Retreat for men and women to focus on holy ground in people's lives

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
Dec. 14, 2006

EARLY - How do you experience holy ground in your life? A retreat for men and women will focus on this question as the theme for the day.

The retreat will be held from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 in the Sacred Heart Parish Center in Early. This yearly event is sponsored by the Office of Adult and Family Ministry for the Diocese of Sioux City.

The retreat has been designed for men and women desiring a time of personal growth and reflection. The retreat is also for parish teams that would like to experience the retreat. They can then take the materials and offer the event in their own parish or cluster. Parish packets will be available for $2.

"There is a hunger for it (the retreat) and this is an opportunity for us to provide them with a solid resource that they can do on their own and also share in their parishes," said Vera Ludwig, coordinator of family programs for the diocese. "It is a neat opportunity for those in ministry in different capacities to come together for a day for themselves. They get to take care of their own spiritual needs."

The retreat presenter will be Cary Brown, DRE and pastoral minister at St. Mary Parish in Storm Lake. Brown was the presenter last year as well.

"This is all her own original material," said Ludwig. "Cary is a wonderful retreat presenter and it will be a great day of looking where we all have holy ground in our life, to name that holy ground and go a little deeper."

Bev Hurni, director of the Office of Adult and Family Ministry, added that Brown defines holy ground as "wherever we encounter God in the ordinary moments of our life."

The day will include time to reflect on Scripture, look at naming a person's holy ground and large group sharing.

"The retreat is based on the Scripture passage from the third week of Lent - the Exodus," said Ludwig. "It is called holy ground where God talks to Moses through the burning bush. That is where the foundation of the retreat is coming from."

Cost for the afternoon is $5 per person, which includes a light lunch later in the afternoon. Those interested are asked to register by Jan. 15 to ensure adequate food and materials are available. The snow date will be Jan. 28.

"We want everyone to register so that if there is inclement weather, we will be able to contact them," said Ludwig.

Registrations are to be mailed to: Office of Adult and Family Ministry, PO Box 3379, Sioux City, IA 51102-3379. For more information, contact the Office of Adult and Family Ministry at (712) 233-7530 or e-mail sandiw@scdiocese.org.