Retreats and Workshops

2020

JANUARY

Tuesday, January 21 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

PRAYERFUL PAUSES – Sabbath Time

Facilitated by Mary Kay Whitacre, DMin.

Sabbath is about taking a break from your ordinary day-to-day life for adventure. It is about breaking the cycle of stress in this crazy world to renew your energy and creativity. 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.

Fee: $30; includes program and lunch. (Special rates available for groups from the same church staff. Scholarships available.) Register by January 18. 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, January 23 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

LECTIO WITH THE SUNDAY SCRIPTURES

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

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

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

SABBATH: Finding Rest, Renewal & Delight In Our Busy Lives

Young Adult Retreat: 18 yrs. (high school graduate) – 25 yrs.

Sophia Center, 751 South 8th Street, Atchison, Kansas

Meet, connect, and have fun with other young adults. Take a break from your same day-to-day life for a new adventure. Break the cycle of stress in this crazy world to renew your energy and creativity. Treat yourself to the rest you deserve.

Fee: $35; includes meals and lodging (scholarships available) Register by January 17.
Contact: Mary Kay Whitacre, mkwhitacre@mountosb.org or 913.645.5382

Tuesday, January 28 | 6:45 p.m.

MONTHLY BOOK DISCUSSION

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

House Made of Dawn by N. Scott Momaday

Take the winter blues away by joining with others for a stimulating discussion.

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, January 30 | 10:30 a.m.

BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING: Introduction to Centering Prayer

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

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, January 30 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

PRAYING WITH MANDALAS: A Spiritual Art Form

Sharon Highberger

Perhaps you’ve been coloring someone else’s mandalas or have been intrigued by the beauty of this ancient spiritual art form? Come and learn how to “grow” your own mandala. One need not know how to draw.

Fee: $50, includes lunch and supplies.

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

Friday, January 31 | 6:00 p.m. – Saturday, February 1 | 2:00 p.m.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS

Coordinated by Mary Kay Whitacre, DMin.

PEER SUPERVISION

Friday, January 31 | 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

After pizza and prayer, we will break into peer supervision groups around your lived experiences of spiritual direction.

Fee: $80, includes overnight stay, meals, and the Regional Spiritual Directors Gathering on Saturday, February 1. ($20 nonrefundable deposit)

FEBRUARY

REGIONAL SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS GATHERING

Saturday, February 1 | 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Our group discussion will focus around an SDI (Spiritual Directors International) webinar, and will also include opportunities for contemplative prayer, faith sharing, and networking with other spiritual directors. It will be one of our first opportunities to build a local community of spiritual directors, and we would love for you to be a part of it.

Fee: $20. Register by January 25. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Thursday, February 6 | 10:30 a.m.

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

BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING WITH THE SPIRITUAL SAGES

Join others in reflecting and discussing the wisdom of the spiritual writers

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, February 11 | 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

SOUP AND SILENCE

Come for the morning or spend the day. We’ll have hot soup and warm bread for you at noon. Spend time in silence, walk our beautiful grounds, or pray in St. Scholastica Chapel.

Free-will offering. Registration required. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Wednesday, February 12 | 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

SOULJOURNERS INQUIRY

Sister Mary Elizabeth Schweiger, OSB

Souljourners is a three-year spiritual formation program for the training of spiritual directors.

Are you experiencing a call to spiritual renewal, and at the same time, wanting to learn the skills of discernment and deep listening… listening to God, to yourself, and to others? Come to one of our sessions to learn more:

March 28, 10:00 a.m. – noon, April 29, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., May 23, 10:00 a.m. – noon

For more information or to register, please contact Sister Mary Elizabeth at: 913,360.6159 or maryliz@mountosb.org

Sister Mary Elizabeth, a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica, is a staff member of Sophia Center, the director of Souljourners, and a spiritual director.

