Nazareth Retreat Center held a retreat in conjunction with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Associates. This is the second time that these two members of the SCN family have been able to work together in this way to help spread the mission, values, and charisms of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.

This retreat was led by Rhoda Kay Glunk, SCN. It was called Pioneers in Faith. More than fifty people gathered together to take advantage of the opportunity to listen to Sr. Kay’s three-day presentation about the lives, spirituality, and lasting influence of Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Louise de Marillac, and Mother Catherine Spalding. Many attendees spoke to how much they loved being reminded that Vincent, Louise, and Catherine were cut from similar cloth and how they were each motivated to imitate the incarnational love of Jesus Christ by helping those in need however they could. Others were most taken by the themes of Holy Indifference that ran through the saint’s lives – simply taking things as they come and doing your best to find God in everything, even when times are difficult.

The retreat was spread out over a full weekend and took place in four main sessions. There were several opportunities to eat together, socialize, and build community among new and old friends. On Saturday evening of the retreat, there was also a prayer and sharing session where people were able to ask Sr. Kay questions, share their relevant experiences, talk about what the retreat had meant to them, and pray as a community.

Overall, it was a moving weekend that left attendees with a renewed passion for the beautiful charisms of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth that so clearly find their origins in the lives of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Louise de Marillac, and Mother Catherine Spalding.