Single Women's Retreat: All the Joy You Bring
2025-01-03 18:00 - 2025-01-04 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

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This retreat will be rescheduled, as a result of inclement weather anticipated during it’s originally planned dates. If you would like to be notified of the new dates, please sign up here or click the button above.

As this New Year begins, let’s celebrate together how single women are a source of joy. Reminding ourselves of our gifts of resilience, ingenuity, and faith we can share joy with each other. Through faith sharing and creative processing, we will leave better equipped to be God’s joyful presence, no matter where life takes us.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

Mary Kay Whitacre

Mary Kay has worked in pastoral ministry in the Catholic Church for more than 45 years. She received a Master’s degree in Religious Education in 1982 and her Doctor of Ministry in 2017 from Seattle University. After she graduated from the Souljourners Spiritual Direction Formation Program in 2005, she joined the Souljourners staff. Currently, Mary Kay is a part of the Souljourners leadership team. She provides spiritual direction and supervision, and leads a variety of retreats for Sophia Center.

Bernadette Graves

Bernadette “Bernie” Graves has been intrigued by dreams since she was about 8 years old. She is a 2013 graduate of the Souljourners program. Bernie has been on the Souljourners staff since 2015 and offers a mini-course on dreams for the Souljourners students. She recently retired from 40 years of laboratory work as an immunohematologist.

A Contemplative Retreat with Julian of Norwich (4-week series)
2025-01-07 13:00 - 14:15 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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Julian of Norwich was an Anchorite in England beginning in 1390 CE and was the first known woman to write in English. We know very little about Julian herself, yet her work, Revelations of Divine Love, is well known and continues to be published, studied, and read by people today.

We invite you to join with others in learning about Julian and her beautiful and timeless work, Revelations of Divine Love. In our first session we will learn a bit about Julian’s life and times and introduce some of the themes in Revelations of Divine Love. During the following three sessions we will look at specific passages from Revelations of Divine Love and use them as a guide for individual contemplation, prayer, and small and large group sharing. Scripture passages, poems, and music will also be introduced to show the timelessness of this spiritual work devoted to Divine Love.

Please register by December 31.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

Renee Neff-Clark

Renee Neff-Clark has a degree in Religious Studies and has been a student of the Bible and a leader of Bible Studies throughout her life. The stories of women in Scripture have always held a special place in her heart, as they represent and reflect the lives of all women, both then and now. Although recently moved to Arizona, Renee continues to share her love of scripture and poetry with us.

Enneagram Workshop: The Nine Faces of God
2025-01-09 19:00 - 2025-01-11 12:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Hybrid (Zoom/On-site)

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Please note that January 9-11 covers the on-site portion of the retreat. Integral Zoom sessions will be held on January 22 & 30, with different time options available. (Both days you can join on Zoom at either 9-11 a.m. or 6-8 p.m.) Make sure to add these sessions to your calendar as you plan for this retreat.

The Enneagram, rooted in the ancient Christian desert tradition, can be a powerful spiritual tool for understanding one’s personality and relationships and for growing in compassion for one’s self and others. Remaining faithful to the age-old method of oral and visual instruction, we will emphasize the participant’s search for self-identification.

Please register by December 31.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

Sr. Therese Elias

S. Therese Elias, OSB, MA, a member of Mount St. Scholastica Monastery in Atchison, Kansas, is a retreat director, spiritual advisor, and lecturer with specialties in Benedictine and Celtic spirituality, the mystics, and contemplative prayer. She has led numerous pilgrimages to Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Re-inhabiting Paradise: Desert Spirituality and Contemplative Ecology
2025-01-11 09:30 - 15:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

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The desert mothers and fathers recognized that through Christ the cosmos was created anew, and thus they practiced living Paradise in the desert. Highlighting the connection between contemplation and ecology, this retreat will focus on early monastic teachings and practices that inform and support our journey toward transformed and restored relationships within the community of creation.

