2017 Lenten Retreat – Finding Joy

Friday, Feb. 24, 2017

SAINT GEORGE — A Lenten retreat that will challenge its participants to take a hard look at their hearts and at their lives will be presented March 25 in St. George Parish. 

“The retreat is based on the writings of Pope Francis regarding growing in our relationship to Christ through growing in prayer, overcoming lukewarmness and gossip, making an examen of our heart and practicing humility,” said Mary Le-Baron, president of the Southwest Deanery of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, which is sponsoring the retreat.

The retreat will focus on three aspects of Lenten practice. 

The first part will involve learning about, evaluating and examining one’s life to determine if you are living as Christ lived, she said. 

Another aspect of the retreat will be focused on the participants taking an examen, or a reflection or moral evaluation, of their lives and daily conduct, she said.

One negative aspect she hopes the participants can move away from with the help of this examen is the tendency to gossip, LeBaron said. “We will learn about the types of injury that gossip can cause.”

The third part of the retreat will be about “developing a sense of humility,” she said.

But even though it’s Lent, the retreat won’t be all doom and gloom, she said. 

“It will be positive, not focusing on, ‘I failed here, here and here,’” LeBaron said. The retreat focuses on seeing where participants did well as examples of Christ and using that as a springboard to help them learn to do more good in their daily lives, avoiding being just a lukewarm Christian, she said.

Each of the three topics will be addressed by a different speaker. 

Donna Rish, a parishioner of St. George Catholic Church, will speak on gossip and lukewarm Christianity, and how to avoid these spiritual pitfalls. 

Holy Cross Sister Yvonne Hatt of Christ the King Parish will speak about taking an examen of a person’s spiritual life. 

Carole Drake, director of stewardship and engagement at St. George Catholic Church, will speak on humility and how to use it to be a more welcoming person to friends and strangers alike.

Though the retreat is geared toward Catholic women, men are welcome to attend, LeBaron said.

“It is my personal belief that [Catholics] need to build our faith,” she said. “That we shouldn’t become stagnant, that we continue to grow in our faith.” 

The three parts that the retreat will cover “are areas that many people have trouble in,” LeBaron said, and that everyone can take something important away from “Finding Joy.”

Presenters: Donna Rish, Carole Drake and Holy Cross Sister Yvonne Hatt

WHEN: Saturday, March 25, beginning at 9 a.m.

WHERE: St. George Catholic Church’s Kuzy Hall, 259 West 200 North, St. George

COST: Free; free will donations will be accepted.

For information or to register, call Mary LeBaron, 435-632-1572.