos.
The event took place at the Instituto Salette in Curitiba, Paraná, from August 22 to 24, 2025. It brought together 40 male and female Guides who have dedicated their lives to establishing the Kingdom of God in people’s hearts through the services of the Prayer and Life Workshops.
Inspired by Father Ignacio Larrañaga’s book Suffering and Peace, the retreat led participants on a profound journey of self-discovery and faith. Over three days, in a spirit of reflection, prayer, and fraternal sharing, the Guides were led to reflect on and experience:
- The sources of suffering,identifying the internal and external roots that weigh on human life.
- How to suffer less,by learning the paths of acceptance, trust, and surrender to God.
- How to save oneself from the illusion of the “self,”by breaking free from false judgments that imprison the soul.
- The understanding that suffering can be a source of spiritual maturityand a continuation of the Passion of Christ, when embraced with faith and love.
By the end of the retreat, the Guides of the Prayer and Life Workshops left feeling happy, amazed, and profoundly lightened, marked by a true inner peace. They were not only joyful from the intellectual and spiritual discoveries they made during the reflections, but were also AWAKENED to the realization that many of their so-called “failures” were related to subjective or relative aspects, rather than real defeats.
The conclusion of the retreat was marked by an atmosphere of serene joy and gratitude, with each Guide feeling renewed in their mission. The emotions that emerged were hope, inner freedom, trust in God, and enthusiasm for life. The experience left everyone with the conviction that pain, when understood and lived with faith, can be transformed into a source of peace and spiritual maturity.
The Guides left the Instituto Salette feeling lighter, more fraternal, and more self-aware, and, above all, immersed in the certainty that Christ walks with them.