Please register by January 3.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

Sr. Elizabeth Carrillo

Sr. Elizabeth has an M.A. degree in Religion and the Environment from the University of the South School of Theology in Sewanee, Tennessee. She is a board and staff member of the Center for Deep Green Faith, which provides offerings that blend eco-theology with eco-spirituality grounded in the Christian tradition. She is an alumna of the Center’s Contemplation and Care for Creation Certificate Program and provides workshops and retreats at Sophia Center and elsewhere.

Witnesses to Unity: An Octave of Prayers for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
2025-01-18 12:00 - 2025-01-25 12:00 | Kansas
a daily prayer series online

Link to the Prayers

Three Catholic spirituality centers—Marillac Center in Leavenworth, Kansas, the Sophia Center in Atchison, Kansas and Precious Blood Renewal Center in Liberty, Missouri—offer an octave of prayers to mark the annual celebration known as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. You are invited to join us in a week of prayer, right from your own home, for the cause of Christian Unity among the various denominations in our own hometowns.

Precious Blood Renewal Center, in Liberty, Missouri, is a ministry of the United States Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, a Catholic religious order.

The Marillac Center, the retreat and spirituality center of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, in Leavenworth, Kansas.

The Sophia Center is a ministry of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas.

Divine Harmonies—Exploring Spiritual Themes in Broadway Musicals
2025-01-22 18:30 - 2025-01-23 16:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

Join Waitlist

This retreat is full, but please feel free to join the waitlist.

Every year, thousands of people flock to theaters to immerse themselves in the beauty and grandeur of musicals. These stories, set to music, invite the audience into the lives of the characters in a special way through song and dance that follows the audience long after they leave the theatre. Come spend a couple days enjoying various musicals throughout the years and see what they can teach us about faith, morals and our connection to God.

Please register by January 15.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

Sr. Suzanne Fitzmaurice

Sister Suzanne has served as campus minister at Notre Dame de Sion High School, then taught at Cristo Rey High School, Kansas City, before joining Keeler Women’s Center as associate director. In addition, she has ministered as the IT and hospitality coordinator at Sophia Spirituality Center, computer IT support specialist at the monastery and as the Monastic Congregation of St. Scholastica webmaster. After studying for a year in County Cork, Ireland, she graduated from the University College of Cork in March 2024 with a master’s degree in Beginnings of Irish Christianity. She currently is the director of monastic temporalities.

Souljourners Inquiry Session
2025-01-23 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-02-15 11:00 - 12:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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We are so glad that you are interested in our Souljourners formation program for spiritual directors. We understand that a 3-year commitment is not something to be entered into lightly, so we want to offer you the opportunity to learn more about the program in-depth. Join us for one of our inquiry sessions where we will talk about what you can expect during the program, as well as some of the more practical aspects, such as time and cost commitment.

Please register no later than 3 days prior to Zoom inquiries, and no later than 1 week prior to in-person inquiries.

Voices of the Heart: Exploring the Psalms (in 2 parts)
2025-01-24 11:00 - 12:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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The Biblical book of Psalms, a collection of one hundred and fifty prayers, give voice to the heart in the experience of all life-situations and human emotions. They are words from the heart of God, words God gives to us for prayer. The first session, January 24, will be an overview of the various types of Psalms with consideration as to how and why we should make these prayers are own in daily life. The second session, January 31, will focus on the so-called prayers of lament (over one third of the psalms!), prayers which give voice to the struggles of the more difficult times in human life. These psalms not only give us words to express what we feel but also help us find courage and trust. Participants should have a Bible at hand for both sessions.

Please register by January 21.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

Sr. Anne Elizabeth Sweet

Anne Elizabeth Sweet, OCSO, a Cistercian of Tautra Mariakloster in Norway, has a PhD in Scripture and has authored three books on the Psalms (in Norwegian). She is a regular contributor to Give Us This Day and is one of the authors of Northern Light in the Monastic Wisdom series published by Liturgical Press.

Love—A Reflection of God
2025-02-05 10:30 - 11:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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We are called to love and to be an image of God who is all love. Love is what leads us to our fullest potential, allows us to mirror the image of God dwelling within us, and reflect it outward to others. How are we reflecting God, who is the culmination of the virtue St. Paul talks about in First Corinthians? How are we sometimes falling short? What challenges to love are you presently encountering?

Our time together will include scripture reading, a guided meditation, quiet private reflection time, group sharing, and a closing prayer.

Please register by January 31.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

Sr. Linda Zahner

Sr. Linda is a member of Mount St. Scholastica Monastery in Atchison, Kansas. For 32 years, she worked in education as a teacher, administrator, and executive officer for a consolidated Catholic school system. In 1996, she received her certification as a spiritual director and retreat director from the Creighton Spirituality Program. She completed massage therapy training at the Universal College of Healing Arts in Omaha, Nebraska, passing her national boards in 1999. Sr. Linda guides retreats and offers therapeutic massage, promoting a holistic approach to health and well-being of body, mind, and spirit.

Benedictine Values for Beginners (a 4-week series)
2025-02-05 19:00 - 20:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

Register for Waitlist

This series if full, but we encourage you to register for the waitlist.

Have you wanted to learn about Benedictine spirituality and the Rule of St Benedict, but you just weren’t quite sure where to start? Then this is just the thing for you. Using Sr. Joan Chittister’s book Wisdom Distilled from the Daily, we will spend four weeks looking at Benedictine values like humility, obedience, hospitality, and stability and what they have to say to us in our lives today. There is no previous knowledge or experience required. Sr. Joan Chittister is a member and former prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania. She wrote Wisdom Distilled from the Daily for ordinary people living ordinary lives who are looking for a model of spiritual development to live a life beyond the superficial and uncaring.

Please register for the series by January 27.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

Mark Lepper

Mark is the Hospitality Coordinator at Sophia Center, ready to greet you with a smile when you arrive, or a kind voice when you call. He also offers spiritual direction as a graduate of the Souljourners program and enjoys leading retreats as a trained Boundless Compassion facilitator. Mark is an oblate of Mount St. Scholastica, where he is formed by the Benedictine tradition of hospitality and community life. He looks forward to meeting you and sharing the gift of hospitality during your next visit to Sophia Center.

From Druids to Devotion: A Brief History of Religion in Ireland
2025-02-06 19:00 - 20:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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Come get a brief overview of the faith of the people of Ireland throughout the centuries. This brief overview will begin with the early peoples’ connection to the earth starting over 5000 years ago. We will then explore the coming of Christianity and the overlap of the belief systems. Next we will touch on the religious conflicts and end with the new diversity within present day Ireland.

Enjoy this as a single session, or join us for the full 4-part series titled Spirits of the Emerald Isle: A Series on Celtic Spirituality.

Please register by February 3.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

Sr. Suzanne Fitzmaurice

Sister Suzanne has served as campus minister at Notre Dame de Sion High School, then taught at Cristo Rey High School, Kansas City, before joining Keeler Women’s Center as associate director. In addition, she has ministered as the IT and hospitality coordinator at Sophia Spirituality Center, computer IT support specialist at the monastery and as the Monastic Congregation of St. Scholastica webmaster. After studying for a year in County Cork, Ireland, she graduated from the University College of Cork in March 2024 with a master’s degree in Beginnings of Irish Christianity. She currently is the director of monastic temporalities.

Coffee & Silence–A Prayerful Day Away
2025-02-13 09:30 - 15:30, 2025-03-25 09:30 - 15:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

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Experience the rejuvenation that a quiet, peaceful day away can bring. Join us for Coffee & Silence—a mini-retreat intended for you to spend time as you wish: in silent prayer, reading, contemplative walks, or restful reflection. Bring your lunch, and enjoy coffee (or tea!) and perhaps a delicious treat as you savor this prayerful escape.

Please register no less than 2 days prior.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us.

Whispers of the Ancients: Unveiling Celtic Spirituality
2025-02-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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Many people assume that Celtic is synonymous with Irish. In actuality, the Celtic culture and history is much broader and deeper than most people realize. We will spend time exploring the history of the Celtic people and discover the rich spirituality that is still embraced today.

Enjoy this as a single session, or join us for the full 4-part series titled Spirits of the Emerald Isle: A Series on Celtic Spirituality.

