Retreat focuses on caring touch
By RENEE WEBB
Globe associate editor
Posted May 23, 2002

OKOBOJI - Participants at a retreat for directors of  religious education (DREs), youth ministers and pastoral ministers had a touching experience.

Sponsored by the Office of Religious Education and Youth Ministry in the Diocese of Sioux City, "Getting in Touch with the Sacred in Our Lives" enabled them to get in touch with a different aspect of their faith.

Linda Anderson and Pat Rinker of the diocesan office called it a time of pause, prayer and reflection.

Eighteen people registered for the retreat that was held at Camp Okoboji May 13-14.

"The overnight gathering that we offer in August is more information, an inservice," noted Anderson. "The focus of this retreat is more spiritual, more nurturing."

Sister Karen Thein, a School Sister of Notre Dame, facilitated the retreat centered on touch. She has served in Hispanic ministry for the past 12 years, including work at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City and has a missionary background with 15 years in Guatemala. Presently, she is pastoral minister in a bilingual parish in Worthington, Minn.

"The retreat offered a holistic experience of prayer touch, good touch," explained Rinker. "As Catholics, we are sacramental people and all of our sacraments are full of signs that appeal to the five senses. Touch is in almost all of our sacraments in form or another."

They combined prayer with dance and learned how to give hand massages. Sister Karen offered foot massages. It struck the diocesan youth minister as something Jesus did for his apostles at the Last Supper.

"We need that, especially at a time when you here about other things in our society," said Rinker. "Right now in the church environment we have, people are afraid of touch. Good touch winds up getting thrown away - a pat on the back or a reassuring touch on the shoulder. People are now afraid to do this and that is a tragedy."

Anderson pointed out that while it appears to be a new concept today, the importance of healthy, healing touch is quite old as it comes from Jesus.

Scripture readings focused on touch, especially references relating to how Jesus touched others.

Sister Karen has participated in different "Care Through Touch" courses. Her passion lies in sacred movement through circle dances. She uses her prayerful touch in prisons, hospitals and nursing homes.

She finds this to be a way to expand her ministry.

Kathy White, DRE at Sacred Heart Church in Spencer, said the retreat offered time for her to pamper herself and focus on her own spirituality.

She pointed out that they work all year long at giving adults and youth opportunities to grow in their faith life. This retreat helped her focus on her own faith life. Also, she found the sharing and fellowship with other DREs and youth ministers was invaluable - ideas were exchanged and connections made.

"I learned that touch can bring a person healing, and at the same time open him or her up for sharing about their life. I've already used what I have learned with my children. They look forward to a massage as a way of

relaxing before bed. It has already become part of our bed-time ritual," said White.

Along with the new experience of prayerful touch, many of the participants found value in having time for sharing with others in their profession.

"The retreat was very well received," said Anderson. "One DRE, when she left the retreat, said she felt very pampered. I think they were really nourished."