Retreat Houses offer a place for meditation and reflection

Photo courtesy of Sr. Julie Maher

+ Enlarge

Sister Julie Maher welcomes guests to the Holy Spirit House of Prayer in Salt Lake City for individual or group retreats. She has hosted spiritual and healing retreats and offers spiritual guidance upon request.

SALT LAKE CITY - The Diocese of Salt Lake City offers two ecumenical retreat houses where people can spend the day on a private or group retreat, for a day, a week or a weekend.

Christian Community Sister Julie Maher runs the Holy Spirit House of Prayer, 2920 Fisher Circle (2195 East), Salt Lake City; and Victory Missionary Sister Paula Wellnitz is in charge of Home Place in Orangeville outside of Price at 95 North Main Street.

The Holy Spirit House of Prayer began in September 2000 having renewal days once a month on Saturdays.

"This year Father Javier Virgen, vicar of Hispanic Affairs, will offer a retreat, and Dominican Father Peter Do, parochial vicar of Saint Catherine Parish will host a retreat for adult confirmandi in April, said Sr. Julie. "We have retreats for organizations such as the Women's Aglow leadership retreat, the Catholic Woman's League Advent Day of Reflection and Bible study groups. We have also offered retreats on healing, spirituality and Alcoholics Anonymous workshops."

"What I like the most about our retreats is that elderly people, those with physical handicaps, and veterans feel welcome to come," said Sr. Julie. "People can come to the Holy Spirit House of Prayer for spiritual direction, to have prayer teams pray with them, or for individual retreats. We have a beautiful backyard where people can barbecue, sit quietly, or read."

Home Place in Orangeville has been in existence since the early 1990s when Sr. Paula moved to Utah to work as a counselor at Four Corners Mental Health in Castle Dale. Prior to that Sr. Paula did pastoral work and worked in religious education. She holds a master's degree in religious education from Seattle University.

"I rented a house in Orangeville and realized there was nowhere in southern Utah for people to go if they wanted to hold a group retreat or come individually," said Sr. Paula.

"Because the upstairs of the house is available as a sleeping space for one person or a couple, I thought we could have retreats here," she said. "The upstairs bedroom has a sitting room and a balcony. Group retreats are basically one-day, unless people want to come and camp out overnight. The house is at least 100 years old and has a very large private yard with space available for meditation and reflection. People can come and stay at the house and visit nearby places, which offers a different type of reflection."

Sr. Paula said those who plan private retreats, plan their own agenda for the most part. She offers spiritual counseling and Reiki if people are interested. She said people used come for retreats at least three or four times a year, but she hasn't had anyone for quite a while. "I think it's too bad people don't come locally; they come from all over the country," she said. "I used to advertise locally and set up a one-day retreats on a monthly basis.

"In the past I have had retreats around Advent and Easter for adults and separately for children," said Sr. Paula. "I felt they were really worthwhile. I had local people help me. I would like to host a retreat where people of all ages come together."

For information on the Holy Spirit House of Prayer in Salt Lake City, contact Sr. Julie Maher at 801-484-4963, or www.holyspirithouseofprayer.com.

For information on Home Place in Orangeville, contact Sr. Paula Wellnitz 435-748-2230, or P.O. Box 3, Orangeville, UT 84537.