Please register by February 3 for the series, or February 10 for this as a stand-alone.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

Sr. Suzanne Fitzmaurice

Sister Suzanne has served as campus minister at Notre Dame de Sion High School, then taught at Cristo Rey High School, Kansas City, before joining Keeler Women’s Center as associate director. In addition, she has ministered as the IT and hospitality coordinator at Sophia Spirituality Center, computer IT support specialist at the monastery and as the Monastic Congregation of St. Scholastica webmaster. After studying for a year in County Cork, Ireland, she graduated from the University College of Cork in March 2024 with a master’s degree in Beginnings of Irish Christianity. She currently is the director of monastic temporalities.

SDI Heartland Regional Gathering
2025-02-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Kansas
Zoom

Request Zoom link

Holding Space for Ourselves and Others: Shared Resources for Spiritual Direction

Moving into the unknowns and challenges of the coming year, this gathering is built around three resources we thought you might find useful. Join us to not only learn more about these books, but to also share in the wisdom of other spiritual directors.

Anne Kertz Kernion’s book, Spiritual Practices for the Brain (2020)

Amy-Jill Levine’s book, Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner’s Guide to the Kingdom of God (2020) and the article, “Being Light for Others” found at https://cac.org/daily-meditations/being-a-light-for-others/

Micah D. Keil’s book, To Be Transformed: A Biblical Journey Toward a More Just World (2024)

Please request your Zoom link.

Heavenly Witnesses: The Lives and Legacies of Early Medieval Irish Women Saints
2025-02-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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Ireland is a nation rich of faith, determination, resilience and care for the earth and each other. This is expressed in many ways but most clearly through the lives of the early women saints. Come learn more about four of the early Irish Women Saints: Samthann, Darerca, Ita and Gobnait.

Enjoy this as a single session, or join us for the full 4-part series titled Spirits of the Emerald Isle: A Series on Celtic Spirituality.

Please register by February 3 for the series, or February 17 for this as a stand-alone.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

Sr. Suzanne Fitzmaurice

Sister Suzanne has served as campus minister at Notre Dame de Sion High School, then taught at Cristo Rey High School, Kansas City, before joining Keeler Women’s Center as associate director. In addition, she has ministered as the IT and hospitality coordinator at Sophia Spirituality Center, computer IT support specialist at the monastery and as the Monastic Congregation of St. Scholastica webmaster. After studying for a year in County Cork, Ireland, she graduated from the University College of Cork in March 2024 with a master’s degree in Beginnings of Irish Christianity. She currently is the director of monastic temporalities.

Luminaries of Faith: Early Medieval Irish Male Saints
2025-02-27 19:00 - 20:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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While most people are familiar with the stories of Saint Patrick, most are unfamiliar with many of the other early Irish saints that shaped the nation’s faith. Learn more about some of the early Irish Saints whose names are familiar but whose stories you may not know: Kevin, Declan, Colman Mac Duagh, and Mocuda.

Enjoy this as a single session, or join us for the full 4-part series titled Spirits of the Emerald Isle: A Series on Celtic Spirituality.

Please register by February 3 for the series, or February 20 for this as a stand-alone.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

Sr. Suzanne Fitzmaurice

Sister Suzanne has served as campus minister at Notre Dame de Sion High School, then taught at Cristo Rey High School, Kansas City, before joining Keeler Women’s Center as associate director. In addition, she has ministered as the IT and hospitality coordinator at Sophia Spirituality Center, computer IT support specialist at the monastery and as the Monastic Congregation of St. Scholastica webmaster. After studying for a year in County Cork, Ireland, she graduated from the University College of Cork in March 2024 with a master’s degree in Beginnings of Irish Christianity. She currently is the director of monastic temporalities.

Salvation—Come Down From The Tree
2025-03-05 10:30 - 11:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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Join us for a Guided Meditation on the theme of salvation that Jesus offers to us all. For this meditation, we will focus on the story of Zacchaeus and how he is called by Jesus to come down from the sycamore tree to receive the gift of salvation. Here we are reminded that Jesus offers this gift to each of us, despite our unworthiness and lack of faithfulness. In our meditation, we will be invited to let go, to risk climbing down from our perch, and to be open to sharing at the table—accepting the salvation Jesus has claimed for us.

