Retreats and Workshops

2019

AUGUST

Tuesday, August 6 |4:00 p.m. – Sunday, August 11 |1:00 p.m.

SILENT DIRECTED RETREAT – waiting list

Sophia Staff

Get away from the noise and busyness of everyday life. Spend time with God in personal prayer, meet daily with a spiritual director, and if you wish, join others for daily centering prayer and group sharing of scripture. The quiet of a monastic setting gives you time to listen to the deep desires of your heart.

Fee: $395, includes private room and meals  ($50 non-refundable deposit)
Register by July 27.   Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

Tuesday, August 13 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

COFFEE AND SILENCE

Come for the morning or bring your lunch and spend the day. We’ll have the coffee on for you. Spend time in silence, walk our beautiful grounds, or pray in St. Scholastica Chapel.

Registration required.     Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

Friday, August 16 | 7:00 p.m. – Sunday, August 18 | 1:00 p.m.

WHERE THREE PATHS MEET

Norma Roberts

Discover, explore and enjoy the Celtic, Benedictine and Franciscan traditions through reflection on the places where they intersect and where they depart from one another. Activities will be grounded in worship and scripture, group sharing, visual presentations, lectio divina and artistic exercises.

Fee: $250. includes a private room and meals; commuter – $175  ($50 non-refundable deposit)

Register by August 6.     Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Norma Roberts is a spiritual director from Bloomington, Illinois, who also serves as a trainer for Healthy Congregations and is a bridge builder specializing in congregational transformation. She is a Benedictine oblate who discovered Benedictine and Celtic spirituality while studying at San Francisco Theological Seminary. She is a retired Disciple of Christ pastor.

SEPTEMBER

Thursday, September 5 | 10:30 a.m.

BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING with THOMAS MERTON

Mount St. Scholastica, 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, Kansas
Sisters Gabrielle Kocour & Sheila Carroll, OSB

Various selections from Thomas Merton will be used to awaken insight and wisdom for the journey toward spiritual transformation and a more peace-filled life.

Register online or call 913.360.6173.    Free-will offering.

Other dates: Sept. 19; Oct. 3, 17, 31; Nov. 7 & 21; Dec. 5

Sisters Gabrielle Kocour and Sheila Carroll are members of of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and serve as adjunct staff for Sophia Spirituality Center.

Friday, September 6 | 7:00 p.m. – Sunday, September 8 | 4:00 p.m.

THE DREAM AND THE JOURNEY – A Dream Retreat    WAITING LIST

Sister Therese Elias, OSB

This retreat will provide an intense opportunity to relate to the wisdom and grace found in one’s dreams. Special attention will be given to learning to do personal dream work and also to understanding the role of prayer in dream work.   Limit 10.

Fee: $260, includes a private room and meals  ($50 non-refundable deposit)
Register by August 29.      Register online or call 913.360.6173.

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

Friday, September 6 | 7:00 p.m. – Sunday, September 8 | 2:00 p.m.

 CLAY AND FIRE RETREAT – Filled

Sister Alberta Hermann, OSB

“Come, go down to the potter’s house and there I will let you hear my Word” (Jer. 18:2). Working with the medium of clay, participants will listen to God speaking to them through the elements of creation.

Fee: $225, includes a private room and meals plus materials  ($50 non-refundable deposit)

Register by August 29.   Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

Sister Alberta Hermann, OSB, is a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica. She has assisted retreatants in creating pottery since 2000. 

Saturday, September 7 | 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

WRITING THE WORD: A Calligraphy Retreat

Mary Donovan

Learn the elegant but simple script the medieval monks and nuns used for copying the Bible. Practice paper with guidelines, calligraphic markers and good calligraphy paper will be supplied. Bring a Bible verse or a prayer that is especially meaningful to you.

Limited to 16 retreatants.

Fee: $75; includes materials and lunch. ($20 non-refundable deposit.)

Register by August 29.    Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

Mary Donovan is an Episcopal seminarian at the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry in Topeka, Kansas and a graduate of the spiritual direction program, Souljourners, offered at Sophia Spirituality Center. She recently made oblation at Mount St. Scholastica Monastery. Prior to her move to Kansas four years ago, Mary served as a teacher and administrator for the New York City public schools.

Saturday, September 7 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

GETAWAY FOR SELF-RENEWAL

Sister Linda Zahner, OSB

Take care of yourself, so you can be there for others in your life. Self-care is not a luxury; it is vital to your health and well-being. The day will include a guided group meditation period and your choice of one 30-minute bodywork service: massage, reflexology, contemplative healing touch or spiritual direction. Bring a Bible and, if you wish, a journal.

Limited to 5 participants.

