Recently, 65 women from various parishes and backgrounds pulled away from their everyday lives, job titles and families to do the same. Women from all walks of life and all stages of their faith journey attended the 40th Christ Renews women’s retreat on April 26 and 27 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Midland.

They didn’t go to the desert or climb mountains, but they did go to the Blessed Sacrament Parish Center with spaces transformed into a chapel, a witness talk room and the social hall. All of these invited guests had an opportunity to talk to God, each other and their own souls.

“People’s lives are changed by the Holy Spirit when they participate in a Christ Renews for Women retreat,” said Amy Tolton, who served as the spiritual director for this spring’s retreat. The Christ Renews process began at Blessed Sacrament in 1990 when a travel team from Ohio and Indiana came to Midland to put on a retreat weekend and train a group of 20 women to present the retreat format to others.

“When I attended my first Christ Renews Retreat I was in crisis, and it changed my life,” Amy said. “Many women who have participated in the Christ Renews weekend could make the same statement. … Going ‘on team’ opened the Scriptures for me for the first time in my adult life. That started a love affair with the Word of God which has continued to the present day.”

Over the years, continuing to offer the retreats for both men and women has influenced both the spiritual and social life of the parish. Though attending the retreats, many parishioners have come to know each other better, and they bring the retreats’ welcoming attitude to the congregation. Many small faith groups have sprung from the retreats as well, promoting a sense of community.

“After 40 teams and … 35 years and counting, the Christ Renews process is intact and impactful,” said Linda Garcés, who served as lay director for the first team alongside Sister Theresa Byrne, OP, who was the retreat’s spiritual director and adult formation director of the parish. “More than a traditional retreat, it is a renewal weekend. It is affirming and faith-building. Many experience the loving and welcoming disposition of the hosting team in a safe environment and are invited to become part of the next team.”

It's true. Participants who have experienced spiritual growth often desire to become team members for the next year’s retreat – and the cycle continues. In addition to a five-person leadership team who plans the retreat, the team who implements the retreat (called by their team number; this year is Team No. 40) meets regularly and covers important aspects to be presented at the next retreat.

It is a serious undertaking. The team members enter a unique formation process themselves as they discover how to present the next retreat. While the responsibility of a spiritual director rotates among the leadership team, each team discerns additional leadership roles, such as a lay director, invitation coordinator and witness speakers.

“Each formation meeting is centered on Scripture selections, sharing reflections on those passages, building Christian community and a short teaching on the witness topics,” Amy said. The planning team also discerns leadership roles and recruits witness speakers.

“The witness [speaker] gives their talk to the team, who give feedback and affirm the presenter,” Amy said. “The talks typically last 20 minutes and are deeply personal, revealing and powerful. The talks often include a woman’s regrets, significant … events and how those led to healing and spiritual growth. Whatever is heard by the listeners is meant to help others grow and heal, too. Whatever is discussed is expected to be kept within the walls of the retreat.”

Confidentiality remains a priority throughout the retreat, and so retreat table leaders also play an important role in providing everyone with a welcoming hospitable message, acceptance and emotional safety.

“Table leaders help the retreat guests process what they just heard,” said Amy. “They might ask questions about how the talk relates to each woman’s life. They also remind their table guests that they can share as much or as little as they want. … Table leaders work to have a balance of speakers and listeners. It’s all really in the hands of the Holy Spirit.”

The eight witness talks follow these themes:

• New life in Christ
• Spirituality and prayer
• Christian community
• Scripture
• Forgiveness and reconciliation
• Discipleship
• Eucharist
• God’s loving care

The women who speak on these topics address the listening audience about how these topics can be seen in their own lives. The retreat also includes conversation,  silent reflection, journaling, one-on-one sharing, a forgiveness and healing service— and some surprises.

The retreat format and surprises were exactly the recipe for one Blessed Sacrament parishioner in need of life direction.

In 1998, Cherie Powers went on her first Christ Renews retreat. The experience gave her the desire to return, so she then went on Team No. 18 to host the 1999 retreat. She has stayed involved in different capacities, and last year, the mother of two adult children realized she was going through a stage of life known as “empty nest syndrome,” so she signed up for the Christ Renews retreat again. She made lasting connections with the other women and was honored to serve as invitation coordinator and a table leader at Retreat No. 40.

Through her Christ Renews involvement she has learned a retreat secret.

“So many women are apprehensive to come to this retreat,” she said. “They don’t know what to expect or what they will have to do. The beauty is in the aspect of being welcoming and hospitable. The women do not pay for the retreat – it is completely free. They are lavishly pampered. It is frequently communicated to the women that they can share or be silent; it is a safe place to talk. I’m always surprised by how quickly some women will open [up] and talk. After a few witness talks, I believe everyone is thinking, “Wow, I’m not the only one struggling in my faith, life, marriage, job, parenting – whatever it is. It’s very therapeutic. There is a sense of community that many have never experienced.”

Jesus’ example of going away to pray serves as an example to the Christ Renews retreat leaders and participants. The parish also offers a Christ Renews retreat for men.

“The process works well to bring the message of God’s love for us directly to our hearts,” Linda Garcés said. “It gives women the opportunity to minister to one another. It is a healing process, too. Celebrating 40 retreats is something the parish is proud of. It is ongoing because of the commitment of the women who keep it going.”