Experience weekend offers spiritual growth and focus

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
January 29, 2004

STORM LAKE - Men and women, 18 years or older, of any faith are invited to attend a Christian Experience Weekend (CEW) at St. Mary's School in Storm Lake.

One weekend, Feb. 13-15, will be a women's weekend, and another, Feb. 27-29, will be a men's weekend. On the women's weekend, the speakers will mainly be women. During the men's weekend, the speakers will mainly be men. Other than that, the two weekends will have the same format.

The CEW is an intense, adult renewal weekend. It is a predominately Catholic based weekend and will include talks by lay people, discussion in small groups, various prayer services and religious experiences, a communal penance service and Mass on Saturday and Sunday.

"It is a spiritual walk with men and women who are looking to expand their spiritual side or their Christian side, especially as we prepare for Lent," said Kathi Benz, a team member and teacher at St. Mary's School in Storm Lake. "It's a nice time to refocus and regroup ourselves and get back to the Lord.

"The main message will be that God surrounds us, and we are called to be his hands, feet, eyes and all the parts that need to be done. In doing this weekend we realize again that this is our calling and we have a job to do in our world - to do God's work."

The weekend begins with registration at 7 p.m. on Friday and closes on Sunday at 4 p.m. A team of lay people, priests, deacons and/or sisters from the Waterloo, Iowa area of the Dubuque Diocese will come to conduct the weekend. This will be the first CEW in the Diocese of Sioux City.

"I think it gives us an experience of what Christian community can and should be," said Sharon Weber, member of the planning team. "It's a gathering together of different age groups and backgrounds and discovering a common thread in God. It is also ecumenical. We have people of other faiths who make the CEW and become good friends. We see more our likeness than our difference."

The weekends will be at in St. Mary's School and sleeping accommodations will be provided there as well. Attendees are required to bring their own bedding and toiletries.

The cost of the weekend is $35, which includes meals, handouts and everything else that goes along with the weekend. A registration form needs to be filled out and returned, preferably, in advance to the weekend. Registration forms are available from Benz, St. Mary's School, 312 Seneca St., Storm Lake, IA 50588.