Event to focus on God’s unfailing love
By Agnieszka Krawczynski
Photo: Heather Khym.
There’s a lot of fear and anxiety in the world right now, and organizers of a local retreat are hoping to counter that.
“Anything from ISIS to the U.S. presidency to financial strain, there is a lot of fear that people are dealing with,” said counsellor Heather Khym.
Khym is planning a women’s retreat in Rockridge Canyon conference centre in Princeton, to help retreatants rest, refresh, and strengthen their faith. “At the heart of this weekend is an encounter with God.”
Khym has workshops, prayer, talks, sacraments, and free time scheduled for the retreat March 31 to April 2.
She expects a large crowd for this, the second annual, women’s retreat at Rockridge. Last year, all 170 spaces sold out in three weeks.
“It was a great weekend. There are so many stories that people shared with me; It was life changing for them.”
This year, as many as 250 women can sign up for the weekend, which for an extra fee includes, activities like ziplining.
While the event is Catholic, featuring speakers such as Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, it is open to women of any faith.
“I think today the circumstances in the world are very difficult for a lot of people,” Khym said.
Registration for the retreat opened less than two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump was inaugurated and hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Washington, D.C., to voice their concerns about a range of issues during the Women’s March.
In addition, a recent act of terrorism struck a mosque in Quebec, and a new Angus Reid poll found most Canadians feel more negatively than positively about 2016 and their futures in 2017.
“We need to focus on a theme that draws us into a hope that anchors our soul, that is the love and mercy and generosity of God,” Khym said.
More information about the retreat is available at www.rcav.org/unfailing.
