Weekend retreat with Msgr. Nemec, March 4-6
WAVERLY (SNR) - Many people are familiar with St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her ‘little way.’
On a March 4-6 retreat at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House near Waverly, Msgr. Joseph Nemec wants all men and women to connect more completely with this profound spirituality, to renew your relationship with God as his precious children, and instill greater confidence in His mercy.
“St. Thérèse and her spirituality are relevant for all people of the world, in every space and time,” Msgr. Nemec said. “Actually, that is one of the criterion of declaring her a doctor of the Church.”
“Thus,” said Father Gary Coulter, director of the retreat house, “men and women of all ages are invited and encouraged to attend this retreat. It is not required for this retreat, but it would be advantageous to read St. Thérèse autobiography, “Story of a Soul” - perhaps that can be a Lenten resolution!”
Msgr. Nemec is an ardent supporter of retreats, frequently encouraging his parishioners to attend, telling them that a silent retreat - like those offered at Good Counsel Retreat House - is actually a must for every good Catholic.
“I am so excited to spend a weekend with disciples of Jesus who are seeking a closer relationship with God,” he said. “I long to plunge deeper into his sacred heart and lead the retreatants there as well.
“After the Mass and the Holy Eucharist,” he continued, “there is no substitute for quiet prayer and contemplation. We live in an extremely noisy world, and with modern technology, the noise has increased a hundredfold in recent years. The prayer life of many good Catholics amounts to ‘doing’ something. I ‘go’ to Mass, I ‘pray’ my rosary, I ‘make’ a novena. These are all important in a spiritual life… but where is the ‘listening’ to God; where is the simple ‘loving’ of God?”
Ordained a priest in 1984, Msgr. Nemec has since 1993 been pastor at St. Teresa Parish in Lincoln, administrator of St. Teresa School, and chaplain of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters. His earlier assignments include St. Mary Parish in Lincoln, the St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, St. Paulinus in Syracuse and Holy Trinity in Avoca, and teaching at Lourdes Schools in Nebraska City. Msgr. Nemec has given numerous retreats, days of recollection, and presentations of the Catholic faith.
Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House offers a peaceful atmosphere of prayer and recollection, situated on an acreage near Waverly. The facility includes 50 single rooms, each with a private bath.
Each retreat includes meditations by the retreat master, and opportunities for silence, prayer, adoration and the sacraments. Retreats typically begin with a rosary and Mass at 8 p.m. on Friday, and end with Mass on Sunday, followed by lunch.
To register online and see the full schedule of retreats visit www.goodcounselretreat.com, email goodcounsel@cdolinc.net or call 402-786-2705.
Another upcoming retreat for men and women is “Now is the Time of Mercy” with Father Mark Cyza Feb. 26-28.