Prepare a Way in the Wilderness for God

On November 26, 18 community members gathered for a simple yet meaningful time of reflection as we entered into the Advent season. It was a quiet, grace-filled night at the FCJ Centre that gave everyone a chance to slow down and honestly sit with the questions: “Where am I right now?” and “Where do I need God to find me this Advent?”

The session opened with a short prayer and a reflection on the words of St. John the Baptist and the prophet Isaiah, reminders that God meets us in the “deserts” of our lives and gently clears the obstacles that keep us from Him. From bondage to freedom, from pride to discouragement, from complicated paths to the rough edges of the heart, the talk invited everyone to look at their own inner landscape with honesty and hope.

Afterward, everyone spent quiet time in personal prayer: some in the chapel, others in the library, simply listening and letting themselves be found. When the group gathered again, the conversations were warm and thoughtful, touching on the small, practical ways people have prepared for Advent in past years: a few minutes of quiet each morning, lighting the Advent wreath at home, choosing simple acts of kindness, stepping away from distractions, or spending time in the chapel to reset and refocus. These gentle habits, shared from personal experience, became reminders that Advent is often shaped by the quiet choices we make each day.

It was a lovely way to begin Advent: unhurried, reflective, and grounded in the reminder that God always meets us exactly where we are. A big thank you to Fr. Wilbert Chin Jon for leading the community, for his steady presence and the thoughtful insights that helped set the tone for the season.#