[✨Leader Retreat] Go forth as salt and light, carrying the grace I had received in Naju into the world.

Retreat Report – 1st International Leaders’ Retreat of 

Mary’s Ark of Salvation 2026

Being part of the 1st International Leaders’ Retreat of Mary’s Ark of Salvation 2026 was a blessing beyond words. For me, it was not just an event, but a sacred milestone in my spiritual journey.

Under the theme “Stepping into the Holy City of God,” I felt as though I was being personally invited to walk deeper into God’s promise.

Gathering with leaders from across the world filled me with awe and gratitude. I witnessed how faith and mission united us, and how discernment was deepened through prayer, sharing, and reflection. Each day unfolded like a pilgrimage of the heart revealing new graces, teachings, and spiritual experiences that touched me personally.

This retreat became a turning point: I left with renewed commitment, a clearer sense of God’s call, and a profound peace knowing that I am walking together with others in the light of His eternal promise.

Day 1 – January 15
Theme: “Mama Mary – I am here!”

From the very moment I stepped into the Naju Chapel, I felt a profound awareness of Our Lady’s presence surrounding me. It was as though Mama Mary herself whispered into my heart, “I am here.”

Entering the Holy City of God, I was deeply touched by the unity of faith and mission shared among us. This retreat was not just another gathering—it became for me a sacred pilgrimage, a journey of grace and renewal.


What moved me most was Mama Julia’s loving gift, the Blessed Mountain Blanket. As it was shared, I felt it symbolized more than warmth and protection—it carried the tender embrace of Mama Mary herself, wrapping me and each participant in her maternal love. In that moment, I experienced peace, reassurance, and a deeper conviction that we were truly under her mantle of grace.

Day 2 – January 16
Theme: “What is Naju?”

The history of the Naju Chapel deeply moved me, once a dumping ground of rejection and waste, now transformed into a sanctuary of prayer, healing, and hope. This transformation became a living parable of redemption, teaching that God’s grace flourishes even in forgotten places. 

Presentations by Sr Stella opened the mysteries of the Blessed Mother’s Mountain and revealed the embrace of Mary’s Ark of Salvation—wider than the universe itself. 

Mama Julia’s humble life mirrored this truth, showing that struggles can become channels of blessing. The Chapel reminded all that hope rises from neglect and faith renews lives surrendered to God.

Day 3 – January 17
Theme: “General Assembly”

During the General Assembly, I felt a deep sense of responsibility as leaders gathered to deepen our understanding of Naju and to address the misunderstandings surrounding it.

What struck me most was that this was not a place of argument or division, but a sacred space of dialogue, prayer, and unity. As we listened and shared, I experienced clarity and discernment, realizing that truth is best sought together, with humility before God.

On this day, I recognized that I was living out the Spirituality of Unity with the Lord—choosing to listen with love, to set aside personal judgments, and to seek harmony in the Body of Christ. At the same time, I also practiced the Spirituality of Turning My Daily Life into Prayer, because every word spoken, every thought offered, became a prayer for peace and understanding.

This encounter reminded me that the Five Spiritualities are not abstract teachings, but living practices. In the assembly, I saw how unity, prayer, and humility can transform misunderstandings into opportunities for growth and renewal.

Day 4 – January 18
Theme: “Who is Mama Julia?”

On this day, the retreat became deeply personal for me as we explored the life of Mama Julia, prepared by the Lord in such extraordinary yet humble ways.

Visiting Bong’s spring, the simple Sugang apartment, and the Beauty Parlor where Mama Mary wept tears, I was struck by the depth of her journey. Each place carried its own story of suffering, humility, and divine encounter, and walking through them allowed me to feel her life not as distant history, but as a living testimony.

I realized that holiness does not always shine in grand or perfect settings—it often emerges from ordinary, painful realities where God’s grace quietly transforms weakness into strength. Experiencing these places made me appreciate Mama Julia’s sacrifices more deeply, and I felt grateful for the
way her life continues to guide us toward faith, perseverance, and love.

Day 5 – January 19
Theme: “Carry My Cross with the Five Spiritualities”

At this stage of the retreat, I felt deeply moved as the mysteries of the Attic Room were unveiled before me. Learning how Mama Julia lived in solitude for 20 years, including 7 years of seclusion, touched me profoundly.

Her hidden sufferings were no longer just a story I heard—they became a living testimony that spoke directly to my heart, showing me what it truly means to carry the Cross with love.

Fr. Alex’s talk on confession struck me personally. I realized that true renewal in my own life cannot come from outward devotion alone, but must begin with repentance, humility, and reconciliation with God. This encounter reminded me that the Cross is not a burden to fear, but a path of love and transformation when embraced with faith

Day 6 – January 20
Theme: “Five Spiritualities Activities”

Five Spiritualities in Action This day of the retreat was filled with joy and meaning as I personally experienced the Five Spiritualities in action. Through meditation on the messages of love emphasised by Fr Su and reflection on the Secret of Heaven, I felt my heart drawn closer to God. Even the simple activity of making sandwiches became more than a task—it was transformed into prayer, reminding me that daily acts can be offered with love.

What surprised me most was how even the games we played carried a spiritual dimension, teaching me that holiness is not confined to solemn moments but can be woven into ordinary life with creativity and joy. In living these moments, I realized that the Five Spiritualities are not just teachings to remember, but practices that can shape every part of my life.

Day 7 – January 21
Theme: “Leaders to Become Salt and Light of the World!”

As the retreat reached its culmination, I was deeply moved during the commissioning. It was not simply a closing ceremony, but a personal call to go forth as salt and light, carrying the grace I had received in Naju into the world.

The seven-day journey did not feel like an ending; rather, it awakened in me a new beginning—a mission to embody hope, faith, and love in my daily life. I realized that my task is to let God’s light shine through me, transforming brokenness into blessing and becoming a witness of His love wherever I am sent.

Mama Julia, with her boundless generosity and nurturing spirit, presented us with a gift of “Fragrant Oil and Phenomena” wrapped in a small piece of cotton, along with Rosary beads. I received these gifts with joy and gratitude, knowing they would bring blessings to my family and me.

To my amazement, the cotton later bore the holy sign of blood stains, though when I first received it there had been none. Likewise, the Rosary beads seemed ordinary at first, but as I held them tightly in my palm, they left dark, oil-like stains and released a rich fragrance of roses. These signs filled me with awe and deepened my faith.

✨It had long been my prayer to personally witness the rainbow and the fragrant oil that others had shared, and though I had not seen them before, this encounter became my own testimony of grace!🎉


What touched me even more was Mama Julia’s presence. Despite the excruciating pain she suffers daily, she made sure to be physically present during the retreat. She appeared three times, embracing each and every one of us with motherly love. Her sacrifice and tenderness reminded me that true leadership is not only about words, but about living witness—giving of oneself fully, even in suffering, to
bring others closer to God.


This retreat was far more than a simple gathering—it became for me a true pilgrimage of the heart.

From the first moment of sensing Mama Mary’s presence, through the unveiling of the mysteries of Naju, into the lived witness of Mama Julia, and finally into the commissioning call to mission, I felt each day building upon the last in a profound journey of grace.

What unfolded was not merely a program, but a living tapestry of faith, hope, and love that touched me deeply and will continue to guide my steps long after leaving the Holy City of God - Naju. I came to realize in a very personal way that God’s grace transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, and that by walkingin humility and obedience, I too can become a bearer of His light in the world.

By: Rita A. Simer