Overnight retreat to be held in January for persons who work in various ministries

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Dec. 7, 2006

OKOBOJI - Persons who minister to others will have a chance for a spiritual pick-me-up during an overnight retreat called Sustaining the Spirit that is slated for Jan. 7 and 8 at Camp Okoboji.

The retreat is intended for religious educators, youth ministers, pastoral ministers and others involved in various ministry roles whether they are paid staff or volunteers.

Bev Hurni, director of adult and family ministries, pointed out that for the last few years the retreat had been held in May. Hurni and the Office of Catechesis surveyed people to find out what timing worked best for the retreat and they discovered that in the past this retreat had been offered in January. More people suggested making a switch back to a winter retreat because spring was busy with graduations and so forth.

"It's kind of a boost for the middle of the year," noted Hurni.

Jessica LaFleur, director of youth and young adult ministry, said that with working with paid and volunteer ministers, the switch to Sunday was also requested because then people would have to take less time off of work.

While the format is the same as the overnight retreats in the past, this year's gathering will be held on Sunday and Monday rather than Monday and Tuesday. It will start at 4 p.m. on Jan. 7 and conclude at 1 p.m. on Jan. 8.

This year's retreat leader will be Michael Carotta, a nationally known author and speaker from Omaha. He has much expertise in the area of adolescent spirituality but most recently authored a book with his wife on leadership development. The book is titled Sustaining the Spirit and they have developed a retreat designed for ministers based on the book.

"I have experienced it through a course at Creighton and have taken two leadership courses from him and he is just fantastic," said Hurni.

Carotta, who is the adolescent catechetical advisor for Harcourt Religion Publishers and teacher of graduate courses and several universities, received rave reviews from other dioceses who have had him speak to their groups.

The retreat is designed to help catechetical leaders, youth ministers and others make sense of the opportunities, tensions and challenges that come with ministry. It will also help ministers look at how to balance taking care of others through ministry while they take care of their own families and themselves.

Along with the spiritual element to the retreat, LaFleur mentioned that there is time for people to socialize and get to know others who work in ministry. She called it a great community builder.

"It's a good time of the year, after the busyness of the holidays to get back together, refocus and re-center our ministry," she said.

Registrations are due - to the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, PO Box 3379, Sioux City, IA 51102 - by Jan. 1. The cost of attending both days, including lodging at Camp Okoboji and three meals, is $35. Sunday evening only is available for $15 and Monday only is $25.