August Weekend Retreat Offered for Young Women

Young women ages 18 to 30 are invited to a special summer retreat weekend planned especially for them with opportunities for prayer, reflection, relaxation, and fun on beautiful grounds alongside Buzzards Bay.

“Spark: It is Time to Ignite Something with God” is the theme of the August 12-14 gathering designed to help young women discern their vocational call be it marriage, ministry as a religious, or the single life.

It will take place at the Sacred Hearts Retreat Center, 226 Great Neck Road in Wareham, beginning on Friday at 7 p.m. and concluding Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

“The theme comes from the well-known quote of St. Catherine of Siena, ‘If you are who you should be, it will set the whole world on fire,’ explained Dominican Sister Paulina Hurtado, who is associate director of Vocations for the Fall River Diocese.

“The ability to set the world on fire begins with the spark of life which God has ignited in each person and the gift of His very life and love at Baptism,” she continued.

“The course of life one is invited to follow in search of happiness and fulfillment will give this spark the freedom to expand and grow, for as St. Catherine also says in one of her letters, ‘Do not be satisfied with little things, because God wants great things’” (Letter T 127).

Jennessa Terraccino, a veteran youth ministry leader, writer and speaker, will be the main presenter. She and the retreat leadership team will facilitate the weekend, assisting participants in exploring and reflecting on the call to marriage, religious life and the single life. Among the topics for reflection will be those specific to women: is there a need to approach life differently than men, what does Scripture and Church teaching say about their vocation; are vocations to marriage and religious life similar?

Terraccino holds a master’s degree in Theological Studies from the Christendom Graduate School in Alexandria, Virginia along with certificate in Youth Ministry from the Franciscan University, Steubenville, Ohio. She coordinated youth ministry in the Arlington, Virginia diocese for many years before moving to New England, where she now resides with her husband and children.

Sister Paulina encourages young women to “come enjoy a summer weekend of fun and peace, while at the same time giving yourself space for reflection and enlightenment on where God is leading you for happiness and fulfillment.”

Cost for the weekend is $70 and includes all meals. To register or get additional information, please contact Sister Paulina by e-mail at Sr.Paulina@dioc-fr.org or by telephone at 508-675-1311. Registrations must be made by Thursday, August 4.  Read the flyer.

Diocese of Fall River

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