Spiritual Direction Peer Supervision (2nd Thursdays)
2025-09-11 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Chicago) | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
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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 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
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 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

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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.

Coffee & Silence–A Prayerful Day Away
2025-09-16 09:30 - 15:30, 2025-10-16 09:30 - 15:30, 2025-11-19 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.

Spiritual Direction Peer Supervision (3rd Tuesdays)
2025-09-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002

Boundless Compassion Book Club (a 6-week series)
2025-09-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
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 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

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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 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
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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 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
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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 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
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.

Carved in Stone: Artistry and Meaning in Irish High Crosses
2025-10-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
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The Irish High Cross – cros ard – is an iconic image in Ireland. These large, sculpted crosses of the early medieval period can be found throughout the country. These highly decorative high crosses are almost always associated with great monasteries and date back to between the 8th and12th centuries. These stone monuments are an iconic cultural landmark throughout Ireland. Come learn more about their meaning.

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 by October 6 for this second 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.

Sole to Soul: A Personal Retreat Day
2025-10-11 09:30 - 15:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

Register for Waitlist

Registration is full, but we encourage you to sign-up for our 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, or relax at Sophia Center—whatever nourishes your health and well-being.

*Cost also includes lunch. Registration is limited to 3.

Please register by October 3.

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.

Echoes of Ancient Rites: Irish Holy Wells and Patterns
2025-10-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
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Holy wells can be found throughout the entire country of Ireland. They range from small holes to large water areas. These sacred spaces have drawn pilgrims for centuries. These pilgrims walk patterns of prayer and ritual that are held at each of these locations to remember, pray and honor. Come learn more about this Irish tradition of holy wells and patterns.

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 by October 13 for this third 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.

Shamrocks and Shenanigans: A Celebration of Irish Customs and Rituals
2025-10-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
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Everyone is familiar with the Irish shamrock. But are you as familiar with other customs and rituals that have been used throughout Ireland over the years? Come learn about some of the less known rituals and customs associated with various saints, changes in seasons, and religious feast days from this glorious land.

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 by October 20 for this fourth 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.

Hildegarde: Embraced by the Mystery of Hope
2025-10-29 19:00 - 20:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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Saint Hildegard of Bingen was a 12th-century mystic and Benedictine nun who made lasting contributions in theology, music, medicine, and natural history. In a time of great political and social change, she was granted unusual freedom to speak words of reform and truth. In 2012, Benedict XVI declared Hildegard a Doctor of the Church, describing her as a “great prophetess [who] speaks to us with great relevance even today, through her courageous ability to discern the signs of the times, her love for creation, her medicine, her poetry, and her music…” We will explore how Hildegard’s life and teachings can help us companion one another in the face of social division and ecological crisis, as we seek to nurture healing and wholeness within the human community and the wider earth community.

Sr. Judith Sutera

Sr. Judith Sutera, OSB, MA, a member of Mount St. Scholastica Monastery, has master’s degrees in counseling and monastic spirituality. She serves as an oblate director for Mount St. Scholastica and as a writer, speaker, and retreat director. She edits Magistra, a journal of the history of women’s spirituality, and is the author of Wisdom from Saint Benedict (Lent and Advent volumes), The Vinedresser’s Notebook, and Benedict’s Rule: An Inclusive Translation and Daily Commentary.

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.

Living With Grief During the Holiday Season—Remembering With Love
2025-11-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
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The memories, traditions, and celebrations of the holiday season can be a bittersweet reminder of the love you had and lost. It can be hard to face the merriment around you, while your heart is breaking. A new normal has been thrust on you that can be hard to navigate. This session will be an opportunity to share your grief with others who understand and plan for a meaningful holiday season.

Please register by October 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.

Gratitude: Discovered Gratefulness
2025-11-05 10:30 - 11:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
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Join us in this enlightening prayer experience based on the parable of the lost coin. The joy and celebration the woman experiences after finding her lost coin teaches us that we too are called to express our gratitude as we “discover” the blessings our gracious and loving God bestows upon us through his constant benevolence. We will look to open ourselves more fully to the awareness of this reality during our time together through scripture reading, guided meditation, quiet reflection time, and sharing.

Please register by November 3.

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

Two-Day Silent Retreat with Spiritual Direction
2025-11-11 09:00 - 2025-11-12 16:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

Register for Waitlist

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

Step away from the busyness of daily life and enter into a sacred space of rest, reflection, and renewal. This two-day silent retreat offers an opportunity to reconnect with God through silence, prayer, and one-on-one spiritual direction. With nothing scheduled for these days except rest, private prayer, prayer with the monastic community if you wish, and the opportunity to meet with a spiritual director, this retreat is ideal for those seeking time and space to think, deeper communion with God, or simply quiet time to listen more intentionally to the movements of the Spirit. Whether you are praying over a decision, navigating a season of change, or longing for deeper communion with God, this November retreat invites you to pause, breathe, and be renewed.