Thursday, February 13 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

EXPLORING OUR INTERIOR CASTLE

Renee Bhatia

St. Teresa of Avila compares the contemplative life to a castle with many chambers, and describes the soul’s journey to the innermost chamber where there is union with the Divine. The expressive arts (movement, sound, visual art, storytelling/poetry, and silence) are the language of the soul. With St. Teresa’s metaphor as a guide, we will explore our own inner landscapes and the pull to the center, using the expressive arts.

Wear comfortable clothes for movement and art-making. No experience in the arts is necessary! Just bring a playful and curious spirit and an open hearts.

Fee: $70 ($20 non-refundable deposit). Register by February 6. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Renee Bhatia has worked in faith formation in the Catholic Church, in both parishes and diocesan offices. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a Masters of Divinity degree from Emory University. She is a graduate of the Souljourners Formation Program for spiritual directors at Sophia Spirituality Center, where she continues to serve on staff. Renee is currently enrolled in the Intermodal Expressive Arts Certificate Program at Expressive Arts Florida Institute.

Thursday, February 13 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

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

LECTIO WITH THE SUNDAY SCRIPTURES

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

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, February 18 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

PRAYERFUL PAUSES – Making Lent a Time of Renewal

Facilitated by Mary Kay Whitacre, DMin.

With Lent right around the corner, what needs to be reawakened in your soul? Let’s share practical ideas for making the most of this season, so we can really experience the rebirth of Spring/Easter. We 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.

Fee: $30; includes program and lunch. (Special rates available for groups from the same church staff. Scholarships available.) Register by February 15. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Thursday, February 20 | 10:30 a.m.

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

BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING WITH THE SPIRITUAL SAGES

Join others in reflecting and discussing the wisdom of the spiritual writers

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, February 25 | 6:45 p.m.

MONTHLY BOOK DISCUSSION

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

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

Book: The Lowland by Jhumpa LaHiri

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.

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

ASH WEDNESDAY, SOUP AND SILENCE

Come for the morning or spend the day. We’ll have hot soup and warm bread for you at noon.. Spend time in silence, walk our beautiful grounds, or pray in St. Scholastica Chapel.

Free-will offering. Registration required. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Thursday, February 27 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

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

LECTIO WITH THE SUNDAY SCRIPTURES

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

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, February 28 | 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS CONNECT

Join with other spiritual directors over hearty hors d’oeuvres and beverages in a casual setting to connect, network, and share. This informal gathering will help you meet other spiritual directors, initiate relationships, and exchange wisdom. Our community experience will be so much richer if you are a part of it.

Free-will offering ($5 suggested). Register by February 20. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

February 28 – March 1 with Sister Maureen Conroy, RSM

Friday, February 28 | 9:00 a.m, – 4:00 p.m. – for anyone who is interested

EXPAND YOUR BRAIN, TRANSFORM YOUR MIND!!! The Healing Power of Mindfulness and Meditation

Do you at times find yourself obsessing, fragmented, unfocused, and even frantic? Do you sometimes rush around too much, hold your breath, feel you cannot keep up with life’s pace?

We can calm down our hectic life and frantic mind by harmonizing the left and right hemispheres of our brain and moving into deeper levels of consciousness by the practices of mindfulness and meditation.

Come, learn about, and experience the healing power of mindfulness and meditation as ways to expand your brain, calm your nervous system, heal your body, live in the present moment, and experience the fullness of life that God offers us each day.

Fee: $125, includes retreat and noon meal; $185, includes Thursday overnight and Friday breakfast (20% non-refundable deposit)

Friday, February 28 | 7:00 p.m. – Sunday, March 1 | 12:30 p.m. – for spiritual directors, counselors, therapists

HEALING OUR WOUNDED SELF, RETURNING TO OUR ORIGINAL WHOLENESS: Gift of Prayer and Spiritual Direction

We are enormously blessed! We are made in the image and likeness of God. Our core self is an imprint of divine love. But, for many reasons we experience woundedness of body, mind and spirit. However, our prayer and inner process can help us to embrace our wounds and allow God to restore us to our original wholeness.

