Retreat for deacons’ wives focuses on using talents

Friday, Oct. 13, 2023

During the Oct. 6-8 deacons’ retreat held at the Provo Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, which was led by Bishop Oscar A. Solis, a few hours were set aside for the wives of the deacons to gather for their own retreat. Carol Ruddell, a member of St. Thomas More Parish and a lay ecclesial minister of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, led “In the Midst Women’s Retreat.”

During this time, the women discussed several questions centering around the themes of “Where is God in my everyday?” and “What talent has God given to me to build the body of Christ?”

Each day of a person’s life is filled with joys, struggles, interactions and even the mundane, Ruddell said, then asked where is God in the midst of everyday lives. “Where do we meet God?  How does he meet us?  How do we bring God into the midst of others to build the body of Christ?” she asked. 

The women were invited to create a list of the things they do every day, and also  things they do every week or month. They then were asked to group the things on their lists into categories: Those that included people, those that were challenging or that the women struggled with, those that were joyful and those that were everyday or mundane. 

 Ruddell then asked the women whether they invite Jesus into these moments, and to consider the times that they don’t invite Jesus in.  “We are strong, independent and stubborn, and want to take care of things ourselves,” she said. “When do we invite Jesus in?  When do we forget to?”

The women also were asked to consider the talents God has given them  and how they use them to build the body of Christ.