*Cost includes a private room, meals, and one appointment with a spiritual director.

Please register by November 4.

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.

La Dolce Vita—The Sweet Life
2025-11-21 19:00 - 2025-11-22 15:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
What Italy Can Teach Us About Celebrating the Holidays More Joyfully

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Italy is known the world over for its storied art, significant history, superb food and exquisite wines. But beyond what tourists normally see when they visit this country is an attitude of the heart known to all Italians that allows them to see and experience the sacred and poetic in simple, mundane elements of daily living.

In this retreat, spirituality author and journalist Judith Valente, who has spent considerable time living in Italy in recent years, distills what it is about the Italian lifestyle that fosters living more mindfully and joyfully, and how we can incorporate many of those attitudes and practices into our hectic American lifestyle. We will explore the sanctity with which Italians approach the dinner table, the way they prize quality over quantity, pride themselves on personal relationships as much as professional achievements, and venerate the age-old practice of chiacchiera — chatting with others — as a way of staying connected and cultivating a sense of belonging and community. Italians are not afraid of taking time to simply do nothing. As Judith notes, “In Italy I learned to pay as much attention to my self-care as I do to my work.” We invite you to take this journey to Italy and come away with ideas for how to live la dolce vita, the Italian sweet life wherever you are.

*Our time together will begin with a social on Friday at 6:00 p.m. Cost includes private room and meals.

Please register by November 14.

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.

Judith Valente

Judith Valente is a journalist, poet and the author of six spirituality titles and three poetry collections. She is an oblate of Mount St. Scholastica Monastery in Atchison, KS, which is the subject of her award-winning memoir, Atchison Blue: A Search for Silence, A Spiritual Home and a Living Faith. She is also the author of How To Live: What The Rule of St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning and Community; as well as co-author ofThe Art of Pausing; and How To Be, the latter two books written with Brother Paul Quenon, a monk of the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky. Judith guides frequent retreats on how to live a more contemplative life in the secular world and leads the annual “Benedictine Footprints” retreat/pilgrimage to lesser-known parts of Italy. Her newest book is The Italian Soul: How to Savor the Full Joys of Life, about what we can learn from the Italian lifestyle about living more mindfully and joyfully.

Pregnant Pauses: Inspiring Stories for Advent
2025-11-30 00:00 - 2025-12-24 23:59 | Kansas
Link to series videos and resources

This series celebrates local, real-life stories of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of everyday life. It is our hope that “Pregnant Pauses” will spark loving memories for you, and that you share those stories with others. Let the storytelling begin and let the love spread!

First Sunday of Advent: Angel FeathersSecond Sunday of Advent: Are You Sure?Third Sunday of Advent: I Need a HugFourth Sunday of Advent: Being the Skin of God’s Love

Filmed in the serene and sacred monastery of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, KS, we invite you to pause, reflect, and discover the miracles within your own world this Advent season.

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.

Living Harmoniously: Exploring Benedictine Spirituality Through Music and Poetry
2025-12-02 19:00 - 2025-12-03 15:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

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Are you looking for the perfect retreat to begin the Advent season? This is it.

In today’s fast-paced culture, it is not uncommon to feel stressed, overworked, isolated, and unbalanced. Benedictine spirituality offers a different way. The Rule of St. Benedict, which guides the sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and all Benedictine communities, invites a life of harmonious living within ourselves, with one another, and with the earth. In this retreat we will explore some of the foundations of Benedictine spirituality through the elements of music and poetry: rhythm, silence, melody, and harmony. This experiential retreat will offer time for prayer, reflection, creative expression, and discussion.

*Includes one-night stay in a private room, breakfast and lunch on Wednesday. Our time together will begin with a social on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.

Please register by November 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. Susan Barber

Sister Susan serves as liturgist for the Mount St. Scholastica community, providing music on organ and piano for prayer and Mass.

In her leisure, she enjoys playing the piano, making music with others, walking outdoors, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Renee Bhatia

Renee Bhatia, is a spiritual director and expressive arts facilitator with an interest in spirituality and creative expression. Her work explores contemplative spaces and practices that support healing, growth, and transformation. She is also involved in the formation of spiritual directors and expressive arts facilitators through teaching, supervision, and mentoring. Renee believes creativity is an inherent part of being human and we make the world a better place when we allow it to flourish in everyone.www.temenosarts.com

Mary, Mother of Jesus
2025-12-03 10:30 - 11:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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Join us as we reflect upon Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel’s announcement that she had been chosen by God to bear a son. Like Mary, we too are invited to respond to God in that same way, saying, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your will.” What gift is God asking you to “give birth to” today? This season?

