From October 15th to 21st, our CLM members experienced a truly special silent retreat at Napenda Kuishi in Nairobi. It was a week filled with deep spiritual experiences, inner reflection, and encounters with God, with ourselves, and with the community. The retreat was led by Father Daniel Villaverde, who guided us through this time of prayer, reflection, and discovery of the spirituality of Saint Daniel Comboni.
Each day of the retreat followed a gentle rhythm: morning prayer, the Eucharist, inputs from fr. Daniel on human aspect, catechesis and Comboni’s spirituality, and personal time for meditation and adoration. The silence that accompanied us throughout the week became a sacred space where we could hear God’s voice more clearly and look more deeply into our own lives.
During the retreat, we had the opportunity to delve in the missionary spirituality of Saint Daniel Comboni – a man who dedicated his entire life to proclaiming the Gospel and serving others. His example teaches us that true mission stems from a personal encounter with Christ and from love for our brothers and sisters.
In silence and prayer, each of us experienced profound inner spiritual moments – times of emotion, discovery, gratitude, and peace. It was a period when we could allow God to speak to us without hurry and without distraction.
At the end of the retreat, we shared our personal experiences with one another. Although silence had accompanied us most of the week, it was precisely during these moments of sharing that we came to know one another more deeply and truthfully – through heartfelt testimonies that touched our hearts.
We return from this retreat with renewed strength, peace in our hearts, and a desire to live more consciously – in a spirit of trust, simplicity, and missionary commitment. We thank Father Daniel for his spiritual guidance and all the participants for their openness and companionship on this journey of silence and prayer.
“In silence, God speaks the loudest.”
Iza Tobiasiewicz, CLM Kenya