In an atmosphere of prayer and contemplative presence, we will invite our loving Creator to heal our woundedness and deepen our journey toward wholeness. Areas we will consider are:

Healing our inner child
God embracing our woundedness
Healing crippling shame
Generational healing: healing family systems
Healing the future
Holiness is Wholeness
The healing power of prayer and meditation
Being a compassionate presence

Come and experience deep inner healing yourself and learn holistic and prayerful ways to help others to be whole, healed, joyful, and free!!!! You will receive a helpful handout of information and meditation techniques for ongoing healing in your daily life.

Fee: $400, includes retreat, meals, 2 overnights; commuters – $320, includes meals, no overnight (20% non-refundable deposit)

Sister Maureen Conroy, RSM, D. Min. is co-director of the Upper Room Spiritual Center in Neptune, N.J. Her ministries include spiritual direction, the education of spiritual directors, directed retreats, and workshops on spiritual direction, supervision of spiritual directors, discernment and holistic spirituality. She is the author of five books, including A Discerning Heart and Looking Into the Well.

MARCH

Tuesday, March 3 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

LENTEN SOUP AND SILENCE

Come for the morning or spend the day. We’ll have hot soup and warm bread for you at noon.. Spend time in silence, walk our beautiful grounds, or pray in St. Scholastica Chapel.

Free-will offering. Registration required. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Sunday, March 8 | 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

A LENTEN RETREAT FOR CATHOLIC WOMEN: Transforming Our World

Mary Kay Whitacre, D.Min.

What can we as Catholic women do to be sources of healing in the face of so much pain and suffering today? How can we be the loving presence of Christ for others? Can we make a difference? The day begins with Mass with the sisters of Mount St. Scholastica in the beautiful blue Choir Chapel. Afterwards, the retreat time will focus on how we can be instruments of transformation in our hurting world.

Lunch included. Donations accepted. Register online or call 913.360.6173. Register by March 1.

Mary Kay Whitacre, D.Min, is on staff at Sophia Center and has many years of experience in pastoral ministry.

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

WOMEN IN SCRIPTURE: Models of Sacrifice

Renee Neff-Clark

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. ($15 non-refundable deposit) Register by March 4. 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.

Thursday, March 12 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

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

LECTIO WITH THE SUNDAY SCRIPTURES

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

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, 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: $260; includes a private room and meals ($50 non-refundable deposit)

Sister Therese Elias, OSB, is a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kansas. She is a retreat director, 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, March 13 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

LENTEN SOUP AND SILENCE

Come for the morning or spend the day. We’ll have hot soup and warm bread for you at noon.. Spend time in silence, walk our beautiful grounds, or pray in St. Scholastica Chapel.

Free-will offering. Registration required. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Saturday, March 14 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

GETAWAY FOR SELF-RENEWAL – Waiting list only

Sister Linda Zahner, OSB

Take care of yourself, so you ca 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 experience: 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)

Sister Linda Zahner, OSB, MA, 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.

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

PRAYERFUL PAUSES – The Holy Men of March

Facilitated by Mary Kay Whitacre, DMin.

During March we celebrate the feasts of three special men – St. Patrick, St. Joseph, and St. Benedict. Let’s listen for their sacred wisdom and join them in prayer and celebration. 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.

Fee: $30; includes program and lunch. (Special rates available for groups from the same church staff. Scholarships available.) Register by March 13. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

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

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

BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING WITH THE SPIRITUAL SAGES

Join others in reflection and discussion on the works of some of our spiritual writers.

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, March 19 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

LENTEN COFFEE AND SILENCE

Come for the morning or bring a sack 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.

Free-will offering. Registration required. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Wednesday, March 25 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

LENTEN COFFEE AND SILENCE

Come for the morning or bring a sack 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.

Free-will offering. Registration required. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Thursday, March 26 | 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 ($40 non-refundable deposit) Register by March 19. 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.

Thursday, March 26 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

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

LECTIO WITH THE SUNDAY SCRIPTURES

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

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, March 27 | 7:00 p.m. – Saturday, March 28 | 4:00 p.m.

