Mary, Queen of Creation: Praying a Green Rosary
2025-05-03 09:30 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | 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
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
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
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
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.

Coffee & Silence–A Prayerful Day Away
2025-05-16 09:30 - 15:30, 2025-06-19 09:30 - 15:30, 2025-08-14 09:30 - 15:30, 2025-09-16 09:30 - 15:30
On-site

Register

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.

Clay and Fire
2025-05-16 19:00 - 2025-05-18 14:00
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.

Souljourners Inquiry Session
2025-07-01 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-07-18 15:00 - 16:00
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.

Everything is a Blessing: A Celtic Spirituality Retreat
2025-07-17 19:00 - 2025-07-19 15:00
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.

Silent Directed Retreat: In the Stillness, God Speaks—Tapping Into Benedictine Wisdom
2025-08-05 19:00 - 2025-08-10 13:00
On-site

Register

Join us for the opportunity to settle deeply into the richness of sacred silence. To help you open your spirit to God’s wisdom, you will have access to daily prayer with the Benedictine sisters, spiritual direction, meditation, and the peaceful monastery atmosphere. Is this the invitation your soul needs?

*Cost includes a private room, meals, and spiritual direction. We will begin our time together with a social at 6:00 p.m.

Please register by July 29.

After receiving your registration, you will 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, so we are pleased to offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

Guided Meditation: Needs—Water for the Thirsty
2025-08-06 10:30 - 11:30
Zoom

Register

Join us for this enriching prayer experience, “Water for the Thirsty,” based on the scripture passage in which Jesus meets the woman at the well. Through this reading, we are reminded that our needs are known, recognized, and met by Jesus. He sees past the clutter of our lives and knows well our hearts and souls. He holds out to us the same life-giving water, which is ours for the taking when we acknowledge our need. Our time together will include a scripture reading, guided meditation, quiet reflection time, and sharing.

Please register by July 30.

After receiving your registration, you will 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 so we are pleased to 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.

Lectio Naturae: Waking Up (a monthly series)
2025-08-12 10:30 - 12:00
Zoom

Register

Using Living in an Icon as our monthly guide, we will learn about and put into practice lectio naturae (think of lectio divina, but with nature rather than scripture), to help us in waking up and beginning the process of truly learning to see. Every day presents us many opportunities to encounter and learn more about God, but all too often we fail to recognize them when they come our way. As Israel Baal Shem (c1698-1760) was said to have stated:

“The world is full of wonders and miracles but people take their little hands and cover their eyes and see nothing.”

The exercises in this first part of our journey encourage us to uncover our eyes, wake up from our existential naps, and engage with the world around us.

*For these sessions, we will be using Living in an Icon, which you can either purchase for yourself, or we can order and send to you for an additional cost of $16–just make a note as you register. Subsequent session dates, gathering the second Tuesday of each month: September 9, October 14, November 11, December 9

Please register by August 5.

After receiving your registration, you will 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 so we are pleased to offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

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.

Courage: Take Up Your Mat and Walk
2025-09-03 10:30 - 11:30
Zoom

Register

Join us for this empowering prayer experience. Our meditation will focus on Jesus’ cure of the paralytic, and how through this story we are reminded that if we simply place our faith in Jesus, he will provide us with the grace to overcome all that immobilizes us. He will bless us with the courage to move toward healthy choices, what is life-giving, and what is essential to living our convictions. Our time together will include a scripture reading, guided meditation, quiet reflection time, and sharing.

Please register by September 1.

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 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.

The Sacred Life of Rocks (a 4-week series)
2025-09-03 19:00 - 20:30
Zoom

Register

The concept of a “sacred life of rocks” can be understood through different lenses. Rocks can symbolize strength, stability, and the enduring nature of life. Even the most “ordinary” rocks have fascinating histories and stories to tell, as they record the Earth’s geological past. Rocks can be seen as touchstones connecting people to their land and ancestors. Rocks can also represent the foundation of life, the core of a person’s values, or the enduring nature of relationships. Come explore with us, what rocks have come to mean in Scripture, science, literature and our everyday lives. This series will be a combination of input, faith sharing, creative processing, and prayer.

Please register by August 29.

After receiving your registration, you will 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, so we are pleased to 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.

Debbie Carmody

Debbie is retired after 28 years in pastoral ministry at Good Shepherd Parish in Shawnee, Kansas. She has a Master’s degree in Religious Education from Loyola—New Orleans.

Prayers of the Cosmic Christ: Reflecting on Teilhard de Chardin’s Vision (a 4-week series)
2025-09-04 13:00 - 14:30
Zoom

Register

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was a twentieth century Jesuit, scientist and mystic. His work sought to bring together science and faith through his mystical incarnational understanding of the world. De Chardin’s thinking was well ahead of his time and is more relevant now than ever.