Fee: $75, lunch included ($35 non-refundable deposit)  

Register by September 4.  Register online or call 913.360.6173

2nd Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

READING AS A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

Flannery O’Connor Revisited: Faith in Fiction: a three-part series

September 10 – A Good Man Is Hard To Find

October 8 – Good Country People

November 12 – The Displaced Person

Though she died in 1964 at the age of 39, Flannery O’Connor is acclaimed as one of the best writers of 20th century fiction. A woman of faith, she used fiction to show what happens when we live our lives without the the most important Christian beliefs. Her writings help us wrestle with human dilemmas and her characters challenge us to move beyond a world where everything is black and white. This series will usse three of her short stories as vehicles for learning, discussing, trying for a better understanding of human nature, and growing in faith.

A copy of the book, A Good Man Is Hard To Find and Other Stories, will be provided for those who register for the complete three-part series. Individuals are able to attend a single session but will be asked to provide their own copy of the story which may be acquired from a local library or bookstore.

Fee for all 3 sessions including 3 retreat days, 3 noon meals, and a copy of the book: $90.00 (must register no later than September 1 to ensure delivery of books). Each individual session, including retreat with noon meal: $30.00

Register online or call 913.360.6173

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS

Sophia Center offers three choices for improving your spiritual direction skills and connecting with peers. Souljourners’ graduates and those who have completed a similar program may choose from the following opportunities:

Monthly Peer Supervision at Sophia Center
Facilitators: Sister Mary Elizabeth Schweiger, OSB & Sister Micaela Randolph, OSB
Second Thursdays, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
2019 – September 12, October 10, November 14, December 12
2020 – January 9, February 13, March 12, April 16
Fee: $80 per year

Register 7 days before the session you wish to attend.

Thursday, September 12 | 10:30 a.m.

 LECTIO WITH THE SUNDAY SCRIPTURES

Mount St. Scholastica, 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, Kansas
Sisters Gabrielle Kocour & Sheila Carroll, OSB

Share in the traditional monastic practice of guided reading, listening, reflecting and responding to the Word of God in the Scriptures.

Register online or call 913.360.6173.    Free-will offering.

Other dates: Sept. 26, Oct. 10 & 24, Nov. 14, Dec. 12

Sisters Gabrielle Kocour and Sheila Carroll are members of of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and serve as adjunct staff for Sophia Spirituality Center.

Friday, September 13 | 7:00 p.m. – Saturday, September 14 | 4:00 p.m.

BECOMING AN EVERYDAY CONTEMPLATIVE

Judith Valente

Living a more contemplative life is possible for all of us. But how to do that? We will explore what writers, poets, spiritual thinkers and seekers throughout the centuries can teach us about living more intentionally. Through individual reflection and discussion in small groups, we will each leave with a new vision for our lives as “everyday contemplatives.”

Fee: $150, includes a private room and meals    ($35 non-refundable deposit)
Register by September 6.     Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

Judith Valente, an oblate of Mount St. Scholastica, is an award-winning author, journalist and poet. She has been an on-air correspondent for PBS-TV since 1998. Her PBS reports have appeared on the national news programs Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly and the PBS NewHour. She is also a correspondent for NPR public radio.

Tuesday, September 17 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

PRAYERFUL PAUSES – Third Tuesdays

Facilitated by Mary Kay Whitacre, DMin.

Do you need to pause the crazy pace of your daily life to refresh and renew? Are you a busy church worker or caregiver looking for a way to make time for your own personal spiritual life? Would you like a simple way to offer a retreat for your church, parish staff or organization? How about a day away for bonding and sharing with your soul friends? These third Tuesdays are designed just for you.

The day will begin with spiritual sharing and joining the sisters in the monastery for lunch. The afternoon will be your time. You may continue the spiritual experience from the morning, relax into silence and contemplation, and basically grow closer to yourself and to God.

Reserve time now on your calendar and treat yourself for one or more of these prayerful pauses.

September 17 – Sacred Walking

October 15 – Sacred Beads (times will be reversed with contemplative time in the morning and a presentation from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.)

November 19 – Praying with Our Deceased Loved Ones in the Communion of Saints

December 17 – Advent Into Christmas

Fee: $30; includes program and lunch. (Special rates available for groups from the same church staff. Scholarships available.)

Register 7 days before the scheduled event you wish to attend.     Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

Mary Kay Whitacre has served in pastoral ministry in the Catholic Church for over forty years and completed her Doctor of Ministry degree from Seattle University in 2017. She currently is full-time on the staff of the Sophia Spirituality Center as the assistant director of Souljourners, a Spiritual Direction Formation program, and ministers as a spiritual director. 

