Southern Nebraska Register
Catholic medical professionals from across the region are invited to step away from the demands of patient care and enter a time of prayer, reflection, and renewal at a retreat at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House in Waverly March 19-22.
The retreat “The Word of the Word: Intimacy with Jesus Through His Gospels,” will be led by Sister Mary Diana Dreger, OP, a Dominican sister and medical doctor whose vocation uniquely unites faith and healing. The retreat is open to all Catholic medical professionals — including physicians, nurses, therapists, and medical students — anyone who cares for patients and desires to deepen their relationship with Christ.
The three-day retreat for men and women begins Friday evening, March 20, with dinner, a reception, and a conference followed by Mass. It concludes Sunday, March 22, with Mass and lunch. A four-day option for women is also available, beginning Thursday evening, March 19, with a rosary and Mass. The additional women-only portion offers an extended opportunity for silence, prayer and personal encounter with Christ.
Sister Mary Diana said she invites retreatants to encounter Jesus through His Word.
“In His care for the poor, the sick, and the suffering,” she said, “Jesus invites us into an intimacy with Him by listening to His word.”
She said her hope is that those who attend will grow both in their personal relationship with Christ and in clarity about how their faith informs the care they provide.
The retreat reflects the Church’s longstanding mission of healing, echoing the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “’Heal the sick!’ (Mt 10:8). The Church has received this charge from the Lord and strives to carry it out by taking care of the sick as well as by accompanying them with her prayer of intercession” (CCC 1509).
The retreat is held in conjunction with the Lincoln Catholic Medical Association, the Omaha Catholic Medical Association, and the Nebraska Catholic Nurses. Retreat Masses and confessions will be led by Father Christopher Kubat, national chaplain of the Catholic Medical Association, and Father Daniel Rayer.
In addition to conferences, the retreat includes Mass, confession, rosary, Eucharistic adoration, devotions, periods of silence, meditation and guided discussion with Sister Mary Diana — offering a sacred space for rest, reflection, and spiritual renewal.
Registration is now open. Visit goodcounselretreat.org or call 402-786-2705 for more information.
+++
The Catholic Medical Association (CMA) is the largest association of Catholic individuals in health care. The organization helps members grow in faith, maintain ethical integrity, and provide excellent health care in accordance with the teachings of the Church. The CMA helps to start and support independent guilds (chapters) throughout the country. Guilds provide fellowship, education, and service to the local Church, the community, and peers in health care.
There are two CMA guilds in Nebraska, in Omaha and Lincoln. Dr. Arthur Grinstead is the Lincoln Guild president. The Nebraska Catholic Nurses group is a member of the Catholic Medical Association.
