CV NEWS FEED // Women are reflecting on “finding renewed faith” after attending a weekend retreat called “Bold and Beloved,” hosted by a diocese in Pennsylvania.
The diocese of Scranton, PA hosted the retreat from January 26-28, according to the diocesan news website, and “gave each woman the opportunity to reflect, recharge, and find rest in our Lord.”
The retreat focused especially on the teachings of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and included attending Mass twice, spending time in Eucharistic adoration, and the option of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Sixty-two women attended the retreat, with ages ranging from early twenties to a woman who is 92-years-old. Several mothers and daughters attended together as well.
One parishioner, Anne Jenkins, who attended the retreat said that the women were all “so welcoming,” and that the retreat helped her make many connections she had been hoping for.
Local parishioner Grace Zelinka told the diocesan news site, “There is something beautiful about women coming together. Our culture today seems to almost discourage it. While we’re all different ages and at different places in life, we all have our faith in common and have a lot of the same values.”
Parishioner Theresa Plishka shared that she gave her mother the plan to attend the retreat together as a Christmas present.
“We have a big family and she has a lot of grandkids running around,” Plishka explained, “so I thought it would be nice for both of us to take some time away from the world, the headaches of all the things we have to do. I thought what a great way for both of us to grow in our relationship with each other and our relationship with God.”
Reflecting on the mothers and daughters who attended the retreat together, Scranton Diocesan Director for Discipleship Marianne Guarnieri said, “It has just been really moving to see how those relationships are being blessed by the Lord today.”
Kara Kardell and Fred Shellabarger led the retreat. They are the “founders of Draw Near, a movement that draws people close to Christ and one another through prayer, music, and communal spiritual exercises,” according to the diocesan news site.
Another parishioner, Hannah Halliday, shared that the focus on St. Therese especially helped her grow in her faith.
“I definitely feel that I’ve grown stronger in my faith just in the last couple of days that I’ve been here. I’ve learned so much that I’m going to take home and will encourage my fiancé to join me in strengthening our faith,” Halliday said.