Thursday, September 19 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

WOMEN IN SCRIPTURE: Models of Trust and Letting Go

You are invited to spend a day with two mothers in Scripture, Samuel’s mother, Hannah and Jesus’ mother, Mary. We will spend time with these two women, learning how their deep and abiding trust in God shaped them as mothers. Come and enjoy some time away to renew your spirit while also learning, journaling, praying and sharing in the stories of these biblical mothers while connecting with one another.

Fee: $65, lunch included.   Register by September 9.   Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

Renee has just become a true “empty-nester” and is learning what it means to be a mother to a young adult son. She 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.

Thursday, September 19 | 10:30 a.m.

BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING with THOMAS MERTON

Mount St. Scholastica, 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, Kansas
Sisters Gabrielle Kocour, OSB & Sheila Carroll, OSB

Various selections from Thomas Merton will be used to awaken insight and wisdom for the journey toward spiritual transformation and a more peace-filled life.

Register online or call 913.360.6173.    Free-will offering.

Other dates: Oct. 3, 17, 31; Nov. 7 & 21; Dec. 5

Sisters Gabrielle Kocour and Sheila Carroll are members of of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and serve as adjunct staff for Sophia Spirituality Center.

Tuesday, September 24 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

COFFEE AND SILENCE

Come for the morning or bring your lunch and spend the day. We’ll have the coffee on for you. Spend time in silence, walk our beautiful grounds, or pray in St. Scholastica Chapel.

Registration required.     Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

Tuesday, September 24 | 6:45 p.m.

BOOK DISCUSSION

Mount St. Scholastica, 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, Kansas
Sisters Gabrielle Kocour & Sheila Carroll, OSB

Join us for a good read and stimulating discussion on the last Tuesday of the month.

September: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Other dates: Oct. 29, Nov. 26  (Books selected will be posted later)

Sisters Gabrielle Kocour and Sheila Carroll are members of of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and serve as adjunct staff for Sophia Spirituality Center.

Thursday, September 26 | 10:30 a.m.

LECTIO WITH THE SUNDAY SCRIPTURES

Mount St. Scholastica, 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, Kansas
Sisters Gabrielle Kocour & Sheila Carroll, OSB

Share in the traditional monastic practice of guided reading, listening, reflecting and responding to the Word of God in the Scriptures.

Register online or call 913.360.6173.  Free-will offering. Other dates: Oct. 10 & 24, Nov. 14, Dec. 12

Sisters Gabrielle Kocour and Sheila Carroll are members of of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and serve as adjunct staff for Sophia Spirituality Center.

Friday, September 27 | 7:00 p.m. – Sunday, September 29 | 1:00 p.m.

CENTERING PRAYER RETREAT

Rev. Rob Carr & Rev. Dennie Oades (Contemplative Outreach of Kansas City)

Join us for a soulfully rich weekend of silent consent to the presence and activity of God in the deepest center of your being. There will be periods of centering prayer along with ample times for walking, reading, journaling, resting and participating in the monastic liturgies. This retreat is open to people experienced in centering prayer as well as those new to the method.

Fee: $235, includes private room and meals. ($50 non-refundable deposit)   Register by September 18.     Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

Rev. Rob Carr is a trained and commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer workshops and has been practicing Centering Prayer for 20 years. Rob has previously coordinated COKC for many years and is still serving in the Circle of Service Advisory Board.

Rev. Dr. Dennie Oades serves COKC as a Circle of Service member and as a trained and commissioned presenter of workshops on Centering Prayer, Welcoming Prayer, and Centering Prayer as an 11th Step Practice.

OCTOBER

Thursday, October 3 | 10:30 a.m.

BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING with THOMAS MERTON

Mount St. Scholastica, 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, Kansas
Sisters Gabrielle Kocour & Sheila Carroll, OSB

Various selections from Thomas Merton will be used to awaken insight and wisdom for the journey toward spiritual transformation and a more peace-filled life.

Register online or call 913.360.6173.  Free-will offering.  Other dates: Oct. 17, 31; Nov. 7 & 21; Dec. 5

Sisters Gabrielle Kocour and Sheila Carroll are members of of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and serve as adjunct staff for Sophia Spirituality Center.

Saturday, October 5 | 9:00 a.m. – Sunday, October 6 | noon

RETREAT FOR ADOPTIVE MOMS: A Retreat for Moms by Moms

Facilitated by Mary Kay Whitacre, DMin. and other moms

Were you blessed to become a mom through the process of adoption? Are you looking for a way to renew and recharge your spirit so you have more to share with your family? Would you like to connect with other moms who have similar stories? This will be the perfect opportunity to rest and care for yourself while sharing the experience and wisdom of others. Bond with God and other mothers.