LOOKING AT THE SOUL OF THE WORLD: The Poetry of Mary Oliver

Judith Valente

Perhaps more than any other contemporary poet, Mary Oliver sought to uncover what Bernard of Clairvaux called “the real behind the real.” Her explorations of nature, her insights into human nature, and her uncanny ability to detect the hidden wholeness and spirit within creation bring us not only into contact with “the soul of the world,” but with the very nature of God. Using her poems as guides, we will explore refreshing our spirits, deepening our kinship with all of creation, and answering the challenge her poetry poses to us all: “What is it you plan to do/ with your one wild precious life?”

Fee: $150.00 (private room, breakfast and dinner on Saturday) Scholarships available.

Commuters: $125 (Friday night and Saturday presentations, Saturday noon meal)

Saturday only: $100 (includes Saturday noon meal)

($30 non-refundable deposit)

Judith Valente is the author of four spirituality titles, including Atchison Blue: A Search for Silence A Spiritual Home and a Living Faith; The Art of Pausing; and How to Live: What the Rule of St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning and Community. She is also the author of two collections of poetry and leads frequent retreats on living a more contemplative life.

Tuesday, March 31 | 6:45 p.m.

MONTHLY BOOK DISCUSSION

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

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

Book: When the Heart Waits by Sue Monk Kidd

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.

APRIL

Thursday, April 2 | 10:30 a.m.

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

BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING WITH THE SPIRITUAL SAGES

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, April 7 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

LENTEN COFFEE AND SILENCE

Come for the morning or bring a sack 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.

Free-will offering. Registration required. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

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 April 2. 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. ($15 non-refundable deposit) 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.

Thursday, April 16 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

GETAWAY FOR SELF-RENEWAL – 4 spots remaining

Sister Linda Zahner, OSB

Limited to 5 participants.

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

Thursday, April 16 | 10:30 a.m.

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

BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING WITH THE SPIRITUAL SAGES

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, April 21 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

PRAYERFUL PAUSES – Sacred Art in a Circle

Facilitated by Mary Kay Whitacre, DMin.

Do you ever feel like you are going in circles? Let’s explore how we can use mandalas – sacred art in a circle to break that cycle of stress. 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.

Fee: $30; includes program and lunch. (Special rates available for groups from the same church staff. Scholarships available.) Register by April 14. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Thursday, April 23 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

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

LECTIO WITH THE SUNDAY SCRIPTURES

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

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, April 28 | 6:45 p.m.

MONTHLY BOOK DISCUSSION

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

Barking to the Choir by Greg Boyle

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, April 30 | 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

WRITING THE WORD: Contemplative Calligraphy in Color

Mary Donovan

Learn the elegant but simple script the medieval monks and nuns used fpr copying the Bible. After we’ve learned the basic scripts of Calligraphy, Celtic, Unical, and Italic, we’ll use color and gold to make illustrated capitals. Using special markers and paper that will will be provided, participants will make a panel of passages they have chosen from Scripture. The workshop will guide participants in the meditative art of Calligraphy.

Fee: $75, includes supplies and lunch. ($15 non-refundable deposit) Register by April 23. Scholarships are available. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Mary Donovan is an Episcopal seminarian at the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry in Topeka, Kansas. She is an oblate of Mount St. Scholastica. Before moving to Kansas, Mary served as a teacher and administrator for the New York City public schools.

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

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

BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING WITH THE SPIRITUAL SAGES

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.

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 25. Register online or by calling 913.360.6173

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

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

BRIDGES TO CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING WITH THE SPIRITUAL SAGES

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, May 8 | 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

A PORTRAIT RETREAT FOR DAUGHTERS AND MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS AND SISTERS

Mary Donovan

Portraits evoke powerful memories. Who better to draw a portrait of at this time of the year than a mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, or another woman who has been influential in your life? This workshop retreat will be an invitation to deepen our awareness of the role of feminine nurturing in our lives. As we draw using pencil, ink and watercolor, we will compose pictures of our spiritual mothers and those we have supported and loved. We will deepen our joy in knowing, remembering, and celebrating unconditional love and our changing relationships with the important women in our lives. We will have time to reflect on motherhood and gratitude.

