Retreat to focus on baptismal call

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
Jan. 31, 2008

EARLY - Parishioners in the Diocese of Sioux City are "Chosen and Called" to strengthen their faith at an adult retreat.

The retreat will be held from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 in the Sacred Heart Parish Center in Early.

This retreat is for men and women who want to reflect and grow in their understanding of what their baptismal call is challenging them to do. This will be an opportunity for the participants to have a time for personal growth and reflection during the season of Lent.

"It is a wonderful opportunity to look at our baptismal call and what that means," said Vera Ludwig, director of family programs for the diocese. "A large majority of us were baptized as babies. Every time you go into church as you make the sign of cross with holy water, you are actually recalling your baptism. Are you really? If not, why not? This is an opportunity to take time from our busy lives to reflect on what that means in our lives."

Participants will be able to think about what their baptism means and how they are living that call out.

"Lent is a time of conversion and this is a time to say, 'What can I do a little different? What do I need to work on? How can I make a greater difference in my faith journey?'" said Ludwig.

Cary Brown, director of faith formation at St. Mary Parish in Storm Lake, wrote the material for the retreat and will be facilitating the retreat.

The retreat will be made up of three talks based on three Gospel stories. The stories are the woman at the well, the man born blind and the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

"It is based on those three peoples' experience of Jesus," said Brown. "I am going to tie it all into our baptism and how we live out our baptism - the fact that we are chosen and called by God."

She added that she wanted to base the retreat on the Lenten readings of Cycle A. Most of the readings in Cycle A are baptism oriented.

During the retreat, participants will have time for personal reflection and small group discussion.

"In the busyness that all of us experience right now, we need things outside of ourselves to pull us to set aside time for God, especially during Lent," said Brown. "Time to sit down and say, 'Okay, here I am, what did you want to say to me?"

A light lunch of soup and hot cross buns will be served about 2:30 p.m.

The cost of the retreat is $5. Interested attendees are asked to pre-resister by Feb. 15. Pre-registration ensures that adequate materials are available. Contact information will enable the Office of Adult and Family Ministries to notify participants if they have to cancel the retreat due to weather.

Those interested in attending should contact the Office of Adult and Family Ministries at (712) 233-7530, sandiw@scdiocese.org or P.O. Box 3379, Sioux City, IA 51102.