Fee: $80; includes room and meals. Scholarships are available.  Register by September 25.  Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Mary Kay Whitacre has served in pastoral ministry in the Catholic Church for over forty years and completed her Doctor of Ministry degree from Seattle University in 2017. She currently is full-time on the staff of the Sophia Spirituality Center as the assistant director of Souljourners, a Spiritual Direction Formation program, and ministers as a spiritual director.

Thursday, October 10 | 10:30 a.m.

LECTIO WITH THE SUNDAY SCRIPTURES

Mount St. Scholastica, 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, Kansas
Sisters Gabrielle Kocour & Sheila Carroll, OSB

Share in the traditional monastic practice of guided reading, listening, reflecting and responding to the Word of God in the Scriptures.

Register online or call 913.360.6173.  Free-will offering.  Other dates: Oct. 24, Nov. 14, Dec. 12

Sisters Gabrielle Kocour and Sheila Carroll are members of of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and serve as adjunct staff for Sophia Spirituality Center.

Friday, October 11 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

COFFEE AND SILENCE

Come for the morning or bring your lunch and spend the day. We’ll have the coffee on for you. Spend time in silence, walk our beautiful grounds, or pray in St. Scholastica Chapel.

Registration required.     Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

Monday, October 14 | 4:00 p.m. – Tuesday, October 15 | 3:30 p.m.

CONTEMPLATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY: Encountering the Sacred

Kathleen England

Where do we notice the presence of God? How? When? How could we share our noticing with others? This overnight, with a sunset, a hunter’s moon, and a sunrise, will include discussion of photography as a spiritual practice. There will be extended personal time for seeking out and photographing images of God’s bountiful goodness. This is NOT a course in photographic technique, but an opportunity to explore awareness, connection and contemplation in relation to photography.

Fee: $135; includes a private room and meals.  Scholarships available.

Register by October 7.    Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Kathleen England is a retired counselor who specialized in working with children and families. Photography is a hobby and a passion. It makes her aware of the manifestation of God all around us and she seeks to share her desire to be in God’s presence through her attentiveness to beauty and creation.

October 15 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

PRAYERFUL PAUSES – Third Tuesdays

Facilitated by Mary Kay Whitacre, DMin.

Do you need to pause the crazy pace of your daily life to refresh and renew? Are you a busy church worker or caregiver looking for a way to make time for your own personal spiritual life? Would you like a simple way to offer a retreat for your church, parish staff or organization? How about a day away for bonding and sharing with your soul friends? These third Tuesdays are designed just for you.

The day will begin with spiritual sharing and joining the sisters in the monastery for lunch. The afternoon will be your time. You may continue the spiritual experience from the morning, relax into silence and contemplation, and basically grow closer to yourself and to God.

Reserve time now on your calendar and treat yourself for one or more of these prayerful pauses.

October 15 – Sacred Beads (times will be reversed with contemplative time in the morning and a presentation from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.)

November 19 – Praying with Our Deceased Loved Ones in the Communion of Saints

December 17 – Advent Into Christmas

Fee: $30; includes program and lunch. (Special rates available for groups from the same church staff. Scholarships available.)

Register 7 days before the scheduled event you wish to attend.     Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

Mary Kay Whitacre has served in pastoral ministry in the Catholic Church for over forty years and completed her Doctor of Ministry degree from Seattle University in 2017. She currently is full-time on the staff of the Sophia Spirituality Center as the assistant director of Souljourners, a Spiritual Direction Formation program, and ministers as a spiritual director. 

Thursday, October 17 | 10:30 a.m.

BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING with THOMAS MERTON

Mount St. Scholastica, 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, Kansas
Sisters Gabrielle Kocour & Sheila Carroll, OSB

Various selections from Thomas Merton will be used to awaken insight and wisdom for the journey toward spiritual transformation and a more peace-filled life.

Register online or call 913.360.6173.    Free-will offering.  Other dates: Oct. 31; Nov. 7 & 21; Dec. 5

Sisters Gabrielle Kocour and Sheila Carroll are members of of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and serve as adjunct staff for Sophia Spirituality Center.

Thursday, October 24 | 10:30 a.m.

LECTIO WITH THE SUNDAY SCRIPTURES

Mount St. Scholastica, 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, Kansas
Sisters Gabrielle Kocour & Sheila Carroll, OSB

Share in the traditional monastic practice of guided reading, listening, reflecting and responding to the Word of God in the Scriptures.

Register online or call 913.360.6173.    Free-will offering.

Other dates: Nov. 14, Dec. 12

Sisters Gabrielle Kocour and Sheila Carroll are members of of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and serve as adjunct staff for Sophia Spirituality Center.

NOVEMBER

Friday, November 1 | 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

LOOK TO THE SAINTS AND ANGELS FOR INSPIRATION

Mary Donovan

This workshop offers an opportunity to explore a meditative form of prayer through the making of sacred art. Using the language and tradition of the Christian art of icons, participants will create a small illuminated painting to take home.