Don’t worry about knowing how to paint. Our retreat facilitator has a unique gift of bringing out the inner artist. What is important is the personal growth, the renewal, insight, joy, gratitude, and forgiveness the process will invoke.

Fee: $75, includes supplies and lunch. ($15 non-refundable deposit) Register by May 1. Scholarships are available. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Friday, May 8 | 7:00 p.m. – Saturday, May 9 | 3:30 p.m.

FINDING THE SACRED THROUGH DEPRESSION

Sharon Highberger

Sharon Highberger shares an inspired 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) Scholarships available.

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

Thursday, May 14 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

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

LECTIO WITH THE SUNDAY SCRIPTURES

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

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, May 15 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

COFFEE AND SILENCE

Come for the morning or bring a sack 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.

Free-will offering. Registration required. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Saturday, May 23 | 1 – 4 p.m.

12th STEP CONTEMPLATIVE OUTREACH

STEP 11: SOUGHT THROUGH PRAYER AND MEDITATION…

Sharon Highberger

As a commissioned Contemplative Outreach facilitator, Sharon Highberger offers a simple meditation method as an 11th Step practice for all those in 12 Step fellowships.

This simple method of contemplative prayer opens the mind and heart to the Higher Power:

for those who wish to start a meditation practice
for those who want supportive information for their practice
for anyone interested in deepening their current meditation practice

This workshop will provide you with a simple practice enhanced with 12 step wisdom approved for our use by AA.

Free-will offering. Registration required. Register by May 17. 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.

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 special 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.

JULY

Saturday, July 11 | 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

A JOURNEY INTO THE COLORS OF SUMMER

Mary Donovan

The joy of summer is in the birds, the flowers, and the trees! Come spend time noticing the beauty of the season. Using acrylics, we will celebrate the season by painting panels of the bountiful colors we see. During the day there will be periods of prayer and walking outside to capture the colors of July. Don’t worry about knowing how to paint. Our retreat facilitator has a unique gift of bringing out the inner artist. What is important is the personal growth, the renewal, insight, joy gratitude, and awe the process will evoke. Come join us.

Fee: $75, includes supplies and lunch. ($15 non-refundable deposit) Scholarships are available. Register by July 5. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Tuesday, July 14 | 7:00 p.m. – Saturday, July 18 | 1:00 p.m.

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION SUPERVISION: Theory and Practice

Lucy Abbott Tucker

Do you offer supervision for spiritual directors?Would you like to train so that you can offer such supervision?This is an opportunity to learn from one of the most distinguished spiritual directors and supervisors in the United States.

Any spiritual director/companion worth her or his salt knows that supervision is essential. Not only should directors be participating in regular spiritual direction themselves, they should “receive supervision from peers or from a mentor” and “seek consultations with other appropriately qualified persons when necessary.” This is clearly stated in SDI’s Guidelines for Ethical Conduct (2016).

Yet, many spiritual companions say there is a shortage of supervisors. In fact, quality training in supervision is not always easy to find. That’s why we are offering a five-day intensive, in-person Supervision Training Workshop.

“Supervision is not a forum that polices spiritual directors or decides who is in and who is out. At the same time, without supervision we are much more likely to neglect or ignore our own blind spots, how we are subtly pushing or pulling our directees. When the same type of trust that enables spiritual directions sessions to be safe places is present in supervision sessions, a great deal of growth can happen.” Lucy Abbott Tucker

Participants will:

Consider how definitions of spiritual direction affect the process of supervision
Look at supervision as a process of self-reflection, education, and consultation
Explore a variety of processes to enhance the supervision relationship
Consider supervision in individual and group settings
Practice both individual and group supervisory processes

Workshop Goals

Become aware of your own definition/description of spiritual direction and develop an awareness of how that functions in supervision relationships
Learn the attributes of an effective supervisor
Discover how the roles of supervisor and supervisee change during different stages
Discern on supervision as – not a mark of approval or disapproval – but a process of understanding and development that considers:
What I did
Why I did it
What happened
What I learned about myself
What I learned about spiritual direction
Practice skills for effective communication and feedback
Examine models for individual and peer group supervision
Explore self-supervision models
Distinguish between transference and countertransference, and recognize them as they unfold
Develop an awareness of what model of spiritual growth/maturity the supervisee is using
Create you own definition/understanding of supervision and own it

Please note: The workshop involves both input and practice by the participants. Participants are expected to bring 2 one-paragraph summaries of recent spiritual direction conversations that you will use during the workshop.

