Good Counsel Retreat House Saturday events open to all
WAVERLY (SNR) – Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House in Waverly will host two online one-day retreats Saturday, June 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, June 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The June 20 retreat, presented by Msgr. Daniel Seiker, is titled “St. Francis de Sales, Guide Along the Path of Holiness,” and is intended for anyone who wants to grow in holiness.
St. Francis de Sales, a Doctor of the Church, has been called the Father of Modern Spirituality. His classic work, “The Introduction to the Devout Life,” has guided countless Christians since 1609. As Bishop of Geneva, Francis de Sales realized most spiritual books were written for those in monasteries or convents and did not address the spiritual lives of those living in the world.
St. Francis wrote to anyone who loves God, about how to grow in Christian perfection – “ devotion” – while living in the midst of the world, with all the cares and struggles people experience. The June 20 retreat aims to introduce participants to the “Introduction to the Devout Life.”
St. Francis de Sales systematically guides all Christians in the fundamentals of the spiritual life: conversion, prayer, the practice of the virtues, as well as guidance according to one’s state in life, times of temptation, sadness, consolations, dryness in prayer, and how to judge progress in true devotion.
Those who participate in the at-home retreat June 20 are invited to consider getting a copy of the book. The translation by John K. Ryan is highly recommended and can be ordered in a print edition for less than $15 and in a Kindle edition for $0.99 (there are also other versions available online). The retreat will include three half-hour conferences and a Mass.
The June 27 retreat will be presented by Father Boniface Hicks, OSB, entitled “Growing Closer to God through Personal Prayer.”
The retreat will present simple, practical means for learning how to pray from the Catholic tradition of prayer. Father Boniface invites men and women of all ages to seek out a personal relationship with God the Father, to discover their path to an intimate relationship with God.
The online retreat will include four talks by Father Boniface and include time for questions. Registration is required to participate in the Q&A session and livestreaming. A free-will donation is not required. On-demand recordings will also be available.
Father Hicks is a Benedictine monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Penn. Since his ordination to the priesthood in 2004, he has experience as a retreat master for laity, consecrated religious, and priests and has recorded thousands of programs on theology and the spiritual life for Catholic radio.
The director of spiritual formation for Saint Vincent Seminary since 2016, Father Boniface offers courses on spiritual direction, and together with Father Thomas Acklin, OSB, has authored two books: “Personal Prayer: A Guide for Receiving the Father’s Love” and “Spiritual Direction: A Guide for Sharing the Father’s Love.” His writings, video and audio are available at www.fatherboniface.org.
A free-will offering is requested for all online retreats to support Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House in Waverly. On-demand recordings are also available. Register at goodcounselretreat.com, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 402-786-2705.
