Diocese holds retreat for persons With moderate mental disabilities

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
March 10, 2005

ALGONA/KINGSLEY - My Name is God's Song was the theme of a retreat held in two locations in the Diocese of Sioux City for persons with moderate developmental disabilities.

Sponsored by the diocese's Coalition for Ministry with Persons Having Disabilities, retreats were held on Feb. 26 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Algona and on March 5 at the community center in Kingsley.

According to Bev Hurni, director of adult and family ministries for the diocese and coordinator of the coalition, about 150 people with disabilities attended the retreat between the two sites.

"It is a day - even for those of us put on the retreat - to be enriched and lifted up by the simple faith and joy of the people," she said.

Hurni pointed out that the coalition has been sponsoring the retreat for about 15 years.

In Algona, Sue Wind of Jefferson served as master of ceremonies. She told them that they were given a mission to be a light in the world and facilitated open mic time. Wind brought a collection of creative hats to the retreat, and when a participant spoke, they could choose a hat for Wind to wear.

Suzanne Torrey gave a talk about using their voices to praise God and Hurni spoke to them about how God calls each of them by name.

At each location activities tied into the theme. They made a refrigerator magnet. They also made a bracelet that spelled out their own names.

Father Tim Johnson served as the m.c. at the Kingsley retreat. He spoke to the participants about God's creation of the earth and then asked them to tell him one name mentioned in the Bible outside of God and Jesus.

"All people and all things were created to serve God," said Father Johnson. "All names are sacred, including our names." He asked them to yell out their own names to remind them that they were as important as those from the Bible because God created them.

Later in the retreat, he asked them to mention the name of someone who inspired them and helped them.

Shelly Bauer of Kingsley, first time participant at the retreat, was one of the people with disabilities who read at the closing prayer service. She thought the retreat was great. In her parish at Kingsley, she volunteers as a Eucharistic minister.

Another participant at the retreat who also read for the closing prayer service, Regina Anderson of Holstein, also enjoyed the retreat. This was also her first time to attend the retreat. She liked the music and the friendliness of everyone.

"They treat us like we have no disability. They treat us with love and respect," she said. "The love of God is in this whole building."

Hurni pointed out that the retreat was made possible due to the donations of the Knights of Columbus. She also extended gratitude to the many volunteers at each site.

Deacon Bob Larsen and his wife, Lorri, were the site coordinators for the Algona retreat with assistance from Bill and Mavis Black.

In Kingsley, Marie Washburn and Karen Malm, were the site coordinators. This was the second consecutive year that Kingsley hosted the retreat. They offered to host it again because the volunteers loved helping at it last year.

"Last year it was hard to get helpers, but this year I had people calling me and saying they wanted to help again," she said. "Once you get them here, they want to come back."

For Washburn on a personal level, she acknowledged that prior to last year she never had the experience of working with persons who have disabilities.

Malm mentioned that they offered to host the retreat again because they loved it.

"It was so uplifting. The love in the room and the spirit, it's overwhelming," she said. "I love these people. They are so special and so filled with love."

Father Dennis Meinen, a member of the coalition, pointed out the participants at the retreat are "so filled with the spirit." As the chaplain at Holy Spirit Retirement Home in Sioux City, he said the contrast in the environment and energy level was evident to him.

He pointed out that people are called to lift up people who are poor in spirit. It could relate to people who have disabilities and "then we in turn are lifted up."

Father Meinen led the closing prayer service at Kingsley. He told them that they were called by God to be a light in the world.

Connie Barrett, another member of the coalition, signed the retreat for persons with hearing disabilities.