Fee: $550; includes private room and meals; Shared room – $450; Commuters – $400 ($75 non-refundable deposit)

Lucy Abbott Tucker is one of the founders of Spiritual Directors International and she led the task force to write and establish SDI’s Official Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for all spiritual directors, regardless of culture or tradition. She has worked in adult formation and in the preparation of people for the ministry of spiritual direction for 35 years. With an initial background in mathematics and education in 1983, she studied at the Institute for Spiritual Leadership and Catholic Theological Union, Chicago where she obtained a Master Degree in Theology. Lucy worked for many years at the Institute for Spiritual Leadership in Chicago and recently served as President of the Board of Directors for that organization. In addition, Lucy has been involved in retreats and workshop throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, and Canada. Watch her wisdom in action in this SDI Learns video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU3SOEzZf1M .

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.

SEPTEMBER

Friday, September 11 | 7:00 p.m. – Sunday, September 13 | 4:00 p.m.

ENNEAGRAM WORKSHOP – 1 spot remaining

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: $275; includes a private room and meals ($50 non-refundable deposit)

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.

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.

Friday, October 9 | 7:00 p.m. – Sunday, October 11 | 4:00 p.m.

THE DREAM AND THE JOURNEY: A Dream Retreat – 6 spots remaining

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: $280 ($55 non-refundable deposit)

Tuesday evening, October 27 – Thursday evening, October 29

CENTERING PRAYER RETREAT

Offered in partnership with Contemplative Outreach

Come experience the silence of prayer with other contemplative companions and rest in the stillness. Centering Prayer is a method of contemplative prayer which prepares us to receive the gift of God’s presence. Contemplative prayer is the opening of mind and heart – our whole being – to God. The focus of Centering Prayer is the deepening of our relationship with the living Christ which builds up the family of God.There will be periods of centering prayer along with ample time for walking, reading, journaling, resting and participating in the monastic liturgies.

The retreat is open to people with experience of centering prayer as well as those new to this method.

Fee: $225, includes retreat, private room and meals ($50 non-refundable deposit). Special commuter fee of $100 per person.

Friday, October 30 | 7:00 p.m. – Sunday, November 1 | 4:00 p.m.

DREAM RETREAT – Part 2, a Follow-up Retreat

Sister Therese Elias, OSB

This is a follow-up Dream retreat for those who have previously participated in the Dream and the Journey retreat.

Limit 10. Fee: $280 ($55 non-refundable deposit)

Friday, October 30 | 4:00 p.m. – Saturday, October 31 | 3:30 p.m.

BLUE MOON PHOTOGRAPHY RETREAT

Kathy England

Where do we notice the presence of God? How? When? How could we share our noticing with others? This overnight, with a sunset, blue 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. Bring the camera you use, from phone to DSLR. This is NOT a course in photographic technique, but an opportunity to explore awareness, connection, and contemplation in relation to photography.

Fee: $140, includes private room and meals ($40, non-refundable deposit). Register by October 20. Register online or call 913.360.6173.

Kathy 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.

2021

JANUARY

Friday, January 8 | 7:00 p.m. – Sunday, January 10 | 4:00 p.m.

ENNEAGRAM WORKSHOP – 12 spots remaining

Sister Therese Elias, OSB

Limited to 13 participants. Fee: $275; includes a private room and meals ($50 non-refundable deposit)

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. ($50 non-refundable deposit)

OCTOBER

Saturday, October 30 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 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: $90; includes noon meal ($20 non-refundable deposit) Scholarships 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.