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Women’s retreat to explore the ‘Courage to Love’
By Julie Filby
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Women’s Retreat ‘Courage to Love’ All women are invited |
Need a break, ladies? All women are invited to the retreat “Courage to Love” to be held Sept. 9-10 at Nativity of Our Lord Church in Broomfield.
The event, organized by ENDOW (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women), a Catholic education-based ministry, hopes to provide women—married, single, young and senior—an uplifting weekend of renewal.
“Between working, raising children and tending to the needs of others, women’s lives are very stressful,” said Terry Polakovic, co-founder and executive director of ENDOW. “Women, in particular, are sensitive to how this
stress affects their families and everyone around them.”
ENDOW traditionally holds a conference each fall, but this year determined a more nurturing and relaxing event would benefit attendees.
“We wanted to create more of a ‘retreat-like’ atmosphere,” said Polakovic. “We sensed that many women today are in need of a retreat more than a conference—they need time to pray, reflect, be fed spiritually, receive sacraments, and enjoy the company of other Catholic women.”
Weekend activities will include a cocktail reception, meals, keynote talks, small group discussion, Mass, eucharistic adoration and opportunities for confession.
“We hope (attendees) come away refreshed, both physically and spiritually,” said Polakovic. “As with all things sponsored by ENDOW, we hope they also walk away more committed to their Catholic faith.”
From 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 9, Father Michael Carville, F.S.C.B., pastor of Nativity of Our Lord Parish and international retreat leader, will offer a day retreat, “Where Love Begins”—a prelude to the weekend’s activities. The full weekend retreat will begin at 4 p.m. Sept. 9 with cocktails, dinner and a keynote talk by Colorado Springs Bishop Michael J. Sheridan, S.T.D., on “The Courage It Takes to ‘Really’ Love.”
Saturday’s speakers include Mother Regina Marie Gorman, O.C.D., superior general of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart in Los Angeles, sharing insights on the “Courage To Love Others;” Mary Healy, S.T.D., professor of Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, offering reflections on “The Courage to Love As God Loves;” and Msgr. Bernard Schmitz, vicar for clergy for the Denver Archdiocese and pastor of Mother of God Parish in Denver.
Msgr. Schmitz will speak on “The Courage to Love Ourselves,” drawing from the words of Blessed Pope John II at the beginning of his pontificate: “Do not be afraid! Open, open wide the doors to Christ!”
“To understand courage we must first become poor,” said Msgr. Schmitz, “like the woman at the well or the woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears, or like so many others in Scripture.”
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Bishop Michael J. Sheridan, S.T.D. |
“When we learn mercy—which we can only understand if we take ourselves out of the center of the picture and put God there—then we will have the courage to love,” he said, “because it won’t be about us loving, but about God loving others through us.”
Msgr. Schmitz feels this retreat, as well as other ENDOW experiences, can help women understand God’s call.
“ENDOW is a gift because it helps women—and through them men—begin to open up the wonderful mysteries of the teaching of the Church,” he said. “And it helps us see that we’re all called to greatness.”
The fee for the two-day retreat is $135 for adults, which includes meals. High school girls are invited to attend an overnight retreat based on ENDOW’s “True Beauty Revealed” teen program for $99. A discounted mother-daughter rate is available for $200.
Nativity of Our Lord Parish is located at 900 W. Midway Blvd. in Broomfield. To register visit www.EndowGroups.org, call 303-715-3224, or email jamie.gruber@archden.org. The registration deadline is Aug. 31.
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