Divine Experiences of Power 2008

My spiritual desire as I went to the Divine Retreat Centre was to “experience the love of God through Jesus.” I just wanted to rest and let Him talk to me. I had to take a lot of time to convince myself that God would speak to me.

Previously I used to say prayers. But sometimes after all the prayers that I make I would still feel empty. Dryness. And even the things I pray for become worse. So, I used to get angry with God. I have attended other youth retreats in my country of origin, during the retreat I used to feel that Jesus is very close to me. But after a couple of days, I go back again to the same bad habits.

Despite all these I was consoled by the words of introduction given during the retreat: “No one has come here by chance, God brought you here and He has something for you.” As days went by, I kept praying within myself: “Be still and know that I am God.”

Today as I am writing this message I can feel from within that I am a new person. There is no way I can explain this. The struggle of my sexual desires, negative aspects in my family, my personal defects have different meaning now. The true satisfaction comes from Jesus. It is not that everything has changed from bad to good, but I know I am not alone. He makes all things new, in His time! I keep on focusing on Him in my personal prayer. In general, the “Divine trip” has helped me to renew my Christian faith and focus on Jesus.

Mr Prosper Dionis, Tanzania


It is true that I spent the first two days in the Divine Retreat Centre just wandering around and trying to be familiar with the surroundings and the people. But as time went by I was able to get into the mood of the retreat and make it a touching experience.

I felt that Jesus needs me the way I am even with my difficulties and challenges.

I remember the time when the Blessed Sacrament was placed in front of me, I felt the need for me to go to Jesus because He was there waiting for me… and I heard him telling me that all will be well.

Since the Power 2008 I am happy and calm, working hard to reach my goals in life, focused on Jesus as the centre of everything in my life. My days at the Divine have also deepened my devotion to Mary. So I pray the rosary more often. I call on the name of Jesus as many times as possible!

Miss Neema Mtui, Tanzania

There are many things that form part of my experience in Divine Retreat Centre – Power 2008:

1. I learnt how to be close to the Holy Spirit in every aspect of my life – problems, situations and decisions;
2. The spirit has enabled me to be a man of prayer. Since Power 2008, I find it good to attend daily mass. Prayer moments help me personalize all the religious instructions that I receive in different ways.
3. Fasting on Thursday of the week of Power 2008 has enabled me to continue with weekly fasting, and to receive many spiritual gifts.

I thank the Divine Retreat centre for these new developments in my life. I thank God who loves me unconditionally.

Mr Alexander Mndanga, Tanzania


First of all, I was surprised by the multitude of youth that participated in the Power 2008. It made me feel that there is something unusual taking place at the Divine Retreat Centre. The welcoming atmosphere was awesome. I felt I was in the presence of God. It was my first time to see such a big number of youth thirsting for God and searching for Him. Yes, God was to be found at the centre and I must find Him too.

I came to the centre so angry and bitter with so many people who had offended me. I was not able to cope any more. I was just sheltering myself and shedding tears. Forgiveness was a difficult thing for me. There came a moment of reconciliation when Fr Augustine took us through our life. I discovered that I had so much bitterness in me and that I had to forgive. As we went through all that, I was shedding tears. It is only after letting go of the bitterness that I felt relieved; I felt the presence of God in me; I felt forgiven and so I had to forgive. Yes, that was the most important moment of my retreat. That is what I value most of all. I understood that injustice is a bad thing but at the same time I have to let go of all bitterness, and also to learn from that bad experience.

Fr Maina Kirigwi, SDB, Kenya


This was my second International Youth Congress at the Divine Retreat Centre. I thank God that during the Power 2007 I had a personal experience of Jesus, the Son of God! Since then my life is different. My ministry as a Religious priest is different.

I wanted others to experience the same. So with the help of Mr Tony Miranda, we planned to bring a team of youth from Tanzania to the Power 2008.

Personally, Power 2008 was a deepening of my experience of last year. This time the Holy Spirit was becoming more realistic and experiential for me. As a priest, what I see happening in the Divine Retreat Centre not only challenges me but also empowers me in my ministry among young people as a missionary in Africa.

What struck me this time also was the number of Hindu young people who had found Jesus at the Divine Retreat Centre. For me “Potta” is a phenomenon in the history of primary evangelization (ad gentes) and in what Pope John Paul II called, New Evangelization.

Fr Sahaya G. Selvam, SDB, Indian missionary in Tanzania past 16 years.