Southern Nebraska Register
All young adult women are invited to Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House in Waverly for the “Back to the Garden” retreat June 19–21.
The retreat, hosted by Sarina Stokes, founder of Kingdom Come LLC, alongside Father Cole Kennett, pastor of St. Michael Parish in Lincoln, invites participants into a journey of rediscovery: a return to the sacred landscape of the heart and the restoration of communion.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church writes in paragraph 2336:“Jesus came to restore mankind back to its origins.”
“But what are our origins?” Stokes said. “Where can we go to rediscover all that we were made for? The answer is found in the garden, the Garden of Eden, the place where humanity once knew no shame, no fear, but only freedom, communion, peace, and the abundance of all that is good, true, and beautiful.”
She said the retreat at its core is an exploration of the “garden within,” a place created for intimacy, covenant, and abundance.
“Far from being merely a poetic metaphor,” she said, “the garden of the heart is the very place where God desires to meet us, speak to us, and restore us.
“The garden is the place where mankind once walked with God in the cool of the day. The garden is also the place where humanity encountered the Fall. It is where Jesus suffered, died, and rose again, as we see in John 19. And the garden is where Jesus continually calls us back to Himself,” she said.
Father Kennett continued, “Entering this garden is not merely an exercise in reflection; it is a step toward reclaiming the identity and communion for which we were created.”
From the beginning, humanity was fashioned for Eden. Scripture presents Eden as a place of original goodness, harmony, and unbroken trust—a sanctuary where everything was perceived according to its true nature: good, beautiful, cherished, and whole.
“In this place,” Stokes said, “the Bridegroom sang over creation, and Eve harmonized the tune. She walked in truth, naked and unashamed, fully integrated and fully free. This vision of Eden is not a distant myth, but a revelation of God’s desire for the human heart and the blueprint of our deepest longings.”
Yet the reality of lived experience often feels far from Eden. Many carry fragmentation within their hearts and bodies—places wrapped in shame, fear, or condemnation.
“The father of lies works tirelessly to distort our identity, sowing seeds of isolation, anxiety, accusation, and darkness,” Stokes said. “These burdens can make restoration feel impossible. Yet it is only by acknowledging these places of woundedness and bringing them to Jesus that we can truly be made new.”
Stokes and Father Kennett said the retreat has been intentionally crafted around the hope of Jesus Christ, who rescues people from exile and restores them to communion with Himself, with others, and with the garden for which humans were made.
The “Back to the Garden” retreat is not only an invitation to return, but also an invitation to continue walking with Jesus long after the weekend ends. After the retreat, participants will have opportunities to join small groups and communal gatherings centered on cultivating a culture of life in the garden: freedom, joy, vulnerability, and an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. The new small groups, “Garden Groups,” will be an intentional space for women to come together and grow in the culture of the garden, living the truth of what was in Eden and what Jesus came to restore.
“The experience of the garden is what we are made to live in now, not just something to wait for in Heaven,” Stokes said. “Even Jesus teaches us that it may be ‘on earth as it is in Heaven.’”
The retreat begins Friday, June 19, with a 6 p.m. reception, followed by an opening session at 7 p.m., and concludes Sunday afternoon. The weekend will include prayer, talks and fellowship, culminating in a Sunday brunch celebrating the “Wedding Feast of the Lamb.” A virtual option will also be available for those unable to attend in person.
For more information or to register, visit goodcounselretreat.org or contact the retreat house at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 402-786-2705.
Courtesy photos
