Save The Date For Our Upcoming Faith Community Retreat On Feb. 26: Stewardship Starts At Home

Looking for a little spiritual renewal? We have an outstanding one-day retreat coming up on Feb. 26. It is open to all parishioners and guests of St. Donatus, St. Alexius, St. Francis de Sales, Sts. Peter and Paul, Our Lady of the Angels, and St. Paul’s. Since Ash Wednesday is the following week, our annual retreat will be a wonderful way to springboard into Lent.

Lisa McArdle, a friend of Fr. Greg’s and member of Catholic Stewardship Consultants, will be the featured speaker. Her theme for the day is “Stewardship Starts at Home!”

Lisa will present spiritual thoughts and practical tips on four topics: “Stewardship: a Family Call,” “Living as a Stewardship Family,” “Bring it to the Lord,” and “The Four Family Pillars.” Along with time for quiet reflection and opportunity for small-group discussion, it promises to be a day of growing in faith.

Speaking of growing, parishioner Cele Gamradt has increased in faith at several previous annual retreats. She found each retreat experience to be enriching, spiritual, and a valuable opportunity for fellowship.

For Cele, having the chance to grow in faith, understanding, stewardship, and community is a true blessing.

“I love that interaction with other people,” Cele says. “Sometimes, it’s people who grew up with my kids who I haven’t seen in years, and we kind of reinforce each other’s faith. We pray with and for each other.

“Now we have an ACC of six parishes and it puts us in contact with other people in our parish communities,” she continues. “It also puts you in contact with people who have a different perspective. And sometimes your fellow parishioners have an answer to a question you didn’t have an answer to.

“A retreat offers such a wonderful spiritual resource, whether it’s praying for priests or learning about a certain saint,” she adds. Cele recognizes that, outside of Mass, the busyness of our modern-day lives can get in the way of making a spiritual pilgrimage or engaging on a deeper level with our faith.

Lisa McArdle of Catholic Stewardship Consultants will be the featured speaker on Feb. 26, with the theme “Stewardship Starts at Home.”

“A lot of us are busy with our work lives,” she says. “We don’t get a chance to go on pilgrimages, and if you can’t, then a retreat is a great way to do that.” Even if you’ve never attended a retreat in the past and are unsure about what to expect, Cele offers encouragement to all members of our ACC who are thinking about attending the “Stewardship Starts at Home” retreat. “It can only increase your faith — it can only help you,” she says. “It’s just such a nice, refreshing exercise for your soul. People are so busy — they run, walk, go to the gym. So, this is an exercise for your faith, for your soul. It keeps you close to God and close to Jesus.”

Our upcoming parish community retreat on Feb. 26 will bring together the members of our faith community for a time of spiritual renewal, reflection and adoration.

The upcoming retreat will offer a valuable opportunity for our faith community to engage in spiritual reflection and fellowship.

As usual, including lunch, there is no cost for the annual retreat. To RSVP or for more information, parishioners should refer to upcoming parish bulletins, check the website www.parishesontheprairie.org, or call their parish office.