Reflection, renewal, and revelry at lawyers’ retreat

Sep 20, 2024

KOTA KINABALU, Sabah: Approximately 40 participants recently gathered for the Catholic Lawyers’ Society of Kuala Lumpur’s annual retreat. This year’s event took place at Kokol Haven Resort, providing a serene escape from city life.

The retreat, themed Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you (Isaiah 43:5), was led by Fr Dr Charles Chiew. It was a joint gathering with participants from the Catholic Doctors’ Association of Malaysia (CDAM), alongside several lawyers from Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei.

The three-day retreat was a combination of serious talks and easy going activities to enable the participants to soak in the relaxed mood of the Retreat at a hilltop resort known for its jungle treks and camping sites besides enhancing their spiritual knowledge with talks about St Thomas More, the Patron St of Lawyers and his exemplary work. In addition to talks about healing thyself from one’s professional career as lawyers/doctors there was also a session on a Catholic lawyer’s role in upholding the faith when faced with questionable tasks/decisions in their profession. Fr Charles emphasised that “Truth Corrects Lies and Distortion” when one’s faith is under attack by other religions and many other aspects.

All the participants who had their respective groups were made to discuss these topics among their group members where many shared personal experiences in which they encountered crossroads where they had to make hard decisions in the course of their career where ethics and their faith was concerned and the lure of wealth and material satisfaction. The retreat master cleverly gave each one the space to discuss all these heavy topics in cosy settings by allowing them to venture out of the designated venue to a more relaxed outdoor setting surrounded by nature and fresh air.

The retreat was also filled with carefree joyous moments of singing and bonding over food and drinks and even a late night karaoke session on Saturday night among the lawyers and doctors who honed their skills and talents taking turns to belt out popular tunes and even do comedy skits for a good laugh. All in all, it was an entertaining and vibrant night with all the participants in good spirits and they even got to try some local delicacies and learn some Sabah traditions.

The last day of the retreat concluded with Mass presided over by Fr Charles and a photo session overlooking the breathtaking landscape of Kokol Haven Resort.

Overall, the retreat was a fulfilling experience, leaving everyone refreshed and energised. Before boarding their flights back to Peninsular Malaysia, participants picked up gifts from the local markets in Sabah for their colleagues, staff, friends, and relatives. --Christina Rachel Param