Suggested donation: $75; includes materials and lunch.

Register by October 27.  Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Mary Donovan is an Episcopal seminarian at the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry in Topeka, Kansas and a graduate of the spiritual direction program, Souljourners, offered at Sophia Spirituality Center. She recently made oblation at Mount St. Scholastica Monastery. Prior to her move to Kansas four years ago, Mary served as a teacher and administrator for the New York City public schools.

Thursday, November 7 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

COFFEE AND SILENCE

Come for the morning or bring your lunch and spend the day. We’ll have the coffee on for you. Spend time in silence, walk our beautiful grounds, or pray in St. Scholastica Chapel.

Registration required.  Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

Thursday, November 7 | 10:30 a.m.

BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING with THOMAS MERTON

Mount St. Scholastica, 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, Kansas
Sisters Gabrielle Kocour & Sheila Carroll, OSB

Various selections from Thomas Merton will be used to awaken insight and wisdom for the journey toward spiritual transformation and a more peace-filled life.

Register online or call 913.360.6173.    Free-will offering.  Other dates: Nov. 21, Dec. 5

Sisters Gabrielle Kocour and Sheila Carroll are members of of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and serve as adjunct staff for Sophia Spirituality Center.

Thursday, November 14 | 10:30 a.m.

LECTIO WITH THE SUNDAY SCRIPTURES

Mount St. Scholastica, 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, Kansas
Sisters Gabrielle Kocour & Sheila Carroll, OSB

Share in the traditional monastic practice of guided reading, listening, reflecting and responding to the Word of God in the Scriptures.

Register online or call 913.360.6173.    Free-will offering.

Next date: Dec. 12

Sisters Gabrielle Kocour and Sheila Carroll are members of of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and serve as adjunct staff for Sophia Spirituality Center.

November 19 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

PRAYERFUL PAUSES – Third Tuesdays

Facilitated by Mary Kay Whitacre, DMin.

Do you need to pause the crazy pace of your daily life to refresh and renew? Are you a busy church worker or caregiver looking for a way to make time for your own personal spiritual life? Would you like a simple way to offer a retreat for your church, parish staff or organization? How about a day away for bonding and sharing with your soul friends? These third Tuesdays are designed just for you.

The day will begin with spiritual sharing and joining the sisters in the monastery for lunch. The afternoon will be your time. You may continue the spiritual experience from the morning, relax into silence and contemplation, and basically grow closer to yourself and to God.

Reserve time now on your calendar and treat yourself to either or both of these prayerful pauses.

November 19 – Praying with Our Deceased Loved Ones in the Communion of Saints

December 17 – Advent Into Christmas

Fee: $30; includes program and lunch. (Special rates available for groups from the same church staff. Scholarships available.)

Register 7 days before the scheduled event you wish to attend.     Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

Mary Kay Whitacre has served in pastoral ministry in the Catholic Church for over forty years and completed her Doctor of Ministry degree from Seattle University in 2017. She currently is full-time on the staff of the Sophia Spirituality Center as the assistant director of Souljourners, a Spiritual Direction Formation program, and ministers as a spiritual director. 

Thursday, November 21 | 9:30 – 3:30 p.m.

SEEKING THE SPIRIT WITH POET JOY HARJO

Renee Neff-Clark

Spend the day with the poet, Joy Harjo, exploring her life and her writings. Joy Harjo is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and frequently draws on First Nation storytelling and histories in her poems and writings. A crtically-acclaimed poet who was just named Poet Laurate for the United States, the first Native American to be so-designated, she is also a noted teacher and musician. Her poetry challenges yet helps heal the divide both within and without. Spend time in learning, prayer and sharing with one another.

Fee: $65; lunch included.    Register by November 11.   Register online

Renee Neff-Clark has been a lover of all types of literature and cultures different from her own since she learned to read. Her first job in high school was working in her city’s public library. She has a degree in Religious Studies from the University of Kansas where she began to examine all forms of the written word, as well as looking at women’s lives through the lens of sociology, women’s studies, art, theology and literature.

Thursday, November 21 | 10:30 a.m.

BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING with THOMAS MERTON

Mount St. Scholastica, 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, Kansas
Sisters Gabrielle Kocour & Sheila Carroll, OSB

Various selections from Thomas Merton will be used to awaken insight and wisdom for the journey toward spiritual transformation and a more peace-filled life.

Register online or call 913.360.6173.    Free-will offering.

Next date: Dec. 5

Sisters Gabrielle Kocour and Sheila Carroll are members of of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and serve as adjunct staff for Sophia Spirituality Center.

