presents a Day of Reflection
Being a Catholic Family
ALL DATES FULL
NEW DATES ANNOUNCED HERE QUARTERLY
PRESENTERS BETH AND KRISTOFER COWLES ARE
- APPROVED LAY PRESENTERS IN THE DIOCESE OF AUSTIN
- APPROVED BY THE DIOCESE OF AUSTIN AS SUITABLE SPEAKERS IN OTHER DIOCESES
NEED A PARISH-ONLY RETREAT OR MISSION?
INQUIRE BELOW AND WE WILL BE IN TOUCH!
the day in summary
A day of wisdom, reflection, and help
The Catholic Church teaches that whether you are a home of one or twenty, you are a family. Being a Catholic Family can be hard, frustrating, and a bit confusing. It does not have to be! This relaxed day of real and realistic solutions is for adults and older children. Beth and Kristofer Cowles give fun, interactive and engaging presentations on how Being a Catholic Family is simple, doable, and rewarding for your family and its future.
Participants receive ongoing post-retreat access to the presenters for follow-up discussion, interaction, and help.
who should come
Who this day is for
This is for you if you have a family, which everybody does. If you’ve been married for years and have lots of kids, or if you are a single, pregnant mom. If you are single and do not know if you will ever be married or have discerned the single life, etc. If you are registered at a Parish, you are a family desiring to be served by the Church – and this Day of Reflection is meant to serve you! So you and anybody in your household who is old enough to explore and understand that God has a calling for them in their familial life should come.
what are we talking about
What we reflect upon
Home
Can we be perfect as our Father in heaven is Perfect?
Who and how we are at home is foundational to who and what we are outside of it. It is where we are fed first and most-often – or should be. We are what we eat!
If they will know we are Christians by our Love, how do we grow that in our home? Whether roommates, newly married, blended, empty-nesters, or anybody living in a home with one-another, this opening discussion focuses us on who we are as a family, what we are to do as a family, why we do that, and what it means for our lives and the lives God introduces us to.
We learn how to be fed – and how to feed – no matter our role in the family.
Mass
Can we do all things through Christ who strengthens us?
In our parish community, we bear witness to ourselves in humility before the Eucharist. We do not live on bread alone! We can become who and what we eat!
Lord, we are not worthy to have you enter under our roof, but you graciously allow us under yours to learn how to be a Catholic family from you and those around us. In this discussion we look at and discover the power of the source and summit of our faith to transform us from secluded or isolated individual families into the Family of God, the Universal Family – The Catholic Family. From the being in the first discussion to the having in this discussion, we recognize the meaning of family and how to foster it, grow it, and lead ourselves, our family, and our parish community.
We learn how to feed and be fed in preparation for our Great Commission.
World
Can we make disciples?
Our relationships are in this world while we are not of it. Taste, and see, and we may easily become bitter, distraught, and recluse. From being to having, and now to doing, as a family should!
Being a Catholic Family shows, and it is in the doing that we can share the Love of our family and our Church, which we receive and amplify from our God. As we explore the doing in this discussion, we see the fundamental foundation of the meals we share with one another as the basis for sharing Love throughout our home, our community, and the world. There’s a reason Jesus started his ministry at a wedding feast – but where did He learn to be who He was supposed to be and what He was supposed to do? As His family and faith community nourished Him, so has He been able to nourish the World.
So we are able to feed on this foundation, feed the World, and start Being a Catholic Family as we each go out an make disciples of the world, with God growing His Family through us!
details
How does this Day of Reflection work
Tactics, Strategies, and Quick Fixes
This Day of Reflection is none of those. A way of life and lifestyle that fulfills God’s purpose for us as a family takes effort and time. However, the simple, singular act the day’s discussion focuses on is the catalyst that will, on a daily basis, form a family God wants it to be in an incredibly short time. What participants need to bring is simply an attitude that they are willing to lead, regardless of their role in the home and family.
Discussion, Reflection, Support
This Day revolves around three interactive gatherings, where each topic – Home, Mass, World – are discussed with you by Beth and Kristofer, using real-life stories and teachings of the Catholic Church to help better understand our roles as family members and how we can, with specific intent, use the gifts and graces God gave us for those roles to better ourselves and our family.
The Day will not include “techniques” or “how to handle…” scenarios, but instead help you find your particular calling in your family and how God wants to use that to help you Be a Catholic Family!
There will be time for personal contemplation, group interaction, and questions.
Some guidance during breaks and after the close of the retreat can be sought for particular challenges you may want to seek help with.
Cost and Registration
Holy Owned and Operated does not charge for this Day. We do incur and absorb the costs for material and lunch and snacks, which come to about $10 per person, but we do not pass that along to you.
While the Day of Reflection is presented at no charge, we do provide the opportunity for cash, check, or credit card donations at the end of the day, and you can also donate here (this will open a new tab so you can continue to review this page and register). A donation is NOT required or expected, and nobody is turned away unless the venue is full.
You can register by simply filling out the contact form below. Beth or Kristofer will personally respond within 24 hours to confirm your registration!
location information
Questions
Venue
Beautiful, secluded Camino de la Paz (the Way of Peace) Retreat Center in Bryan, Texas our setting with the quiet grounds of the retreat center our backdrop. The Lodge is air conditioned, with comfortable home style seating and amenities. Surrounded by acres of wooded pasture and a three-acre pond, with quiet and peaceful prayer areas and gathering spots, the center is our purposeful choice for this event in the Bryan/College Station Deanery.
Limited Seating and Materials
The retreat can serve 25 people at most, so registrations will close when that number has been reached.
What to Bring
We provide handouts and other materials that support the discussion. You should bring anything you like to write in for notes and journaling, etc., along with something to write with; and also, your Bible. There will be coffee and water available throughout the day and you should feel free to bring your own favorite beverage and snacks.
Open Registration Begins - October 2
Registration is open to all adult or older teen individuals. You are a family whether one person or multiple people, related or not, at a single address.
(The topic matter may be a bit hard to focus on for children pre-teen and younger. There is not daycare or alternative activity for distracted or bored kids. Nursing babies are welcome.)
Open Registration Ends Five Days Prior to the Event
The event will be canceled if fewer than six participants are registered by this time.
Lunch
Lunch is provided, but you get to make it, just like you would at home. Plenty of sandwich ingredients and chips. Please bring your own drink or other snacks you may prefer throughout the day.
Disabled Accessibility
The Retreat Center is wheelchair accessible. Because of the uneven ground of an outdoor facility. you may find it easier to have someone with you who can assist you in moving about and between areas on the property. Each area where the discussions are held are wheelchair friendly and ADA -compliant. Most activity happens in the main house which has the necessary accommodations.
Join us
Start Being a Catholic Family!
Now is your time! Whether you are single, preparing for Holy Matrimony, or are married with or without children, the key to being a successful, practical Catholic Family is the same. You can count on that! Putting into your heart and mind God’s calling will open for you the steps you need to take for your own situation, and this Day of Reflection will help you do that!
Fill out the registration form below to begin Being a Catholic Family!
ALL DATES FULL
NEW DATES ANNOUNCED HERE QUARTERLY
NEED A PARISH-ONLY RETREAT OR MISSION?
INQUIRE BELOW AND WE WILL BE IN TOUCH!
SO SORRY WE HAVE NO OPENINGS FOR CURRENT DATES RIGHT NOW!
PLEASE GIVE US YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN THE NEXT DATES BECOME AVAILABLE – AND YOU WILL HAVE SEVERAL DAYS TO REGISTER BEFORE WE ANNOUNCE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC!