Luminaries of Faith: Early Medieval Irish Male Saints
2025-02-27 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | 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

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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.

Coffee & Silence–A Prayerful Day Away
2025-03-25 09:30 - 15:30, 2025-04-15 09:30 - 15:30, 2025-05-16 09:30 - 15:30, 2025-06-19 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.

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

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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.

Souljourners Inquiry Session
2025-04-10 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-07-01 11:00 - 12:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

Register

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.

Celebrate the Easter Triduum at the Mount
2025-04-17 15:45 - 2025-04-20 13:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

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The summit of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum—from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery of dying and rising. The single celebration of the Triduum marks the end of the Lenten season and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil.

Join the monastic community and enter fully into days of deep silence and rich celebration of the Mass of the Last Supper, Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion and Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord. Begin and end your Paschal journey with festive meals among the Benedictine sisters in the monastery dining room.

Please register by April 10.

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.

Catholic Women's Day / Día de la Mujer Católica
2025-04-27 09:30 - 15:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
A bilingual Benedictine experience / Una experiencia benedictina bilingüe

in English & Español

On-site

Registration for this event is closed. / La inscripción para este evento está cerrada.

English: The Benedictine Sisters invite you to join them for Mass, lunch, and a variety of monastery experiences. United in faith, we want to share our home and our hearts with you. As we pray, eat, and share together, we hope to build bridges across language and cultural experiences. Let’s share the gift of who we are with each other.

Español: Las Hermanas Benedictinas les invitan a la conferencia del Dia de La Mujer Catolica. Tendremos Misa, almuerzo y otras experiencias monásticas. Unidas en la fe, queremos abrir nuestro hogar y nuestros corazones para rezar, comer y convivir juntas y así construir puentes entre nuestros idiomas y nuestras experiencias culturales. Celebremos juntas el regalo que somos.

Contemplative Outreach Presenter Formation for Centering Prayer
2025-04-29 17:00 - 2025-05-02 12:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

Apply Now

The vision of Contemplative Outreach, founded by Thomas Keating, states “we embrace the process of transformation in Christ, both in ourselves and in others, through the practice of Centering Prayer.” Helping to bring this transformative prayer practice to others is richly rewarding. Please join us for this retreat that offers a first step of formation training that will enable you to become a commissioned presenter of centering prayer workshops in your local area. As a commissioned presenter, you will have the opportunity to introduce the practice of Centering Prayer to others who are encountering it for the first time, as well as help guide those already experienced in this contemplative exercise go more deeply.

This retreat and training will be facilitated by experienced workshop presenters and centering prayer retreat leaders of Contemplative Outreach. Certain prerequisites are expected for participants in this event. They include a thorough exposure to the writings and teachings of Thomas Keating, 2-3 years minimum of personal centering prayer practice, and a recommendation from a current commissioned presenter of centering prayer. Other prerequisites are listed on the application form which can be accessed using the “Apply Now” link above. Please feel free to contact Rob Carr robcarr924@gmail.com if you have any questions about the application or the retreat itself.

Please apply by April 1.

Upon acceptance of your application, you can expect to receive a registration link and invoice for the retreat at Sophia Spirituality Center. A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required at the time of registration.

Rob Carr

Rev. Rob Carr has represented Contemplative Outreach Kansas City as a centering prayer presenter and retreat leader since 2002. He also has been active in leadership with the Academy for Spiritual Formation for 15 years and is a graduate of the Souljourners program through Sophia Center.

SDI Heartland Regional Gathering
2025-04-30 19:00 - 20:00 | Kansas
Zoom

Request Zoom link

Praying for Hope

How is your spirit of hope lately? Where are you finding hope? Would you like to share in the hope of the Easter season with others? You are invited to join us for an hour of hope-filled prayer and silence, so we can be a hopeful presence for each other.

Please request your Zoom link.

Mary, Queen of Creation: Praying a Green Rosary
2025-05-03 09:30 - 15:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

This retreat has been cancelled.