In this retreat, we will read Ursula King’s biography, Spirit of Fire: The Life and Vision of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, which will be the basis for our weekly discussions. Additional excerpts from de Chardin’s body of work will supplement the reading, and we will also spend time in group “spiritual exercises” to help deepen our understanding of his vision and how we can apply it to ourselves and our world today.

*Note: You are welcome to purchase the book on your own, or we can order and send it to you for an additional $25 ($85 total).

Please register by September 1.

After receiving your registration, you will 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, so we are pleased to offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

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.

Rescheduled: Divine Harmonies—Exploring Spiritual Themes in Broadway Musicals
2025-09-05 18:30 - 2025-09-06 16:30
On-site

RESCHEDULED TO JANUARY 30-31. We will announce the opening of our 2026 retreat registration in our monthly newsletter.

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 of days enjoying various musicals from throughout the years and reflect on what they can teach us about faith, morals and our connection to God.

Our time together will begin with a social on Friday at 5:30.

After receiving your registration, you will 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, so we are pleased to offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

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.

Spiritual Direction Peer Supervision (2nd Mondays)
2025-09-08 11:30 - 13:00
Zoom

Register

In these monthly peer supervision groups, spiritual directors will have the opportunity to find support, gain wisdom from others’ lived experiences, and be part of a community where they can sharpen their skills. We ask that you commit to one group, where you can build bonds of trust and support, for the year.

Please choose one of the following:

Group 1: Second Mondays (11:30 AM – 1:00 PM) Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10, Jan. 12, Feb. 9, Mar. 9, Apr. 13

Group 2: Second Thursdays (10:00 – 11:30 AM) Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13, Jan 8, Feb. 12, Mar. 12, Apr. 9

Group 3: Third Tuesdays (7:00 – 8:30 PM) Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 18, Jan 20, Feb. 17, Mar. 17, Apr. 21

Please register by September 5.

After receiving your registration, you will 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, so we are pleased to 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.

Spiritual Direction Peer Supervision (2nd Thursdays)
2025-09-11 10:00 - 11:30
Zoom

Register

In these monthly peer supervision groups, spiritual directors will have the opportunity to find support, gain wisdom from others’ lived experiences, and be part of a community where they can sharpen their skills. We ask that you commit to one group, where you can build bonds of trust and support, for the year.

Please choose one of the following:

Group 1: Second Mondays (11:30 AM – 1:00 PM) Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10, Jan. 12, Feb. 9, Mar. 9, Apr. 13

Group 2: Second Thursdays (10:00 – 11:30 AM) Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13, Jan 8, Feb. 12, Mar. 12, Apr. 9

Group 3: Third Tuesdays (7:00 – 8:30 PM) Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 18, Jan 20, Feb. 17, Mar. 17, Apr. 21

Please register by September 7.

After receiving your registration, you will 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, so we are pleased to 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.

Dreams: Our Own Personal Parables
2025-09-12 15:00 - 2025-09-13 15:00
On-site

Wait-list

Registration is full. If you would like to register for our wait-list, please do so!

Jesus often spoke and taught in parables—stories filled with metaphor, symbolism, and hidden messages that turned usual circumstances upside down. Our dreams at night are very similar, and while they often seem important for us to process, we may not know how to do so. Exploring dreams through different methods and from other perspectives can be helpful as we look to make sense of the mysterious stories that God, the Dream-Maker, sends to help us grow in holiness and wholeness. In this retreat, we will explore some basic dream theory and ways to work with our dreams to facilitate new insights into the meaning and messages in our dreams. Sharing during the retreat will require some openness and vulnerability, as you are invited to submit a written dream to process with your fellow retreatants, but you can expect the experience to be both rich and fun. We will have some prayer time with Scripture and information/handouts about dream theory, but the majority of our time will be spent exploring our night dreams.

Registration is limited to 6.

Please register by September 5.

After receiving your registration, you will 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, so we are pleased to offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

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.

Sacred Collage: Experience God Through Creative Expression
2025-09-13 09:30 - 16:00
On-site

Register

Art can be another form of prayer, a way to center and open ourselves to an experience of God. Through creating, we often feel renewed, refreshed, and re-created. This experiential retreat includes prayer, lunch, and art supplies. In three sessions, we will create sacred collage using mixed media—images, words, decorative paper, stamped prints, and embellishments. After each session, we’ll offer sharing and reflection, asking questions such as “How did I experience the creative process?” and “What does my art tell me about the sacred?” Our focus is the process and not the product, so one need not be an accomplished artist but simply willing to play and engage the materials. Our theme will be sabbath and rest.

