Ten young women from the Sunyani, Techiman and Goaso Dioceses gathered at the Postulancy Community of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word ( SVI) in Abesim from August 28 to 30, 2026 for a three-day vocation retreat.
The Retreat was aimed at helping them listen more deeply to God’s call and discern His will for their lives.
Organized by the SVI Sisters , the Retreat was held under the theme “Openness to God’s Call”, with the guiding Scripture, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10).
It was facilitated by Sr. Rebecca Asante, SVI.
The three-day spiritual journey led the aspirants through three important stages of vocational discernment: God Calls – God’s Loving Invitation; Opening the Heart – Removing Obstacles to God’s Call; and Responding to God’s Call.
On the first day, the participants reflected on the truth that vocation begins with God. Drawing inspiration from Jesus’ words, “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16),
the aspirants were reminded that a vocation is first and foremost God’s loving initiative.
Through the story of Samuel’s call (1 Samuel 3:1–10), they were encouraged to cultivate silence and prayer in order to recognize God’s voice amid the many distractions of contemporary life. Social media, peer influence, personal ambitions, fears and the expectations of others were identified as some of the voices that can make it difficult for young people to hear God clearly.
The second day focused on “opening the heart to God” and confronting the obstacles that can prevent a generous response to His call.
The example of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her words, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38), challenged the aspirants to embrace a faith-filled and unconditional “Yes” to God.
The Retreat also explored common obstacles to vocational discernment, including fear, attachment to family and relationships, comfort, possessions, recognition, personal plans, past wounds and failures, peer pressure and a lack of prayer.
Reflecting on the story of the rich young man in Mark 10:17–22, the aspirants were reminded that Jesus’ invitation to surrender is not a demand meant to deprive them, but an invitation flowing from love.
The final day centered on “responding generously to God’s call, drawing inspiration from Isaiah’s response: “Here I am, Lord. Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).
The aspirants were invited to move beyond simply asking what God can offer them and instead ask, “Lord, what are you asking of me?”
A significant part of the retreat was the opportunity for personal prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, faith sharing, silence and reflection.
The aspirants also wrote personal letters to Jesus, expressing their desires, struggles, hopes and willingness to continue seeking God’s direction for their lives.
The three-day Retreat provided the young women with a sacred space to pause, listen and reflect on the possibility of religious vocation.
It encouraged them to recognize that responding to God’s call is not about having every answer, but about having the courage to trust the One who calls.
As the Retreat concluded, the words of Samuel remained a fitting prayer for the participants: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
For the ten aspirants, the retreat was not simply a three-day programme. It was an invitation to “listen more deeply, open their hearts more fully and courageously respond to wherever God may be leading them.”
By Sr. Rebecca Asante ,SVI (Sister Communicators Network, Ghana-CASCON GH)
