Parish couples' retreat planned at Eagle Hurst
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Eagle Hurst Ranch is the perfect setting for a weekend retreat, and several are held there every year, including a family retreat and a women's retreat, both run by the Sisters of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart.
A new retreat is being added this year -- for couples.
Shelly Schneider, a member of Assumption Parish in O'Fallon, is a faithful participant at the women's retreat at Eagle Hurst. "I think I've gone for five or six years," she said. "At the end of last year's retreat -- there were about 15 women from Assumption among the approximately 75 women total on retreat -- we were standing around saying, 'Wouldn't it be awesome if the sisters could offer a retreat for married couples?' So we asked Sister Adriane and she said yes."
Sister Adriane Torrisi is one of the Sisters of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart who lead the retreats, which are considered part of the catechesis charism of the order.
Schneider said, "Sister Adriane's just amazing. She didn't hesitate. She said, 'This is why we're here, to help promote marriages and families.'"
Schneider and her husband, Jim, who have been married 21 years and have three children, had been active in a ministry for marriage couples their parish.
"I'm always thinking about stuff for married couples. I think a lot of times people don't take enough time to nurture their marriage," Schneider said.
Eagle Hurst Ranch is the perfect location for the retreat, she added. "They do the cooking, they do the cleaning. The sisters take care of your spiritual needs. And, in the midst of all that, you still have a few hours to do whatever you want. You can spend those hours in prayer, you can go horseback riding, you can sleep if you to because you have a baby at home. Eagle Hurst is such a beautiful place."
The couples' retreat, scheduled for mid September, is only for Assumption parishioners. "I hope this could lead to an annual retreat for others," Schneider said, "but this is just for our parish. We're going to start small and see how it goes."
The women's retreat , to be Sept 7-9 , is open to any interested women. "I would recommend that to any woman," Schneider said. "It's the perfect blend of nature, time alone and time with God."