Please register by December 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.

Advent Mandalas
2025-12-04 09:30 - 16:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

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This peaceful, hands-on workshop invites you to explore the sacred and contemplative process of growing a mandala—an ancient spiritual practice that reflects the journey inward toward wholeness and divine presence. Through simple, prayerful steps, you will be gently guided to create your own mandala, using the process as a form of meditation and quiet reflection. No drawing skills are required—only a willingness to slow down, be present, and open yourself to the creative Spirit within during the holy season of Advent.

*Includes supplies and the noon meal.

Please register by November 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.

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.

The Remarkable Roots of Christmas: Discovering the Women in Jesus’s Family Tree (2-part series)
2025-12-04 13:00 - 14:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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Join us as we seek to learn more about the five women mentioned in Matthew’s Gospel as part of Jesus’s genealogy. We will look at the stories of these women to discern why it was important to the Gospel writer to mention them by name. Some questions we will consider include: Who are these women? Who are they in relation to Jesus? How are they significant, not only in their own right, but what is their significance in being included in this Gospel?

This retreat will primarily be lecture-style with time for questions and comments. Plan to have your Bible on-hand when we meet.

Please register by December 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.

Coffee and Silence–A Prayerful Day Away
2025-12-12 09:30 - 15:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002

Journeying with the Magi
2026-01-07 10:30 - 11:30 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

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This prayerful experience draws inspiration from the Scripture passage of the three magi who followed the star to the Messiah, offering their gifts in reverence. Guided by their story, we will look deeply within ourselves to recognize the gifts we have been given and consider how we are called to share them with others.

The retreat will include scripture, guided meditation, quiet reflection, time for sharing, and a closing prayer.

Please register by January 5.

After receiving your registration, you will receive a confirmation email from us which will be 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.

Retreat with the Women Doctors of the Church (4-week series)
2026-01-08 12:30 - 14:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
Zoom

Register

Among the 38 saints who have received special recognition for the significance of their teaching, there are four famous women: Hildegard of Bingen, Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila and Therese of Liseaux. Retreatants will be able to reflect on the unique life and message of each of these major figures in the Church.

Please register by January 6th.

After receiving your registration, you will receive a confirmation email from us which will be 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. Judith Sutera

Sr. Judith Sutera, OSB, MA, a member of Mount St. Scholastica Monastery, has master’s degrees in counseling and monastic spirituality. She serves as an oblate director for Mount St. Scholastica and as a writer, speaker, and retreat director. She edits Magistra, a journal of the history of women’s spirituality, and is the author of Wisdom from Saint Benedict (Lent and Advent volumes), The Vinedresser’s Notebook, and Benedict’s Rule: An Inclusive Translation and Daily Commentary.

The Book of Hours
2026-01-09 19:00 - 2026-01-11 10:00 | Sophia Spirituality Center, 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS, 66002
On-site

Register

“In knowing what now means, we are experiencing something that transcends time: eternity.” —David Steindl-Rast

Often we spend our days hurried, mindlessly getting through what needs to be done and ending our day exhausted. With the popularity and plethora of books and classes and systems of “time management,” it is clear we hunger for a better relationship with time. The Benedictine tradition offers a different way. The liturgical hours of the day are a framework that help us access a time we rarely find: now. Learning to become present, we meet the eternal now moment, where we encounter ourselves and the divine. This retreat will be an experiential walk through the hours of the day; an exploration in music, prayer, and art of each hour’s gift to us; and an invitation to the present moment. We will make a book to contain our reflections, our own “Book of Hours,” to take home as a reminder and tangible way to tune into our days with praise and gratitude.

*Includes all supplies, a private room, and meals. We will begin with a social on Friday from 6:00-7:00 p.m. All guests are welcome to stay for Sunday Eucharist, followed by lunch, before leaving.

Please register by January 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, so we are pleased to offer scholarships. Fill out our simple scholarship request form now!

Renee Bhatia

Renee Bhatia, is a spiritual director and expressive arts facilitator with an interest in spirituality and creative expression. Her work explores contemplative spaces and practices that support healing, growth, and transformation. She is also involved in the formation of spiritual directors and expressive arts facilitators through teaching, supervision, and mentoring. Renee believes creativity is an inherent part of being human and we make the world a better place when we allow it to flourish in everyone.www.temenosarts.com

Sr. Susan Barber

Sister Susan serves as liturgist for the Mount St. Scholastica community, providing music on organ and piano for prayer and Mass.

In her leisure, she enjoys playing the piano, making music with others, walking outdoors, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