Friday, November 22 | 7:00 p.m. – Sunday, November 24 | 4:00 p.m.

ENNEAGRAM WORKSHOP – Filled – waiting list

Sister Therese Elias, OSB

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

Limited to 13 participants. Fee: $225; includes a private room and meals (Non-refundable $45 deposit)

Register by November 4.    Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Sister Therese Elias, OSB, M.A., of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica, is a retreat director, spiritual advisor and lecturer with specialities in Benedictine and Celtic spirituality, the mystics, and contemplative prayer.  She has led numerous pilgrimages to Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Saturday, November 23 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

GRIEF THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS

Sister Susan Holmes, OSB

This workshop is for persons who have experienced the death of a loved one and who realize that grief is different around holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Similarities and uniqueness of grief experiences will be explored. There will be time for some personal sharing. Ideas and suggestions for coping with each of these holidays will be discussed.

Sister Susan Holmes has been a hospice chaplain/bereavement coordinator for 16 years. 

DECEMBER

Thursday, December 5 | 10:30 a.m.

BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING with THOMAS MERTON

Mount St. Scholastica, 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, Kansas
Sisters Gabrielle Kocour & Sheila Carroll, OSB

Various selections from Thomas Merton will be used to awaken insight and wisdom for the journey toward spiritual transformation and a more peace-filled life.

Register online or call 913.360.6173.    Free-will offering.

Sisters Gabrielle Kocour and Sheila Carroll are members of of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and serve as adjunct staff for Sophia Spirituality Center.

Friday, December 6 | 7:00 p.m. – Saturday, December 7 | 4:30 p.m.

Sister Mary Pat Johnson, SCL

ENTERING INTO THE SEASON OF ADVENT LIGHT

This silent weekend retreat will explore ways the light of Christ touches our daily lives during the season of Advent. Times for personal prayer and small group faith sharing will be provided.

Fee: $150; includes a private room and meals ($40 non-refundable deposit)
Register by November 28.  Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Mary Pat Johnson, is a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas. She has many years experience in the classroom and as a spiritual director. She received a BA in theology from the University of St. Mary, Leavenworth, Kansas; an MA in religious studies from Gonzaga University, and an MA in Christian spirituality with certification in spiritual direction from Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska. Presently, Sister Mary Pat serves on the staff of Souljourners’, a certification program for spiritual directors in Atchison, Kansas.

Wednesday, December 11 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

COFFEE AND SILENCE

Come for the morning or bring your lunch and spend the day. We’ll have the coffee on for you. Spend time in silence, walk our beautiful grounds, or pray in St. Scholastica Chapel.

Registration required.  Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Thursday, December 12 | 10:30 a.m.

LECTIO WITH THE SUNDAY SCRIPTURES

Mount St. Scholastica, 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, Kansas
Sisters Gabrielle Kocour & Sheila Carroll, OSB

Share in the traditional monastic practice of guided reading, listening, reflecting and responding to the Word of God in the Scriptures.

Register online or call 913.360.6173.    Free-will offering.

Sisters Gabrielle Kocour and Sheila Carroll are members of of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica and serve as adjunct staff for Sophia Spirituality Center.

Friday, December 13 | 7:00 p.m. – Saturday, December 14 | 3:30 p.m.

FINDING THE SACRED THROUGH DEPRESSION

Sharon Highberger

Sharon Highberger shares an inspiried pathway out of clinical depression. Hear her story and learn from her experience how the deepening of spiritual practices can help one find new hope and discover a path to the God of grace and compassion.

Fee: $140, includes private room and meals ($75 non-refundable deposit)

Register by December 3.     Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

Sharon Highberger is a chaplain, grief counselor, spiritual director, author and a Benedictine oblate of Mount St. Scholastica.  

December 17 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

PRAYERFUL PAUSES – Advent Into Christmas

Facilitated by Mary Kay Whitacre, DMin.

Do you need to pause the crazy pace of your daily life to refresh and renew? Are you a busy church worker or caregiver looking for a way to make time for your own personal spiritual life? Would you like a simple way to offer a retreat for your church, parish staff or organization? How about a day away for bonding and sharing with your soul friends? These third Tuesdays are designed just for you.

The day will begin with spiritual sharing and joining the sisters in the monastery for lunch. The afternoon will be your time. You may continue the spiritual experience from the morning, relax into silence and contemplation, and basically grow closer to yourself and to God.

Reserve time now on your calendar and treat yourself for this prayerful pause.

Fee: $30; includes program and lunch. (Special rates available for groups from the same church staff. Scholarships available.) Register by December 10.     Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

Mary Kay Whitacre has served in pastoral ministry in the Catholic Church for over forty years and completed her Doctor of Ministry degree from Seattle University in 2017. She currently is full-time on the staff of the Sophia Spirituality Center as the assistant director of Souljourners, a Spiritual Direction Formation program, and ministers as a spiritual director. 

