2021–2022 Annual Report
SPIRITUAL FORMATION:
Reflecting on the
Work of God R E V. M R . M I C H A E L N U G E N T ’ 2 3 , D I O C E S E O F A R L I N G TO N
Josemaría Escrivá, the twentieth-century Spanish saint and founder of Opus Dei, once related how he observed fishermen dragging their boat onto shore after a day’s work. Slowly marching up the sandy banks, the men were pulling heavy ropes connected to the boat laden with nets full of fish. Greeting them from the shore was a boy who was keen to help with this exciting task. With great forbearing, the men allowed the boy to join in. At times, the boy was truly contributing and pulled the ropes in the right direction. At other times, the boy—despite his eagerness to help—was comically in the way and even seemed to be working against forward progress! Delighted with the child’s joyful presence, the patient fishermen did not mind. Of course, it was the men’s efforts that were the predominant cause of the boats finally coming ashore.
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The Pontifical North American College
