In the Silence, We Found Strength

May 20 to 25, 2026 | Mirador, Jesuit Villa and Retreat House, Baguio City

There are moments in ministry when the most important thing we can do is stop.

To pause from the noise. To step away from the demands of daily work. To listen more deeply to the voice of God that often speaks in silence.

From May 20 to 25, 2026, 38 PJPS staff, volunteers, and benefactors gathered at Mirador, Jesuit Villa and Retreat House in Baguio City for the PJPS Staff and Volunteers' Annual Retreat 2026. Participants took part in either a five day or three day silent retreat, creating sacred space for prayer, reflection, rest, and discernment.

For people whose mission is to accompany others through pain, loss, uncertainty, and hope, stepping away from active service is never easy. Yet this retreat reminded us that caring for the soul is not separate from the mission. It is essential to it.

Guided by spiritual directors from the Center for Ignatian Spirituality, the Religious of the Virgin Mary, and Fr. Willy Samson, SJ, participants entered into a journey of encounter with God through silence. Away from schedules, meetings, and responsibilities, everyone was invited to simply be present.

The experience became an opportunity to rediscover the source of the compassion and commitment that fuel the work of prison ministry.

In the quiet moments of prayer, many found clarity.

In stillness, many found healing.

In silence, many encountered God's gentle invitation to continue serving with renewed purpose and love.

Retreats like these are powerful reminders that ministry begins with a relationship with God. Before we can accompany others, we must first allow ourselves to be accompanied. Before we can offer hope, we must allow our own hearts to be renewed by grace.

The annual retreat is not merely an event on the calendar. It is a sacred gift that strengthens the people behind the mission. It nurtures the hearts of those who walk alongside persons deprived of liberty, their families, and communities seeking healing and transformation.

As we return to our ministries, we carry with us a deeper sense of gratitude, renewed energy, and a stronger commitment to serve with compassion and dignity.

We are grateful to the Center for Ignatian Spirituality, the Religious of the Virgin Mary, and Fr. Willy Samson, SJ, for generously sharing their time, wisdom, and spiritual guidance. Their accompaniment helped create an environment where hearts could rest, reflect, and respond more freely to God's call.

Every life touched through PJPS is connected to a community of supporters, volunteers, and benefactors who believe in the power of faith, healing, and transformation. Your generosity allows us to form and sustain those who dedicate their lives to this mission.

Together, we can continue building a culture of hope, one transformed heart at a time.

Support the mission of PJPS and help us continue serving with compassion, dignity, and faith.

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