In the afternoon of Friday, 6th June 2025, my school held a second term retreat and recollection. We all first gathered in the Dinning Hall and we were introduced to the Net Ministries who were to take us through the retreat and recollection program. Later after the introduction, we were told to go have personal administration and after, we go for the Holy Sacrifice of Mass. The Mass was to start at 7:30pm and it was to be led by Rev. Fr. Moses Ssengonzi.
During Mass, Rev. Fr. Moses told us that he was so grateful to have the retreat and recollection with us and that as he was on his way coming, he brought us a gift and that was a book. This book was called 18 RULES OF MARRIAGE written by Rev. Fr. Dr. Joseph Sserunjogi. In this book there were many stories and every preaching of the Mass he could read us one of the stories and he also explained the meaning of the story.
In the early morning of Saturday, 7th June, 2025, we held a session and after that morning session, senior one, two and three were told to go to the Dining Hall and senior four, five and six were told to remain in the school Chapel. In the Dining Hall, we had three members of the Net Ministries Uganda. And these included; Ms. Kevin, Mr. Ambrose and Mr. Mr. Francis Reggies. The three of them talked of different and important things. Ms. Kevin talked about friendship and relationship where she asked us what love is and what relationships do each one of us have. She told us to make paper planes in order to write what we wanted to have. She told us that she also made one and she had it in her hands. She encouraged us to always have good relationships.
Mr. Ambrose talked of Identity. In his speech, he informed us that “identity was who you are/believe you are.” He asked us about some of the labels that the world places on a girl. He also talked of some of that the teens base their identity on. He mentioned the following; many teens base on popularity or acceptance, academic performance, social media likes and followers and peer approval.
He advised us to understand our identity in Christ. He informed us that, “God knows our personalities, He has also known us before our birth, He understands our strengths, weaknesses, dreams and fears.” He added on that we are set apart, God had a unique purpose for our lives. Mr. Ambrose informed us that we are not defined by the world that the world may label us with various identities but our true identity was found in Christ. He still informed us that when we know who we were, we will stop trying to copy others. He still told us that when we stand in God given identity, we stand in the world for the right REASONS. He concluded by saying that opportunities present themselves but it was us to move forward to pick them.
Lastly came Mr. Francis Reggies who introduced to us a circle of four boxes which he called a quadrant. In this quadrant, we wrote different statements of different meanings.
In the first box of the upper right hand, we wrote “not agent but important”. The left upper tight hand we wrote “Not agent but important.” The right down part we wrote “Urgent and not important.” And lastly the left down part we wrote “Not agent and not important.” All these statements had meanings and examples as I said before. I may not be able to explain all but allow me explain only one which is “Not urgent but important.” This means that there are things that are not urgent but important and we don’t give them time. These things may include; education, bathing, saving, praying and so on and so forth. Education may not be urgent but it is important and praying may not be urgent but is important.
Mr. Francis talked of doing first things first, being proactive and beginning with the end in minds. He truly informed us many things but those are the few.
With time, we had a word from Ms. Anitah who was also a member of Net Ministries Uganda. She narrated to us about her life when she was still young. She informed us that “Forgiveness is more of human but reconciliation is more of divine.” She also said that “There is power in forgiving.” To bring that to light, she was testifying of how forgiveness healed her when she was young. She concluded her speech by encouraging us to forgive whoever wrongs us because being angry at some one who doesn’t know that he/she wronged us my lead to our suffering.
They were actually five members of the Net Ministries Uganda. These were Mr. Ambrose who is an Entrepreneur, Mr. Anthony who is a journalist, Mr. Reggies Francis who is a Nurse, Ms. Anitah an accountant and finally Ms. Kevin who is an Administrator. They were all of professional jobs but working with the Net Ministries Uganda.
Lastly on Sunday 8th June 2025 we had the praise and worship with the Net Ministries Uganda. We also had our last session with Mr. Ambrose and he mainly talked of social media. He said “Social Media weakens our brains.” He truly told us that we should have self control over social media because social media pressures us. He advised us that one must have a phone after finishing form six.
Before we attended Holy Mass which made the climax of our Retreat and Recollection. Every member of the Net Ministries Uganda gave us his/her last word. First was Mr. Anthony who the first to talk to the students and the congregation told us that we should have visions in us where there is no vision people perish. Mr. Ambrose told us that God love us and He will always keep loving us. Mr. Reggies Francis informed us that we should not do anything but do something that will make a purpose. He also informed us four things that we should always remember;
- “Don’t get shy of receiving the sacrament of Penance and Eucharist.”
- “Mind about the friends that you make. Fellowship is important.”
- “Be a service. Always do at least something small to serve God.”
- “Prayer is important and not agent.”
Madam Anitah said that “When you decide to do something, do it until you get it.” Ms. Kevin told us that we are loved, we should go through life knowing that. Finally we had our Holy Sacrifice of Mass led by Rev. Fr. Moses Ssengonzi animated by the Net Ministries Uganda and also the Senior Three class in the choir.
In this Retreat, I got to learn a lot from the members of the Net Ministries Uganda. I believe that I am reborn because they have changed my life. Their words will always ring and be in my mind, heart and soul. Always to encourage me and guide me.
Composed by:
Nakaweesi Denise
Senior One Green
2025 Pink Class
