Diocese sponsors retreat for adults focused on grace

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
January 6, 2004

Wrapped in the Warmth of God's Love is the name of a retreat that the Diocese of Sioux City will hold later this month.

According to Bev Hurni, director of adult and family ministries, the diocese had two things in mind when it planned this retreat.

"We wanted to offer an experience for people to have a time for reflection and spiritual growth," she said. "We are also welcoming parish teams to come and experience the retreat and then the same retreat in their parish or cluster."

The retreat, which is slated for Jan. 23, will be held at Sacred Heart Church in Early.

Hurni will facilitate the retreat with Kari Brown of Storm Lake and Kay Morrissey of Sioux City.

"As we come to the retreat, we will examine what is our definition of grace and where it came from," noted Hurni. "Is it something we learned in childhood? We will unpack that idea and talk about grace being something that is already present; that it's God's love rather than something we earn."

The afternoon will include three talks, time for personal reflection, small group sharing and large group prayer. Midway through the retreat, there will be a break featuring soup and bread.

"This seems to be a time in our church and in our world when we need hope," said Hurni. "I think what gives people hope is God's grace and God's presence."

She pointed out that the diocese has held this type of model retreat for a number of years. She recommended that two to four individuals from a particular parish or cluster attend the retreat if they plan to offer it on the local level.

Parish packets are available if teams plan to offer the retreat at the local level. These packets include master copies of the reflections, prayer sheet and talks.

The retreat could be offered to a general parish audience or could be presented to a particular group or club within a parish or cluster.

While this retreat can be offered at any time of the year, she is aware that several parishes or clusters plan to present it during Lent.

Deadline to register is Wednesday, Jan. 12. Cost of the retreat is $5, including the soup. Flyers about the retreat have been sent to parishes. To register by e-mail (and then pay at the door) do so at sandiw@scdiocese.org or call (712) 233-7530.

The snow date is the following week, Jan. 30.