WAVERLY (SNR) – Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House in Waverly has published its fall schedule of Directed Spiritual Exercises.
Known as Ignatian Retreats, these four-day and eight-day retreats will be directed by Father Christopher Barak, Father Gary Coulter, and Matthew Simmons.
Father Gary Coulter, director of the retreat house explained, “With the pandemic, besides doing virtual retreats, we also offered more Ignatian retreats, which are intentionally smaller as they are so individualized, with each retreatant daily meeting with his or her director.
“They have proven to be immensely popular,” Father Coulter continued. “We used to only offer Ignatian retreats in the summer, but so far in 2021, 85 people have attended over 11 Ignatian retreats.”
"Discernment of the spirits of consolation and desolation is essential," said Matt Simmons, director of the Office of Evangelization and Spiritual Formation. "Many times we don't recognize the negative experiences we are having, and get bogged down in the anxiety, agitations and frustrations of life."
"Without discernment, we can fall into the lie of negative self-talk." Matt continued, "Through prayer, especially Ignatian prayer, we can learn to recognize God's voice, and thus learn to reject the other voices, the lies of the evil one."
Based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the heart of the Ignatian retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Retreatants journal about their prayer and the movements of the Holy Spirit, which they discuss in meet with the director for guidance.
Most of the four-day retreats will be held Thursday to Sunday, but new this fall, retreatants can continue till the following Thursday for an eight-day retreat.
Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House offers a sanctuary of prayer on a spacious acreage near Waverly. The facility includes 50 single rooms, each with a private bath.
Upcoming Ignatian retreats start Aug. 19 with Matt Simmons (four- or eight-day), Sept. 3 with Father Coulter (three- or four-day), and Sept. 9 with Father Barak (four- or eight-day).
Other upcoming retreats will be an Unbound retreat Aug. 27-29, Work of the Holy Angels Sept. 16-19, and a Year of St Joseph retreat with Msgr. Mark Huber Sept. 24-26.
Learn more and register at goodcounselretreat.org, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 402-786-2705.