Our time together will include scripture reading, a guided meditation, quiet private reflection time, group sharing, and a closing prayer.

Please register by February 28.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

Sr. Linda Zahner

Sr. Linda is a member of Mount St. Scholastica Monastery in Atchison, Kansas. For 32 years, she worked in education as a teacher, administrator, and executive officer for a consolidated Catholic school system. In 1996, she received her certification as a spiritual director and retreat director from the Creighton Spirituality Program. She completed massage therapy training at the Universal College of Healing Arts in Omaha, Nebraska, passing her national boards in 1999. Sr. Linda guides retreats and offers therapeutic massage, promoting a holistic approach to health and well-being of body, mind, and spirit.

Praying the Lenten Scriptures (6-week series)
2025-03-06 19:00 - 20:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

Register for the Series

These sessions will give you the opportunity to pray the Sunday Scriptures of Lent with others. Using techniques such as centering prayer, lectio divina, and guided meditation, we will listen with the ear of our hearts for inspiration from the readings, from the Spirit, and from one another.

Please register by March 3.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

Mary Kay Whitacre

Mary Kay has worked in pastoral ministry in the Catholic Church for more than 45 years. She received a Master’s degree in Religious Education in 1982 and her Doctor of Ministry in 2017 from Seattle University. After she graduated from the Souljourners Spiritual Direction Formation Program in 2005, she joined the Souljourners staff. Currently, Mary Kay is a part of the Souljourners leadership team. She provides spiritual direction and supervision, and leads a variety of retreats for Sophia Center.

Contemplative Mandalas
2025-03-07 10:00 - 15:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

Register

While we know many types of prayer such as spiritual reading, lectio divina, liturgies, and contemplative prayer, few people are aware of praying with the spiritual art of the mandala. This Contemplative Mandala workshop introduces a method of prayer that is—as all prayer is—relational, healing, and insightful. One need not know how to draw, for all that becomes in the created piece is the work of the Spirit. The Contemplative Mandala reveals the beauty of our inner being. This prayer art method was introduced to Sharon on a silent retreat and since then has remained a deeply personal experience of intimacy with the Spirit through the years. You are invited to explore the mandala art prayer in the sacred space of the Sophia Center.

Please register by February 28.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

Sharon Highberger

Sharon Highberger is a spiritual director and retired chaplain in Topeka, Ks. She is commissioned by Contemplative Outreach to teach centering prayer and is an oblate of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison. In her book, Dancing with Depression, she writes of her spiritual recovery from clinical depression.

Lenten Lectio with Sunday Scriptures (6-week series)
2025-03-11 11:00 - 12:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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“Listen carefully, my child, to the instructions of your master, and incline the ear of your heart.” The Rule of St. Benedict, Prologue

The liturgical season of Lent gives us the opportunity to listen more closely and more deeply with the ear of our hearts. Please join us for this opportunity for a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures. We will meet weekly and spend time listening, reflecting and responding to the Sunday gospels of Lent.

Please register for the series by March 7.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

Sr. Micaela Randolph

Sister Micaela has served in a variety of ministries over the years, teaching in elementary schools, and working in the Kansas City Archdiocesan Office in religious education. Other ministries she has been involved in include RCIA and pastoral assistantance in several parishes, director of initial formation for the Mount St. Scholastica community, director of the Sophia Spirituality Center, and Souljourners staff.

For fun, she enjoys playing the piano, tap dancing (on rare occasions) and embroidery.

Sabbath on the Lenten Journey—Experience God Through the Creative Expression of Collage
2025-03-20 09:30 - 16:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we must cancel this retreat. Hopefully we will be able to offer it at a later date.

