WHEATLAND — The following events are slated at Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat near Wheatland:
• Weekend Retreat for Women, Friday, Aug. 13, 7 p.m. to Sunday, Aug. 15, 10 a.m. Fee is $100, which includes Saturday meals and Sunday breakfast. The retreat aims to offer an opportunity for women to come to a quiet setting to celebrate God’s presence reflected in the wonders of nature. It will be a time to be attentive to God’s presence in the midst of ordinary daily experiences on life’s journey. Limit is eight participants.
Presenter is Sister Ramona Kaalberg, CHM. She is coordinator of formation for the Sisters of Humility of Mary and completed the Spiritual Direction Program at Creighton University in Omaha. She has given numerous “busy persons” retreats to college students and professionals.
• Are There Ghettos in Our Parishes? Thursday, Sept. 2, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Fee is $15, which includes lunch.
A ghetto is caused by cultural sensitivity gone awry. It is created where immigrants in the parish live next to friends from their homeland, eat native foods, and socialize among themselves. Then the local parishioners grow agitated that their parish has been colonized by foreigners who fail to try to be part of local parish activities. Retreat participants will examine what can be done to identify and offset the ghetto that is fueled by well-meaning leaders who believe immigrants should maintain their own culture while living in their new surroundings. Participants will propose ways to manage the evolution of multi-cultural parishes — on both sides of the divide.
Target audience is all who are concerned about cultural sensitivity and diversity. Presenters Sister Caridad Inda, CHM, and Sister Kathryn Bissell, CHM, are founders and co-directors of The Center for International Resources Inc. (CIRIMEX) in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. CIRIMEX offers one-on-one total immersion Spanish language, cross-cultural and culture-based pastoral training for the U.S. clergy in Guadalajara.
To register for either event, contact Barbara Gross at (563) 336-8414 or olpretreat@gmail.com.
