By Charlie Young
Contributing writer
The season of Lent in upstate New York is typically a time meteorologically marked by cold, gray days that produce barren landscapes yearning for new life. Not unlike a desert, the spiritual metaphor that Christ the King Retreat House is focusing on to bring warmth and renewal to anyone needing such graces this February.
Facilitator Meg Castellini will present at Christ the King Retreat House.
The Retreat House invites you to pack a bag and join retreat facilitator Meg Castellini for an overnight Lenten journey. This retreat will offer opportunities to experience streams of life in the desert through prayer and reflection upon familiar desert scenes in Scripture.
“This Lenten season, it is important to take time to pause, reflect and renew our faith,” retreat house Executive Director Joan Spector shares. “The imagery of the desert often depicts an empty, dry, lifeless environment. However, the desert — or wilderness, as often referred to in the Bible — is actually a place where God’s presence is waiting to commune with weary travelers.” Spector reminds us that “Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David and even Jesus spent significant time in the desert.” She adds that the experience will spark reflection on images such as “streams of life” from Isaiah (35:6) that remind us of the life-giving water that Christ speaks of, that “bubbles up within our souls,” she adds.
Spector is especially excited to have Castellini as the retreat leader. “Meg Castellini has been offering retreats throughout the Diocese of Syracuse for 17 years. Each retreat offers participants an invitation to delve deeper into selected Scripture passages and experience God’s presence through prayer and conversation with others. Meg’s passion is to create opportunities that illuminate God’s love in the midst of our daily lives.”
Gain valuable insight on how to tap into streams of life during our desert seasons. Spector invites all to “Come and be refreshed!” Dates are Friday, Feb. 23, with check-in at 5 p.m. through Saturday the 24th concluding with Mass at 4 p.m. The offering for the program is $150 for overnight guests and $120 for commuters.
Register online: ctkretreat.com/retreats
