Diocesan retreat centers on grace

By JULIE KEANE, Globe staff reporter
February 3, 2005

Wrapped in the Warmth of God's love, a recent adult retreat offered in the diocese, gave participants a chance to reflect on various topics of their life and their faith during an afternoon of guided talks and group discussion.

"We spent the day with a mixture of talks and we also had time for individual reflection to let God speak to their hearts," said Bev Hurni, director of adult and family ministries. "Then they shared their reflection in small groups. We concluded the day with prayer."

Hurni said about 40 people from throughout the diocese attended the retreat at Sacred Heart in Early on Jan. 23. Hurni,, along with Kay Morrissey and Cary Brown, were the team members that led the afternoon retreat.

The three women explored and discussed the book "A New Look at Grace," by Bill Huebsch. The team read the book and picked out key points to share in the talks that might be helpful to other people.

"One of the ideas we talked about was that grace is already in us and is not something we achieve," Hurni said. "We need to take holy pauses to get in touch with that grace."

Morrissey, Hurni and Brown all spoke during the retreat about the overall theme, Wrapped in the Warmth of God's Love. Afterwards participants had time to reflect on their own lives and share personal experiences with others.

During Hurni's talk, she discussed the importance of clothing in Scripture. One important point she made was the significance of baptismal garments and how those garments identify Catholics as followers of Christ.

"I began talking about clothing and when we walk down the street and see what others are wearing, we often make judgments," Hurni said. "I talked about how different places have requirements about what can and can't be worn. Clothing gives us a clue about our identity. If we then look at Scripture and when clothing is mentioned we can assume there is a deeper meaning."

During Brown's talk, she discussed the importance of holy pauses and how people can take those pauses throughout the day to be still and let God speak to them. Morrissey gave an introductory talk and she gave the final talk.

Jean and Sid Durham of Spencer were among those who attended the retreat. Jean said the retreat acted as a renewal opportunity for her.

"This was a chance for me to explain where I had come from with my feelings of grace," said Jean Durham. "I was of the era where I was not taught of the warmth and love of God, I was taught the fear of God. I have taught CCD and adult religious education for 20 years. I certainly knew along the way, that the thinking was wrong. This was an opportunity to share with others. I came away with the feelings was as adults at our table that we have all gotten away from the feelings of fear and have gotten to know the warmth and love of God. I appreciated the fact that people took the time to do this."

Richard Port, parishioner from St. Patrick's in Akron, said the retreat pointed out the importance of spending time alone with God.

"A prominent message was to spend plain quiet time with the Lord," said Port. "We are in such a busy time with our life styles, we assume the Lord is going to pop in and give us the answers we need. Sometimes we need to take the time to pause our life styles so our brains can go into a listening mode and not a multitasking mode."

Some participants took an information packet back to their parishes that would help them host their own retreat. Hurni encourages anyone wanting to receive a packet to contact the Office of Adult and Family Ministries at (712) 233-7531.

"I hope that they were inspired and had a new awareness of their baptismal call as well as some insights into Scriptures and the way God is working into their lives," Hurni said.