The Department of Missions and Evangelism
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
RETREATS
"Parish renewal and revitalization begins with the rededication of our lives to Christ and his Church."
Retreats have a deep history in Christianity, often with an emphasis on asceticism. Beginning with the withdrawal of Jesus into the desert to overcome His temptations, we have seen "withdrawal" as a way to look inward and transform our hearts. Retreats offer a time for introspection, reflection, and a building up of our relationships with one another.
The Dept. of Missions and Evangelism may be available to offer the following retreats in your area.
The Inner Heaven of Man is an exploration of the healing of the Mind, Heart, and Will according to St. Nicholai of Zica. Presented by Fr. John Finley.
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The Only Stranger in Jerusalem is a Paschal retreat which explores the chronological appearances of our risen Lord and how He revealed Himself to Luke and Cleopas.
The Two Trees explores the following:
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What led to the fall of the Archangel Lucifer and one-third of the heavenly hosts?
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What caused the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve?
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What causes our own stumbling?
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How can we identify the traps and temptations of the enemy?
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How do we get back up once we’ve fallen?
How can we struggle toward God-pleasing solutions – even the Kingdom of Heaven? This combination Workshop/Retreat not only investigates “Original Sin,” but also those little niggling missteps that originate with us — bedeviling us, leading to the Passions and hampering Virtue. This presentation excels in helping a community understand repentance and the sacrament of Confession. Though perfect for Lent and fasting seasons, it may be used at any time of year as an aid in spiritual warfare. Presented by Fr. Joseph Huneycutt.
The Sermon on the Mount takes us through one of the key teachings of Jesus and how that impacts our daily life. Presented by Paul Finley.
Pioneers helps us understand how the Pareto Principle of 80/20 is affecting our churches? On average, 20% of our people are the core in terms of volunteers, stewardship, and more. How can we grow that core from both inside and outside of the church? The retreat leader helps the group make some observations, find a direction, and then execute a plan. Presented by Dn. Adam Roberts OR by Sdn. Stratos Mandalakis.
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Read the testimonial from Fr. Matthew Howell by clicking HERE.
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"From start to finish, the Pioneers retreat was engaging, but also, the most elusive aspect of many parish retreats... practical. Were we inspired? Yes. Were we challenged? Yes. But most importantly, time was set aside for us to discuss as a group what we could do with what we had learned, rather than allow time for our good intentions to fade. I would recommend the Pioneers retreat for any parish feeling they are stuck in a rut or unclear where they are heading. The Pioneers retreat will provide you with both the boost and the tools you need to begin creating a vision and finding a direction for your parish." Kenny Scott