2020

JANUARY

Friday, January 10 | 7:00 p.m. – Sunday, January 12 | 4:00 p.m.

ENNEAGRAM WORKSHOP 

Sister Therese Elias, OSB

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

Limited to 13 participants. Fee: $225; includes a private room and meals (Non-refundable $45 deposit)

Register by December 31.    Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Sister Therese Elias, OSB, M.A., of the Benedictine Sister of Mount St. Scholastica, is a retreat director, spiritual advisor and lecturer with specialities in Benedictine and Celtic spirituality, the mystics, and contemplative prayer.  She has led numerous pilgrimages to Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Saturday, January 11 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

HEALING OILS OF SACRED SCRIPTURE

Sister Linda Zahner, OSB

Ancient priests, prophets, and physicians of the Bible anointed people with oil and prayed with them for spiritual purification, moral repentance, physical healing, and holy anointing. You will be introduced to fourteen essential oils mentioned repeatedly in the Bible.

Fee: $80; includes the noon meal (Non-refundable $40 deposit).  Register by January 1.

Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

Sister Linda Zahner, OSB, M.A., is a certified Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner as well as a certified, licensed massage therapist. She also serves as a spiritual director, with certification in spiritual direction through the Creighton Spirituality program.

Friday, January 24 | 4:00 p.m. – Saturday, January 25 | 2:30 p.m.

COLLEGE RETREAT

For college students by college students

Area college students are invited to explore together how to live more mindfully and peacefully amidst the stresses of their college years. This will be a great opportunity to laugh, rest, share and connect with God and others.

Fee: $35; includes room/meals (scholarships available)
Register by January 19.  Register onlineor call 913.360.6173.

FEBRUARY

Wednesday, February 26 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

ASH WEDNESDAY AND COFFEE AND SILENCE

Come for the morning or bring your lunch and spend the day. We’ll have the coffee on for you. Spend time in silence, walk our beautiful grounds, or pray in St. Scholastica Chapel.

Registrstion required.    Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

SAVE THE DATE

February 28 – March 1

Sister Maureen Conroy will return to Sophia Center. Watch this space for more information.

MARCH

Wednesday, March 11 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

WOMEN IN SCRIPTURE: Models of Sacrifice

You are invited to spend the day with two women in Scripture, Esther and Judith, who were willing to make great sacrifices for their community. We will examine both books, Esther and Judith, comparing and contrasting the two women for whom they are named, while also learning more about what it means to make a “sacrifice” for one’s community. We will spend time in learning, prayer, and discussion while connecting with these Biblical women’s stories and with one another.

Fee: $65, lunch included. Register by March 1.   Register online or call 913.360.6173.

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.

Friday, March 13|7:00 p.m. – Sunday, March 15 | 400: p.m.

EVERYWHERE A BLESSING: A Celtic Retreat

Sister Therese Elias, OSB

This retreat is not just for the Irish, Scottish, or Breton, but for all who search for God in the ordinary and the everyday. In true Celtic fashion, we will celebrate the goodness of creation, the nearness of the saints, and the power of the Trinity. Presentations will utilize ancient poetry, art, song, storytelling and Celtic Christianity’s beautiful legacy of prayers and blessings.  (Bring your journal)

Cost: $26o; includes a private room and meals  ($50 non-refundable  deposit)

Register by March 3.     Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

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

APRIL

Thursday, April 9 | 3:00 p.m. to Sunday, April 12 | 1:00 p.m.

TRIDUUM RETREAT

Spend the Triduum immersed in the beautiful liturgies and profound silence of the monastery which then culminates in the joyous celebration of Easter. The retreat begins with an orientation before the monastic Holy Thursday banquet, continues through the powerful liturgies of the foot washing and Mass of the Lord’s Supper; the moving rituals of Good Friday, and a full celebration of the Easter Vigil, and ends with the Easter Eucharist and festive dinner.

Fee: $240.00; includes a private room and meals. (Non-refundable deposit of $50)
Register by March 31.   Register online or by calling 913-360-6173

Wednesday, April 15 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

WOMEN IN SCRIPTURE: Women of the House Churches: Models of Leadership

You are invited to spend the day with the women who were an integral part of the beginning of Christianity, yet whose contributions are not generally known. We will examine who these women were and what their roles were in this crucial time following the death and resurrection of Jesus. Come spend time in learning, prayer and sharing, while connecting with these women leaders of the past and with one another.

Fee: $65; lunch included.    Register by April 5.   Register online or call 913.360.6173.

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.