We invite you to consider adding an optional overnight stay (for an additional $65), before or after the scheduled retreat time, to spend more quality time with God. Just let us know as you register, and we will add it to your stay.

Please register by September 6.

After receiving your registration, you will 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, so we are pleased to 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.

Spiritual Direction Peer Supervision (3rd Tuesdays)
2025-09-16 19:00 - 20:30

Boundless Compassion Book Club (a 6-week series)
2025-09-24 19:00 - 20:30
Zoom

Register for Waitlist

Registration is full, but we encourage you to sign up for the waitlist.

Join us for a six-week journey into the heart of compassion with Sister Joyce Rupp’s inspiring book, Boundless Compassion. In this reflective and practical study, we’ll explore how to deepen our capacity for compassion—toward ourselves, others, and the wider world. Each week will include guided discussion, personal reflection, and spiritual practices that invite us to live more fully from a place of empathy and love. Whether you’re new to the topic or seeking to renew your commitment to compassion, this group offers a welcoming space for growth, connection, and transformation.

All are welcome. No prior reading or experience necessary—just an open heart.

*You are welcome to purchase the book on your own, or we can order and send it to you for an additional $18 ($78 total).

Please register by September 20.

After receiving your registration, you will 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, so we are pleased to 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.

Sacred Elements: Encountering God in Wind, Water, Fire, and Earth
2025-09-26 19:00 - 2025-09-27 15:30
On-site

Register

Early Christians spoke of two sacred books: the scriptures and the book of nature, each offering insight into the presence and activity of God. Drawing on the rich symbolism of the Psalms, the earth-rooted imagery of Jesus’ parables, liturgical tradition, and insights from the Christian mystics, we will engage the classical elements—wind, water, fire, and earth—as living metaphors that reveal God’s sustaining and transforming presence. Through prayer, journaling, and lectio divina in nature, we will deepen our connection to God and grow in the awareness of ourselves as part of the sacred community of creation.

We will begin our retreat with a social, starting at 6:00 p.m.

Please register by September 25.

After receiving your registration, you will 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, so we are pleased to offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

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.

Faith: Walking on Water
2025-10-01 10:30 - 11:30
Zoom

Register

Join us for a guided meditation inviting you to deeper faith centered in trust — the same kind of trust that Peter needed when he responded to the Lord’s call to step out of the boat and walk on water. Progressing spiritually requires a certain amount of trust, and through this reflection we will pray for a strengthening of trust and faith to know that the Lord is with us always—even in our struggles. We will have scripture reading, guided meditation, quiet reflection, time for sharing, and a closing prayer.

Please register by September 29.

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 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.

Holy Companions: Irish Saints and Their Animal Allies
2025-10-02 19:00 - 20:30
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People throughout the world find connections with animals of all sorts. They are their companions, guardians and may even assist in daily tasks. Many Irish saints also had animal companions and allies. Hear the stories of some of these unique friendships and the blessings they bestowed on the Irish saints.

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 September 29 for the full series, or this first session.

After receiving your registration, you will 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, so we are pleased to 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.

Centering Prayer: The Inner Room and Centered Living
2025-10-06 19:00 - 2025-10-10 12:00
On-site

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Guest presenter, Jim McElroy

“We are invited to be God’s intimate companions and sharers of the divine nature. The issue is whether we’ll consent. That’s all we have to do, ultimately—allow ourselves to be loved unconditionally, and so be empowered to meet the real needs of everyone in the human family, past, present and to come.” —Father Thomas Keating

*Includes private room and meals. We will begin our time together with a social, starting at 6:00 p.m. and end Friday at noon with lunch.

Please register by September 29.

After receiving your registration, you will 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, so we are pleased to offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

*Read about our cancellation and refund policy.

Jim McElroy

Jim McElroy has been practicing Centering Prayer since 1996 and has been a Commissioned Presenter of Centering Prayer since 2002. In his many years of service with Contemplative Outreach, Jim has been on the leadership team of 12-Step Outreach since its formation in 2005. He also serves on the Faculty of the Welcoming Prayer Practice and as a member of the Living Flame Teaching Team. He is a former coordinator of Contemplative Outreach of St. Louis, and he currently serves on the Finance and Legal Team for Contemplative Outreach. Jim’s passion is opening the door for others to the experience the contemplative dimension of being.

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.

Rev. Dr. Dennie Oades

Dennie is a Contemplative Outreach commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer, Centering Prayer as 11th Step, and Welcoming Prayer. She is a retired United Methodist pastor and a graduate of the Souljourners program through Sophia Center.
