When was the last time you truly paused, let go of your daily worries, and simply listened to where God is leading you?

We arrived there carrying the bustle of city life, unanswered questions, and daily fatigue. Steyl, however, has an immediate way of slowing the heart. What we found in the quiet halls, in the sacred spaces, and the life of St. Arnold Janssen was a profound reminder of what it truly means to answer God’s call with courage and humility. We were gently invited to step back, let go, surrender and listen to the quiet promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Walking through the motherhouse of the SVD, one cannot help but be moved by the spirit of Ora et Labora – prayer and work, woven into daily life. St. Arnold faced countless uncertainties, doubts, and limited resources when he founded the mission house. Yet, he persevered, teaching us that when an endeavor is truly the will of God, the Lord will provide the companions and means to sustain it. From printing mission stories to finding creative ways to support the work, his life showed us that we do not need to have everything to begin; we simply need to start with what we have and let God bless and multiply our humble offering.

Throughout our retreat-pilgrimage, our shared journey deepened. Kneeling in prayer at the tomb of St. Arnold Janssen in the crypt of St. Michael’s was a deeply moving encounter with the divine. In that sacred stillness, we laid down our personal intentions and prayers, drawing inspiration from his life of unwavering faith and total surrender to Divine Providence. Reflecting on the Trinitarian and Missionary Spirituality reminded us that God constantly reaching out to our hearts with love, sustained not by rewards, but by sacrifice and genuine concern for others.

Our encounters with the two other religious congregations founded by St. Arnold brought these spiritual lessons vividly to life. We first visited the SSpS (Blue Sisters), whose missionary spirit and life together gave us a real picture of unity in diversity. Later, our visit to the SSpSAP (Pink Sisters) became one of the most comforting highlights of our journey. Talking with them in their parlor, they reassured us not to worry and reminded us that each of us is deeply beloved and special in God’s eyes – felt like a direct embrace from the Lord.