MAY

Saturday, May 2 | 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

MINISTERING TO BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT

Sister Linda Zahner, OSB

This workshop is for everyone interested in learning how to use the brillance and wisdom of the body’s energies for wellness and wholeness.

Come and learn how to unlock the secrets of this medicine that is a vital key to health, vitality and well-being.

Fee: $50 ($10 non-refundable deposit)
Register by April 21.    Register online or by calling 913-360-6173

JUNE

June 26-28

BEING BENEDICTINE IN THE 21ST CENTURY: Spiritual Seekers in Conversation

Being Benedictine in the 21st Century: Spiritual Seekers in Conversation, planned for June 26-28, 2020, in Atchison, Kansas, marks a first-ever gathering of professed Benedictines, Oblates, staff, volunteers, friends and benefactors of Benedictine ministries and monasteries, and any seeker who has read the Rule of St. Benedict and experienced a conversion of heart. We will hear from speakers including Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister, one of our visionary spiritual voices, and Oblate authors Kathleen Norris and Judith Valente and engage in facilitated conversation and idea generation. We will put speacial emphasis on inviting the participation of Millenials, people in their twenties and thirties who often eschew formal religion but still seek an authentic experience of faith in action.

Sophia Center will host this event but all registrations will be done through the website “beingbenedictine.org“. Please check the website “beingbenedictine.org” for more information about the conference and sign up to receive information about registering and reserving a room for the conference as soon as it’s available.

AUGUST

Tuesday, August 4 |4:00 p.m. – Sunday, August 9 |1:00 p.m.

SILENT DIRECTED RETREAT

Sophia Staff

Get away from the noise and busyness of everyday life. Spend time with God in personal prayer, meet daily with a spiritual director, and if you wish, join others for daily centering prayer and group sharing of scripture. The quiet of the monastic setting gives you time to listen to the deep desires of your heart.

Fee: $435; includes private room and meals  ($75 non-refundable deposit)
Register by July 27      Register online  or call 913.360.6173.

OCTOBER

Saturday, October 3 | 9:00 a.m. – Sunday, October 4 | noon

RETREAT FOR ADOPTIVE MOMS: A Retreat for Moms by Moms

Facilitated by Mary Kay Whitacre, DMin. and other moms

Were you blessed to become a mom through the process adoption? Are you looking for a way to renew and recharge your spirit so you have more to share with your family? Would you like to connect with other moms who have similar stories? This will be the perfect opportunity to rest and care for yourself while sharing the experience and wisdom of others. Bond with God and other mothers.

Fee: $85; includes room and meals. Scholarships are available.

Register by September 25.  Register online or call 913.360.6173.

2021

JANUARY

Friday, January 29 | 4:00 p.m. – Saturday, January 30 | 2:30 p.m.

FULLY AWAKE AND TRULY ALIVE

For college students by college students

Area college students are invited to explore together how to live more mindfully and peacefully amidst the stresses of their college years. This will be a great opportunity to laugh, rest, share and connect with God and others.

Fee: $35; includes room/meals (scholarships available)

Register by January 21.  Register online or call 913.360.6173.

APRIL

Thursday, April 1 | 3:00 p.m. to Sunday, April 4 | 1:00 p.m.

TRIDUUM RETREAT

Spend the Triduum immersed in the beautiful liturgies and profound silence of the monastery which then culminates in the joyous celebration of Easter. The retreat begins with an orientation before the monastic Holy Thursday banquet, continues through the powerful liturgies of the foot washing and and Mass of the Lord’s Supper; the moving rituals of Good Friday, and a full celebration of the Easter Vigil, and ends with the Easter Eucharist and festive dinner.

Fee: $245.00; private room and meals. (Non-refundable deposit of $50)

Register by calling 913-360-6173 or   Register online.

OCTOBER

Saturday, October 30 | 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

SPIRITUALITY: The Call to Holiness and Wholeness

Sister Melannie Svoboda, SND

What does a healthy spirituality look like and feel like? This retreat will explore some of the traits of a healthy spirituality such as compassion, friendship, love and respect for nature, prayer, hope, balancing work and leisure, and the ability to live graciously with a certain amount of adversity and ambiguity. Using scripture, music, short videos, stories, poetry and humor, Sister Melannie will lead us in exploring God’s presence and action in our everyday lives.

Fee: $150; includes a private room and meals (Non-refundable $30 deposit) Scholarships are available. Register by October 20.    Register online or by calling 913-360-6173

Sister Melannie Svoboda, a Sister of Notre Dame, lives in Chardon, Ohio. She has an MA in English from Indiana University and an MA in Spirituality from Duquesne University. Sister has taught high school and college for many years, and ministered as novice director and provincial for her community. She is an author and a free-lance writer with articles in many publications. Currently she writes and is a popular presenter who gives talks, workshops and retreats nationally.