Weekend retreat for men, women with Father Karl Millis
WAVERLY (SNR) – Father Karl Millis will lead a weekend retreat on the Little Flower, “Living the Little Way of St. Thérèse,” Nov. 15-17 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House near Waverly.
“The wisdom of St. Thérèse speaks to us about what it means to follow the Lord,” said Father Millis. “She invites us to experience the unconditional love God has for everyone; of how God’s justice is conditioned by His mercy; and how God’s justice serves love. ‘To love the love that is mercy’ is central to the practice of The Little Way. It is this love that we are called to show towards others.”
Topics for the retreat include confidence in God, in spite of sufferings; God’s personal love for each person, and how it can be seen at work; not becoming discouraged by sins and weaknesses, but abandoning oneself to the mercy of God; and what it means truly to follow Jesus.
“How often do you and I cling to things of this world, thinking they will satisfy, thinking they can somehow fill a place that only God can fill?” Father Millis asked. “And how many of us resist really following Jesus with the radical conviction that St. Thérèse did, in truly surrendering everything to Christ? All these other things cannot satisfy.”
Father Millis has been a Third Order Carmelite for more than 30 years, and has studied Carmelite spirituality extensively in both Rome and the United States. He has helped to establish Third Order Carmelite groups in several parishes.
“As a Third Order Carmelite, I enjoy sharing Carmelite spirituality with others,” he shared. “It is said, ‘The Carmelites may be one of the smallest religious orders of the Church, but they have produced some of the greatest Saints.’ To know, understand, and live the Carmelite spirituality in one’s life, gives to one an amazing gift to assist one on the journey to heaven.”
Father Karl Millis was ordained in 1999 and came to the Diocese of Lincoln five years ago, serving at St. Joseph in Auburn, St. Clara in Peru, and as chaplain of the Newman Center in Peru.
Open since 1963, Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House near Waverly hosts 25 weekend retreats each year for men and women of all ages. Retreats typically begin on Fridays with an 8 p.m. rosary and Mass, and conclude with Sunday Mass and noon lunch.
Other upcoming retreats include “Jesus, Please Heal Me!” with Father Craig Doty Nov. 1-3; Women’s Magnificat with Sister Lucy Nov. 22-24; and “Keeping Close to Mary” with Bishop James Conley Dec. 6-8.
For more information or to register, go to goodcounselretreat.org, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 402-786-2705.
