Southern Nebraska Register
Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House will host its annual “Day of Recollection” for Ash Wednesday Feb. 22.
Open to both men and women, this year’s theme will be “Meeting God in the Desert,” presented by Deacon Matthew Hecker.
“How do we find a ‘desert’ in the circumstances of our life?” asked Deacon Hecker. “The desert is right here and is accessible to anyone. I want people to attend this retreat to be able to ‘find their desert’ and in it, a deep encounter with our Lord.”
Life can often be too loud, busy, confusing, and hurtful, he said, but the desert offers the antidote to these problems.
“It is a place that offers simplicity, solitude, peace… a place of powerful encounter with God, as Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Elijah, John the Baptist, and Jesus show,” he said.
Dr. Matthew Hecker has spent nearly 30 years working in higher education after earning his Ph.D. in education administration. He was ordained as the first permanent deacon for the Lincoln Diocese in 2021 and currently serves as the director of permanent deacons for the diocese, as well as chief administrative officer for the diocesan schools. He and his wife, Dani, have three daughters and two grandchildren.
The Day of Recollection will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. It includes conferences, a chaplet, rosary, stations of the cross, confessions, and Mass with ashes.
To attend the Ash Wednesday Recollection in Waverly in person, advance registration at goodcounselretreat.org is encouraged but not required. Participants should arrive between 9 and 9:30 a.m. for registration. The cost for the day is $10, and participants are to bring a meatless sack lunch. Drinks are provided.
To participate online, register at goodcounselretreat.org to be mailed the link to participate, or subscribe to the Good Counsel Retreat House YouTube channel to be notified when the livestream begins. A free-will donation is appreciated.
Other upcoming retreats will be held Feb. 10-11, the LDCCW Winter Symposium for women; Feb. 24-26, “I+You=We Marriage Workshop” with Father Jay; March 9-16, Ignatian retreats (4-Day or 8-Day) with Father Christopher Barak, Father Gary Coulter or Matt Simmons; and March 10-12, “In the Presence of the Lord” Eucharistic retreat with Father Loras Grell.
