In a few days I will begin my annual retreat with the other bishops of the province of St. Paul and Minneapolis - the bishops from Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Our time together consists of eight days of silence centered on the Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, two daily conferences by one of the directors, three hours of private prayer, each focused on a particular verse of scripture, daily individual spiritual direction and plenty of time for exercise and devotions such as the Rosary and Adoration.
It is a time to more deeply encounter Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
Each one of us needs time like this as none of us can map out the journey for our own soul. We lack objectivity because of our selfishness, laziness and struggle with rugged individualism. These things conspire to obscure our path to God leading to spiritual stagnation.
St. John Climacus, speaking about the spiritual journey said, “In the same way that a ship with a good pilot arrives safely in port, so also, will the soul that has a good shepherd safely reach its destination even though it may many times have gone astray.” (In Conversation With God)
For years groups from the Mitchell area, Milbank and Big Stone, Sioux Falls and elsewhere in our diocese, have taken the advice of this saint seriously and made an annual trip to the Twin Cities to experience a silent retreat at the Jesuit Retreat House near Stillwater. Like my retreat, these are anchored in silence and focused on the Mass, Sacred Scripture, conferences, and the Sacrament of Penance with plenty of time to reflect and pray.
Soon, actually next month, this same faith experience will be available here in the diocese with the opening of Broom Tree Retreat Center. Under the direction of Father Jim Mason, who has been training for three years as a spiritual director with the Institute of Priestly Formation and last summer made a 30-day silent retreat, there are now six silent retreat opportunities for men and women starting in February and March of 2005. The retreats are open to adults and consist of four or five conferences, time for prayer, the Sacrament of Penance and Holy Mass.
The name of the center, Broom Tree, might sound unfamiliar to some Catholics. It comes from the Old Testament Book of Kings. It was the place where the prophet rested as he prepared to meet the Lord.
The retreat center has 52 individual rooms with private bath, a chapel, 7 large and small conference rooms, 2 dining rooms, an exercise room and soon outdoor Stations of the Cross. The center is located on 220 acres of rolling hills near Lake Marindahl and only 58 miles from Sioux Falls. It is a great place to enjoy nature and get closer to God.
Some people have asked, “Why Broom Tree?” and the answer is simple, we need spiritual direction and the opportunity to deepen our faith. We live in a secular culture that does not support the values of our Catholic faith. For many, truth today is anything you want it to be, and many of us do not know the teachings of our faith. How can you know what the Lord is asking of you if you have not read the Bible and applied it to your life?
All of us, I certainly do, need to be a lot closer to God. We all need a “kindly push” to move closer to the Lord. You remember the words of Ecclesiastes 4:10: “For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up.”
To make a retreat is a special grace of God. It presents a golden opportunity to bring a few men from your parish or a fellow worker or mother and daughter, or father and son for the experience of a lifetime.
St. Luke tells us how the prodigal son felt the need to be rid of the burden that weighed so heavily on his soul. Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, also felt weighed down by the load of his betrayal. The first went where he ought to have gone and found a peace he could never have imagined. He regained his life and was no longer in dire need. There are a few of us out there in dire need. Follow the prodigal son, not Judas. He lost his faith.
Make a New Year’s resolution to schedule a retreat at Broom Tree Retreat Center. You can call Lori Holzapfel at (605)988-3708 or email her at lori@sfcatholic.org for information or to register.
There is also an opportunity to register for a pre-Lenten retreat which I will lead on the weekend of February 4-6. It begins at 7 p.m. on February 4 and runs until noon on February 6. It is open to both men and women, and rooms for both couples and singles are available.
Register now and do your faith a favor.

Broom Tree Silent
Retreat Schedule

Men
February 24-27
March 17-20
June 8-12
August 4-7
August 18-21
September 22-25

Women
March 10-13
April 14-17
June 23-26
August 11-14
September 8-11
October 6-9