When Karen Schieber attended an ACTS Retreat, she was brought back to her faith after a time of not practicing.
“It was kind of a boost for me to come back to the church,” she says.
That was 12 years ago. Now, we are looking ahead to the ACTS Retreat happening for our very own parish community. We held our women’s ACTS retreat Nov. 16-19 and look forward to the men’s retreat Jan. 11-14. Like the women’s retreat, the upcoming men’s retreat will also be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Camp for a three-night stay.
Some of the components of the retreat will remain a secret until the participants arrive, but there will be adoration, small-group discussions, fellowship, daily Mass, opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and more.
According to the ACTS Retreat website, “An ACTS Retreat is a parish-based event which offers parishioners an opportunity to experience the love of Jesus Christ. This in turn fosters a desire for intentional discipleship.”
Karen says the retreat is an opportunity for fellowship, helping the participants to connect with other parishioners they may not otherwise have gotten to know. It also provides spiritual support in connecting with others of a similar faith journey.
“There are other men and women walking this life, they have spiritual struggles too,” she says.
Taking the weekend away and unplugging to spend time in prayer with other parishioners is a great way to prioritize and enrich our spiritual lives. The retreat is open to all adults in our parish community.
“An ACTS Retreat meets each participant along the path of their personal faith journey,” Karen says. “Whether you are a novice or devout Catholic, some aspect of this retreat will resonate with you and help enrich your experience of God in your life. This is possible because the team is composed of persons on this same faith walk. As they relate their experiences, the variety of ways that God enters is made evident and provides a starting point for self-reflection about our personal journeys.”
The cost for the retreat weekend is $175 and includes food, lodging, and transportation both to and from the retreat center from our parish.
Registration is currently open and more information can be found on www.sfxstillwater.org/event-registration or by contacting Karen at karenschieber@hotmail.com.