The Jesus Retreat is based on the three scrutinies as outlined in Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The word scrutiny comes from the Latin scrutari, which means "to search".

"Although man can forget God or reject him, He never ceases to call every man to seek him, so as to find life and happiness. But this search for God demands of man every effort of intellect, a sound will, "an upright heart", as well as the witness of others who teach him to seek God." (Catechism of the Catholic Church - 30)

The scrutinies take place on the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent and use the Gospels from Cycle A for those Sundays. The Gospel readings for those Sundays center on three characters and their relationship/encounter with Jesus Christ. They are the Woman at the Well, the Blind Man and Lazarus. The scrutinies allow each soul to search for God and more importantly, to come to the realization that God, loves and searches for them so that, "whatever is lost can be found, and whatever is found redeemed..." (Cf. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults - 153).

Although the scrutinies are primarily for the unbaptized who are preparing for the Easter Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist they are secondarily for all the baptized who will renew their baptism at Easter. The scrutinies and "The Jesus Retreat" is also ideal for the baptized person who is preparing to be received into the fullness of the Catholic Faith through Confirmation and Eucharist.

Please use the retreat individually or in a group setting.

"The scrutinies are meant to uncover, then heal all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect; to bring out, then strengthen all that is upright, strong and good. For the scrutinies are celebrated in order to deliever the elect from the power of sin and Satan, to protect them against temptation, and to give them strength in Christ, who is the way, the truth, the life..." (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults - 141)

Each of the three sections:
The Living Water
The True Light and
Life & Resurrection
contain 3 or 4 audio or video lessons given by
Msgr. E. James Hart, Fr. Glen Mullan and Matthew Gill.