February 13, 2025|Local|

Women’s Commission to hold annual Lenten retreat

BREAKFAST

Father Jason Hage, pastor of Mary, Mother of Our Savior, chats with women from last year’s event. Sun photo | archives

Binghamton, Syracuse and Utica mail-in registration is open

Within the first 10 days of Lent, Catholic women have the opportunity to gather for a full morning retreat that includes breakfast, Mass, speaker reflections, Confession, Adoration and Rosary. The topic is forgiveness and healing, highlighting Ephesians 4:32: “Forgive one another as God has forgiven you.”

Last year, the Syracuse and Utica locations sold out, but Binghamton had space to embrace the overflow, said Jill Smith, chair of the Syracuse Catholic Women’s Commission. The same is true again for this year’s retreat; Binghamton will have limited walk-in registration. Total capacity between all three locations is just under 400.

This year’s Utica speakers include (Utica native) Father Ben Schrantz, parochial vicar of the Baldwinsville Pastoral Care Area (PCA), and Father Pawel Zmija, parochial vicar of Mary, Mother of Our Savior in New Hartford and Utica. Both priests were ordained last year.

In Syracuse, attendees will hear from Anne Costa, author, speaker and spiritual Hope coach. Father Amedeo Guida, affectionately known as “Padre” and who currently ministers at St. Joseph-St. Patrick of Utica, is the guest speaker in Binghamton.

“It’s such a great way to start Lent,” said Smith, adding that attendees will gain so much from such a short time. “We can all come together as ladies in our diocese, really knowing that we’re sisters in Christ.”

For more information about the schedule and speakers, visit syracusecatholicwomen.org, or email [email protected].