Southern Nebraska Register
Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House in Waverly will host a 24-hour couples retreat, “Family, Become What You Are” Nov. 14–15.
The retreat will be led by Father Benjamin Holdren, with the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit in the Family (MHSF). It is designed for married couples to reflect on the meaning and mission of their vocation. The retreat begins Friday with check-in at 5 p.m. and supper at 6 p.m. It concludes Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
This retreat is an opportunity for couples to gather with like-minded families who are striving for joyful holiness in the domestic church. Fueled by Scripture and the wisdom of the saints, couples will be guided through practical ways to deepen their prayer life and strengthen their family as a community of faith. The retreat will also include Eucharistic adoration, confession, Mass, talks, time for silence and reflection, and opportunities for fellowship and conversation with other couples.
Father Holdren, ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lincoln in 2007, serves as the spiritual guide for MHSF and brings years of pastoral and teaching experience to his ministry. He is currently the director of the Propaedeutic Year for new seminarians at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward. He previously served as pastor of St. Peter and St. Joseph parishes in Bellwood, as well as chaplain and religion teacher at Aquinas High School in David City.
The Missionaries of the Holy Spirit in the Family is a Catholic apostolate dedicated to igniting holy marriages and reclaiming a “new normal” for families that will enact real and lasting change in the world. Inspired by the call of St. John Paul II, “Family, become who you are,” MHSF works to strengthen marriages through holy formation, intentional community, and deep encounter with God, who is perfect familial communion. The group’s vision is to build up a culture of marriages firmly rooted in the sacrament and devoted to the sanctification of ordinary family life.
The 24-hour retreat includes full room and board, with both overnight and commuter options available. Commuter couples will still be assigned a room for breaks and private discussions. A few double rooms are available, and transportation to and from Lincoln (LNK) or Omaha (OMA) airports can be arranged. Organizers want the opportunity to be accessible to all couples and encourage anyone with financial need to contact the Retreat House regarding scholarships or parish assistance.
For more information or to register, visit www.goodcounselretreat.org or contact the Retreat House at 402-786-2705 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