Explore the Church’s understanding of Mary as Mother and Queen of Creation in light of Church tradition and Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’. Experience how the mysteries of the rosary can help us enter into a healing relationship with the earth and grow in our calling to be loving, faithful stewards of God’s creation. Through the example and intercession of Mary we seek to “look at this world with eyes of wisdom”(Laudato Si’ 241) and care for the whole of creation redeemed and restored by her son, Jesus Christ.

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.

Journey of Faith: Exploring the Gospel of Luke (in 2 parts)
2025-05-06 11:00 - 12:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

Register

It is the year of Luke for the Sunday lectionary. In addition to his Gospel, Luke wrote a second volume beginning with the Ascension of Jesus and telling the story of the subsequent spread of the Gospel by his apostles and disciples throughout the Mediterranean world. The first reading at Mass throughout the Easter season is taken from Acts. These sessions will provide an overview of each work as well as an introduction to various themes found in them: women, forgiveness, compassion, concern for the poor, journey, etc. Participants should have a Bible at hand and it will be helpful to have read both Luke and Acts prior to our sessions.

Please register by May 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.

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.

Dreams and the Enneagram
2025-05-06 19:00 - 2025-05-08 12:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

Due to unforseen circumstances, we have to cancel this retreat. Apologies for any inconvenience!

Our ancestors in the faith knew dreams to be a communication from God. Recent years have found a recovery of the dream, “God’s forgotten language,” as a valuable tool in prayer and spiritual discernment. Along with our dreams, we will utilize the ancient spiritual tradition, the Enneagram, in the soul work of this retreat. Therefore, knowledge of the Enneagram and particularly, of one’s personality type, is required.

Please register by April 29.

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. 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.

Healing—Time to Unbend
2025-05-07 10:30 - 11:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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Join us in this guided meditation where we will focus on the story of the crippled woman who was bent over for 18 years before she was healed on the Sabbath by Jesus. Through the lens of her story, we are invited to examine the things, events, or people in our lives that we allow to cripple us—that in essence keep us “bent over.” We are reminded that Jesus is calling us to “unbend” and rid our life of everything that keeps us from standing tall, and that he is with us through it all.

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

Please register by May 5.

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.

Sole to Soul: A Personal Retreat Day
2025-05-09 09:30 - 15:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

Register for Waitlist

This retreat day is currently full, but we encourage you to register for the waitlist.

Take a day to refresh and restore your soul, mind, and body. Sr. Linda Zahner will lead a guided meditation to start the day, and then you can choose from one of three options— reflexology, contemplative healing touch, or spiritual direction—to add to your time. You will also have ample opportunity to visit the chapel, walk the grounds, relax at Sophia Center—whatever nourishes your health and well-being.

Please register by May 2.

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. 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.

Clay and Fire
2025-05-16 19:00 - 2025-05-18 14:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

Join Wait-list

All seats for this retreat are full, but we encourage you to join our waitlist.

After taking some time to listen to God’s voice in creation, we will carry the theme of nature with us into the art studio and into our clay work. Our time will be spent opening ourselves to the reality of God’s presence with us in everyday life, through nature and the work of our hands. You will return home with your finished clay pieces as a remembrance of this special time and with a deepened awareness of God’s closeness to you. No artistic ability or experience in working with clay is needed—all are welcome!

Please register by May 9.

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. Alberta Hermann

Sr. Alberta has engaged in various ministries: teacher, occupational therapist, maintenance director, formation director, and director of housekeeping. For fun, she works with clay and enjoys baking.

Everything is a Blessing: A Celtic Spirituality Retreat
2025-07-17 19:00 - 2025-07-19 15:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

Register

This retreat is not just for the Irish, Welsh and Scottish, but for everyone who has searched for God in the ordinary and in the everyday. Join us as we celebrate the goodness of creation, the nearness of the Saints, and the power of the Trinity in our midst. Presentations will utilize ancient poetry, art, song, storytelling, and Celtic Christianity’s beautiful legacy of prayers and blessings.

An evening social will be held on Thursday, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Please plan to join and meet your fellow retreatants.

Please register by July 10.

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

Sr. Therese Elias

Sr. Therese 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.
