Women’s Retreat Testimony

by Bethany Wilson

“My hope is in You Lord all the day long
I won’t be shaken by drought or storm
A peace that passes understanding is my song
And I sing
My hope is in You Lord!” *

This song resounded through the doorway, as I entered the large, yet cozy, Forest room, aptly named considering the views of lush greenery peering through the mission-style window lined walls. Over 150 women were tenderly being led by a very gifted group of musicians in worshiping the Lord. I refused to give my anxiety attention, and instead looked for the closest space to join in praise & worship, praying for the Holy Spirit’s presence to have mercy on me. Please once again include me in what I’ve considered in the past, to be a foretaste of heaven: prayer and worship of the Lord with the WWCCR community!

Prior to entering the Forest Room I had noticed a console table decorated exquisitely with candles, and anointed with one word in the center…“Hope.” Hmm, I thought. Ok Lord, you have my attention.

I had joined a new Everett parish community in July 2021. I had been praying for over a year

for my children to be able to attend Catholic School, but all the doors kept closing. Finally, they

were opened last summer at Immaculate Conception – Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, and I was on my knees in thanksgiving to God for everything he was permitting.

These two Everett parish campuses are a combined community, even though they are

located 5 minutes away from one another. I soon learned the parishes were going through a grand transition. After many months of “strategic planning,” the two parish campuses will be unified beginning July of 2022 under one new name: Our Lady Of Hope.

When I read the word Hope displayed on the retreat console, in a similar cursive font used frequently at our parish bulletins, I had 3 thoughts:

1) God is so cool

2) I’m meant to be here

3) Thank you Jesus

I gathered Jesus was about to remind all of us just how essential hope is. To maybe even relearn how hope is mandatory as Catholics, evangelists, as disciples and as human beings. To be gifted with the grace of experiencing hope, expressing hope, relating with hope (almost like a friend), and most

important—how to share with everyone we encounter in some way, our hope in the Lord!

Back in the Forest room during the first talk on Saturday, we are blessed with WWCCR’s incredible speaker, Gabby Herndon, who began our day proclaiming and reminding us of our glorious inheritance! She explained how Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesians in a tone meant for all, and how we are chosen by God as his co-heirs to receive our inheritance at Baptism through the power of the Holy Spirit. For all to hope in the Lord alone, and not keep climbing a ladder to obtain worldly things.

We were then encouraged to close our eyes and see what the Lord has to share. She said the Holy Spirit speaks to us either visually, audibly in our head, we feel warmth, or we are just given knowledge, awareness. After closing my eyes, and considering God was probably not going to say anything to me, one 3 word sentence popped into my head. It was simply, “I Love You.” I took note of it, but doubted, thinking, Yeah… but that was probably me having made my brain say that.

My fellow Catholics, I was soooo wrong. At the end of the retreat, Gabby reminded the entire group, “Do not forget the message the Lord had for you. He told you he loves you.” I almost fell over. How did she know that’s what came into my head. So wait. So that was the Lord?! How did she know what the Lord said to me?? I told no one.

The Lord told everyone that same message? Yes he did!!! And wow. The entire room was given the same message. That each one of us are all loved the most, individually the most by our Heavenly Father, our Abba, our Dad, our Majesty, was the hope we needed on this retreat to cast away the lies of despair, loneliness, disease, exhaustion, discouragement, addiction, laziness! To toss them back into the pit, and run into the hope-filled, loving, merciful arms of our Lord Jesus Christ!

*song by Aaron Shust

Bethany Wilson is a parishioner at Immaculate Conception – Our Lady of Perpetual Help combined parish, Everett.

Women’s Retreat Testimony

Therese Thomas

I’ve had a true conversion to the Catholic faith after attending the WWCCR women’s retreat in February. This has been a wonderful Lent for me marked by youtube masses and rosaries.

Before the retreat, I hadn’t even been in a church for years. I live in a small rural town called Happy Camp, CA. The population is less than 500 now since the Slater fire. The Catholic Church burned down along with over half the town. 2 years ago. Only a handful of parishioners attend the weekly word and communion services and the priest only comes out once a month now. There are plans to rebuild the church.

Before the retreat, I was bitter that my life crumbled back in 2010 when I experienced a lot of personal loss and midlife crisis. I went financially bankrupt and lost the family home to foreclosure. At that same time, I quit my job as  a hospice nurse due to compassion fatigue (a syndrome once called burnout). I lost several close family members in addition to managing crises and death on a daily basis. I stopped caring and became overwhelmed with grief. I became very self destructive.

I went to the Sacrament of reconciliation before the retreat. The priest basically went through all the commandments for me to have an examination of conscience. It seems sin can start out as a snowflake and later become an avalanche. Staying away from grace and the sacraments can harden one’s heart. I believe there should be a sign outside the confessional…”come and get your grace”. I plan to go more often.

The take away from the retreat is to have a plan and a purpose. “I exercise and pray everyday” said Jan Alkire. Jan talked to us about finding Christ in friendship and simplicity from her latest book. Gabby, a spirit filled Gal took us on the boat with Paul and how God used him despite the fact that he went off course.

Our small groups fostered safety and connection throughout the weekend. I learned that the Virgin Mary is a necessity rather than a nicety for our faith.

We had standing room only for the (optional) recitation of the Rosary in the library. The leader mentioned a book called “Gloria’s miracle” about a collection of Seattle Times articles where this young child shared her Catholic faith before she died of cancer. God has touched the most hardened hearts through this book. I still hope to read it. The joy of the women in attendance was palpable and revitalizing. The retreat space was so peaceful and the views outstanding.

Many of us had been isolated because of the virus and social distance for such a long time that coming together in collective harmony was such a treat. The joy of the Lord reflected in the atmosphere of the retreatants. We were awakened by music from the worship team and Father Jim gave stellar homilies. We are truly blessed to have such a loving and kind ethical priest. I hope to return to Washington June 12 in Tukwila when he celebrates his 25 years of ordination.

In Mass, we prayed that those who are marginalized would get their basic needs met and that those who are estranged would find comfort. Before I left Seattle, I got a big hug from my son John. We haven’t really spoken in ten years, This felt like a hug from heaven. They said. at the retreat that God always shows up!

Therese Thomas is a parishioner at All Saints parish in Happy Camp, California.