Retreat offers spiritual experience for persons with mental disabilities
By Tavia Malone, Globe staff writer
Posted March 28, 2002

Persons with disabilities in the diocese were given the unique opportunity to take part in a special retreat. Two disability retreats were held in Sioux City and Algona during the month of March.

The first retreat was held at the St. Michael Parish Center on March 16 in Sioux City. The second retreat was held in Algona on March 23 in the Knights of Columbus Hall. The retreats involved the same program, but different speakers and volunteers helped coordinate the events at the two locations.

About 70 people attended the retreat in Algona and 50 people went to the Sioux City retreat, coming from Emmetsburg, Burt, Jefferson, Carroll, Lake City, Algona, Rock Valley, Sheldon, Lawton, Cherokee and Sergeant Bluff.

Bev Hurni, program director for adult and family ministries, helped plan the retreats, which have been offered for several years to people with mental disabilities. Members of the Coalition for Ministry with Persons Having Disabilities also helped organize the retreat. Hurni coordinates the coalition, which has 14 diocesan members.

Singing, praying and group projects were all a part of the program at both retreats. "Our theme was 'Opening Doors to Jesus'," Hurni explained.

Every year the disabilities retreat has a few specific goals. The first goal was to help participants realize and appreciate the person who helped open doors to Jesus for them. Another objective was to help the participants become aware of the ways that they can help open doors to others through opening their eyes, their ears and their hearts.

Some of the activities that the retreatants participated in were sing-alongs to the piano and guitar and open mic time. Those willing to tell their personal stories were able to do so during the open mic time. They also could explain their projects that they worked on during the retreat.

"There were two talks and each talk was followed by an activity," said Hurni. Those participating made crafts that helped show how to open their eyes, ears and hearts to Jesus.

"This is the first year that I have helped with the retreat," said Hurni. "It is a wonderful, touching experience."

The only difference between the Algona retreat and the Sioux City retreat was that different people spoke at the sites. In Sioux City, Sister Theresa Jungers spoke and in Algona it was Father Tim Johnson.

Marlene Pietz, a member of the coalition, volunteered at both retreats. "As a member of the coalition, I had a variety of roles," said Pietz. "I worked with the registration table and worked with the participants at mic time."

Pietz has been a member of the coalition for many years and has volunteered at five retreats.

"There is tremendous value to the participants," Pietz said. "It gives them an opportunity to have some experience with religion and with God."

She thought there was even greater value to the volunteers.

"The awareness to the population that volunteers is probably as great a benefit as what we do for the disabled," she said.

Vera Ludwig, another member of the coalition, agreed. Helping out at the Sioux City retreat, she said the experience was valuable to both those with disabilities and for those volunteering.

"The value is for the retreatants to come together and experience God and his love in a warm and accepting environment," said Ludwig. "Also, the volunteers get so much out of it."

Mary Kennedy-Seiler worked as a volunteer at the retreat in Algona. "Father Tim Johnson was the best," said Kennedy-Seiler. "The reason is because he invited the retreatants up with him, and they love that."

Kennedy-Seiler has been involved in 10 other disabilities retreats, and sees many participants year-round.

"I don't think they get the opportunity to express their spiritual needs and I think it is great that they have the opportunity to do that," she said.

Overall, director Hurni felt that both retreats were a success.

"Both the participants and the volunteers to have a greater awareness that we are loved by God and by other people," she said. "There is a greater awareness of the unique gifts people offer to our community of faith."