Art can be a form of prayer—a process to center ourselves and open up to experience God. In this experiential retreat we’ll create sacred collage using mixed media, incorporating images, words, decorative paper, stamped prints, and embellishments. Reflection questions will include “How did I experience the creative process?” and “What does my art speak to me of the sacred?” Our focus is the process, not the product, so one need not be an accomplished artist, but simply be willing to play and engage with the materials.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

Wendy Deering-Poynter

Wendy is an ordained minister serving as a church worship director. She is a spiritual companion, yoga instructor and florist. She lives in a farmhouse with her husband and two children, where she likes to dance in the kitchen and eat chocolate.

Lisa Martin

Lisa is a spiritual companion, quilter, sewer, and crafter. She works in public health and lives in a 100-year-old airplane bungalow with her cat, Paisley.

A Bread Retreat: Celebrating God’s Presence and Love
2025-03-26 19:00 - 2025-03-27 15:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

Register for Waitlist

This retreat is currently full, but we encourage you to sign-up for our waiting list in case of cancellation.

From God’s providing manna in the wilderness to Jesus’ miraculous multiplication of the loaves, bread is used in Scriptures as a sign of God’s presence and bountiful love. Join us for a Bread Retreat that will provide a window into God’s love for us shared at our daily table, and in the Eucharist. Experience the joy of kneading, shaping and baking of dough with quiet time for prayer and sharing. Hear God’s invitation for us to be “eucharist” for one another.

Please register by Month Date.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

Sr. Loretta McGuire

Sister Loretta’s ministries have involved taking care of the Benedictine community, enabling the Sisters to engage in their respective ministries. She cooked for the Sisters at various convents, and at Lillis High School, Kansas City, for the students, faculty and staff. She trained as a professional hair stylist and served as a medical social worker. She is the monastery’s volunteer coordinator and can frequently be found baking bread or other delicious treats. She has served on the community senate and a number of committees.

The Holy in Poetry—Exploring How the Poet Conveys the Divine (4-week series)
2025-03-27 14:00 - 15:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

Register

Poetry distills pieces of truth we have discovered in the living of life. In its succinct, vivid language, poetry gives us space to SENSE the truth before intellectually acknowledging it. Poetry often reveals what is sacred and holy, thus speaking of the divine whether the poet names God or not. April is national poetry month, so embark with us on a four week series exploring how the divine shines through poetry. Poetry selections will include writings from poets such as Mary Oliver, John O’Donohue, Hafiz, and René Maria Rilke.

Poetry is the deification of reality. —Edith Sitwell

God is the perfect poet. —Robert Browning

Every single soul is a poem. —Michael Franti

Please register for the series by March 24.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

Wendy Deering-Poynter

Wendy is an ordained minister serving as a church worship director. She is a spiritual companion, yoga instructor and florist. She lives in a farmhouse with her husband and two children, where she likes to dance in the kitchen and eat chocolate.

Zentangle for Beginners
2025-03-28 15:00 - 2025-03-29 15:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

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The Zentangle method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. The materials required are minimal. Zentangle may be used as a means of contemplation and also fosters creativity, relaxation, empowerment, focusing, excitement, fun, and satisfaction. S. Patricia Seipel is a certified Zentangle teacher, having attended classes led by the founders, Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. Come and enjoy learning something new that may grow into an established practice. Experience a relaxing time at Sophia Center and grow in your relationship with God. You will meet others on the same path and will leave with skills to help you continue with your practice of Zentangle.

Please register by March 21.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

Sr. Patricia Seipel

Sr. Patricia ministered as a teacher for many years in Missouri and Kansas. She also worked at Keeler Women’s Center. Presently she serves as Community Formation Director, offers spiritual direction, and is a member of the Souljourners Leadership Team. She enjoys art, being outdoors, arranging flowers for the chapels, working with the bees, and making various kinds of rosaries for Monastery Goods.

Heartfelt Healing: A Retreat for Compassionate Caregivers
2025-03-28 19:00 - 2025-03-29 15:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

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Join us for a retreat designed specifically for caregivers seeking some rest and renewal. This retreat offers a serene space for those who selflessly support others, to recharge and reflect. Based on Sr. Joyce Rupp’s Boundless Compassion work, we will use guided meditation, small group discussion, prayer, and times of reflective silence as we focus on compassion to others as well as ourselves.

