Southern Nebraska Register
Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House in Waverly invites all men and women desiring to take a step further in their relationship with God during a four-day "Ignatian Directed Retreat" March 27-30 or April 3-6, for Holy Week.
Retreatants may choose either Father Gary Coulter, director of the Retreat House, or Matt Simmons as a spiritual director.
The retreat is marked by complete silence, as there are no talks, common prayers or devotions outside of Mass and Exposition. Even the meals are taken in silence to continue the reflection and prayerful atmosphere. Retreatants journal about each of their prayer times and the movements that occurred there, so that when they meet with the director each day, they can be given guidance and appropriate scripture passages for their meditation.
The Directed Ignatian Retreat is based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, who instructs the retreat director on how to lead a person to encounter God and experience His love through meditation on the scriptures. To learn more about praying with scripture, the recommended reading is “Meditation and Contemplation” by Father Timothy Gallagher.
“The Ignatian retreat has been one of the blessings of my priesthood,” said Father Coulter. “It shapes how I pray daily, and it has been a grace to direct the retreats and see how God is working in people’s lives.”
Sister Mary Blanche, LIHM from South Sioux City, recently attended one of the retreats.
“The Ignatian retreat is a life changing experience,” she said.
Mary Susan from Virginia described her experience saying, “This was my first experience with a Silent Ignatian Retreat. I'm hooked. I hope to make these retreats a regular part of my spiritual journey. Thank you for allowing me the space and time to sit with the Lord.”
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.
Other upcoming retreats include a “Holiness for Moms” day of reflection March 18 with Father Ryan Kaup, “Following the Lord, Little by Little (Poco a Poco)” March 31-April 2 with Father Innocent Montgomery, C.F.R., and “Holy Week for Young Women” retreat with the Marian Sisters April 6-8.
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.
