Priests Donate Blood During Annual Retreat, Turning Faith into Action

The annual retreat of the priests of the Diocese of Kuzhithurai, South India, turned into a remarkable act of faith and solidarity when the participants, inspired by the Passion of Christ, came together to donate blood, a symbolic expression of their commitment to self-giving and service.

Held from October 19 to 24 at the SPARC Retreat Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, the retreat was led by Fr. Jerry, SJ, a Jesuit known for his inspiring spiritual reflections. The week-long retreat provided a time of prayer, silence, and renewal for the clergy, deepening their understanding of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice.

Faith in Action: Blood Donation as a Symbol of Christ’s Sacrifice

Moved by meditations on the Passion and the Blood of Christ, the priests initiated a meaningful outreach during the retreat. On October 23, the St. Xavier’s Catholic Multispecialty Hospital of the Diocese of Kuzhithurai, in collaboration with the Jubilee Memorial Hospital of the Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram, organized a blood donation camp for retreat participants.

The initiative drew inspiration from Jesus’ words at the Last Supper: “This is my blood, shed for you and for all.”

Bishop Albert Anastas, Bishop of Kuzhithurai, who also personally donated blood, described the event as a symbolic act of sacrifice that reflects the retreat’s theme and the call to live the Gospel in tangible ways.

“Our Lord gave His life for humanity. Donating blood is a small but meaningful way of participating in that self-giving love. It is my hope that this gesture becomes a model for other dioceses,” Bishop Anastas said.

The retreat, conducted in two batches, saw 52 priests participating in the first session, many of whom joined the blood donation as a personal act of faith.

‘The Pain of One Becomes the Gain of Another’

In his reflections, Fr. Jerry, SJ, invited the priests to contemplate the Way of the Cross and to live the Eucharistic spirit of Christ’s self-offering.

“The pain of one becomes the gain of another,” he said. “Jesus’ suffering brought life to all humanity. Donating blood is a sacred act through which others may live because of our sacrifice.”

He emphasized that “blood is a free gift from God, given to us so that we may give life to others.” Fr. Jerry urged the participants to see the act not only as charity but as a Eucharistic gesture, a reflection of Jesus’ self-giving love made visible through concrete action.

A Transformative Experience

For many priests, the experience was deeply personal and transformative.

Fr. Arokia Joes admitted that he had never donated blood before and had always been afraid of it.

“After listening to Fr. Jerry’s reflections, I felt inspired. While donating, I experienced a deep peace and joy, realizing that my blood could help someone live. I have now decided to continue donating blood regularly,” he said.

Fr. Michael Aloysius echoed a similar sentiment, saying, “During His earthly life, Jesus healed the sick and gave life to those who had lost it. By donating blood, I felt that I was sharing, in a small way, in His life-giving mission.”

A Model for Service and Synodality

As the retreat concluded, Bishop Anastas expressed gratitude for the spirit of unity and compassion among the priests. He said the initiative embodied the true meaning of synodality, walking together in faith and service.

“This is what it means to live our priesthood meaningfully, to offer ourselves for others, just as Christ did,” he said.

The unique gesture turned what is usually a private spiritual exercise into a public witness of faith in action, reminding all that priestly life is not only about prayer and reflection but also about the willingness to give, even to the point of sharing one’s own blood for others.