Whether you’re a professional caregiver or supporting a loved one, this retreat is designed to help you replenish your spirit, foster deep connections, rediscover the joy in your role, and prepare you to continue your important work with renewed compassion.

Please register by March 21.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

Mark Lepper

Mark is the Hospitality Coordinator at Sophia Center, ready to greet you with a smile when you arrive, or a kind voice when you call. He also offers spiritual direction as a graduate of the Souljourners program and enjoys leading retreats as a trained Boundless Compassion facilitator. Mark is an oblate of Mount St. Scholastica, where he is formed by the Benedictine tradition of hospitality and community life. He looks forward to meeting you and sharing the gift of hospitality during your next visit to Sophia Center.

Where Art & Prayer Come Together
2025-04-02 09:30 - 15:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

This retreat has been cancelled. Apologies for any inconvenience.

God designed us as creative beings, but often we do not have the opportunity to explore or develop that aspect of ourselves in daily life unless it is specifically encouraged. We invite you to join us on this retreat where you will discover how art can be a powerful pathway through which we can converse with God. Part of our time together will be experiencing prayerful reading of God’s word (lectio divina), then experiencing art as one of the many ways through which to respond to that Word, deepening our understanding and the significance of his word in our lives. There will also be time for silence, private prayer, sharing, and creating (making art, writing poetry, etc.). It is our hope that you will return home with new and rich ways of responding to God in your daily prayer life. No creative or artistic experience is a requirement for this retreat—only the openness to create.

Sr. Micaela Randolph

Sister Micaela has served in a variety of ministries over the years, teaching in elementary schools, and working in the Kansas City Archdiocesan Office in religious education. Other ministries she has been involved in include RCIA and pastoral assistantance in several parishes, director of initial formation for the Mount St. Scholastica community, director of the Sophia Spirituality Center, and Souljourners staff.

For fun, she enjoys playing the piano, tap dancing (on rare occasions) and embroidery.

Promise Keeping
2025-04-02 10:30 - 11:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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Join us for a guided meditation and reflection for an empowering experience, as we focus on the Gospel story of Jesus reading from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue on the Sabbath. It was in that moment that Jesus publicly acknowledged the call of God in his life to do great acts of service that only he could fulfill. We are reminded that we too are called to recognize God’s call in our life and to respond accordingly.

Our time together will include scripture reading, a guided meditation, quiet private reflection time, group sharing, and a closing prayer.

Please register by March 31.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us which will include your invoice. We never want our retreat costs to be prohibitive to anyone who wants to attend our programs and so we offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

Sr. Linda Zahner

Sr. Linda is a member of Mount St. Scholastica Monastery in Atchison, Kansas. For 32 years, she worked in education as a teacher, administrator, and executive officer for a consolidated Catholic school system. In 1996, she received her certification as a spiritual director and retreat director from the Creighton Spirituality Program. She completed massage therapy training at the Universal College of Healing Arts in Omaha, Nebraska, passing her national boards in 1999. Sr. Linda guides retreats and offers therapeutic massage, promoting a holistic approach to health and well-being of body, mind, and spirit.

Easter Triduum: Word and Ritual
2025-04-09 11:00 - 12:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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The three days of the Easter Triduum, from the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening until Vespers of Easter Sunday, are the most sacred days of the Church year and show us three aspects of one and the same mystery: Christ gave his life to us and for us. In this session, we will reflect on the readings and rituals of the ceremonies of these days as a preparation for entering more deeply into our celebration of the Paschal Mystery. It would be helpful to have a Missal or worship aid for the session.

Please register by April 6.

After we receive your registration, you can expect to receive a confirmation email from us.

Sr. Anne Elizabeth Sweet

Anne Elizabeth Sweet, OCSO, a Cistercian of Tautra Mariakloster in Norway, has a PhD in Scripture and has authored three books on the Psalms (in Norwegian). She is a regular contributor to Give Us This Day and is one of the authors of Northern Light in the Monastic Wisdom series published by Liturgical Press.
