The Women’s Retreat: A Valuable Opportunity to Connect With God and One Another

As we settle into the new year, the women of our parish can look forward to the opportunity to grow in relationship with God and share in fellowship, as St. Timothy’s hosts a women’s retreat at the end of January. Leading the retreat is Karen May, a Catholic writer and inspirational speaker.

Karen, who hails from Austin, Texas, has a passion for helping others find a true and deep relationship with God.

“My husband was an atheist,” she says. “He was my high school sweetheart and for 10 years, he attended Mass on Sundays with me. He would challenge and question things about the faith. And because he never stopped asking, I had to keep searching for answers. Through that searching, I personally discovered that the Church isn’t just about the rules that it sets — it is about the God who loves you.

“Thanks to this journey of searching for answers to his questions, I found a deep, meaningful and personal relationship with God,” she adds.

Karen’s work of blogging and writing began when she would text encouragements and messages to the students in the youth group that she ran.

“I told them to bring their questions!” she says. “I am not going to give you the answers, but I will tell you where to find them. My mantra is this — ‘I am not going to tell you about Jesus, I am going to introduce you to Him.’”

Karen’s enthusiasm for sharing Jesus with others is palpable.

“God places something on my heart and I just can’t keep it to myself,” she says. “I get to share the Good News — and it IS good news! There are so many things in the world that are telling us there is no good news, but God has given us all this grace. I get to be upfront and deliver this message. I get to see it change people — I can physically see it relieve the stress and anxiety that people carry. I get to be on the front lines of God’s work and I am so grateful for this calling.”

The women’s retreat will take place on Jan. 22 at the Bethany Center, starting at 8 a.m. and ending with Mass at 3 p.m. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. In addition to Karen’s presentation, there will be time for discussion and prayer. All women are welcome. Registration information is located on the parish website at www.sainttims.org — the registration deadline is Jan. 7.

Speaker and author Karen May will be leading our upcoming retreat.