Suffering and Faith.  Presented by Ann Kern on Saturday, August 13th.

God does not promise the faithful freedom from suffering, but our faith can help inform not just why we suffer but how we suffer.  Scripture, the Catechism, and the lives of the Saints will provide retreatants with a renewed sense of acceptance and trust in God's presence in our suffering, and its meaning and purpose - individually, and with and for Christ and others.

Ann Kern is an experienced retreat facilitator and long time friend to Branches.  She has completed the Spiritual Director Training Program at the St. Joseph Center for Spirituality in Clarence, New York.  Ann is a member of St. Joseph University Parish in Buffalo, New York, where she serves as a Eucharistic Minister, Lector, past coordinator of the Pre-Cana Program with her husband, Doug, and has taught religious education at several grade levels. By day she works as the Administrative Assistant to the Head of School at Nichols School in Buffalo, New York. She and Doug live in Amherst, New York, have two grown children, and are expecting their first grandchild this summer.

Retreat agenda:

10 a.m. - Arrival, Introductions and Light Refreshments

10:30 a.m. - Biblical and Catechetical references on suffering, examination of how (and how well) we experience and respond to suffering, large group discussion

11:30 a.m. - Individual prayer and meditation - reference materials provided

12:15 p.m. - Discussion wrap-up and lunch

1:30 p.m. -  Uniting our suffering with Christ/Offering our suffering for others with wisdom from the saints and the faithful, large group discussion

2:30 p.m. - St. Faustina's Way of the Cross

3 p.m. - Individual prayer and meditation - reference materials provided

3:45 p.m. - Discussion wrap-up and closing prayer

Branches is an outdoor facility.  If weather is a factor, we will not cancel the Suffering and Faith retreat.  We will relocate to Holy Cross Parish House, which is located in a white farm house behind Holy Cross Church, 7227 Main St., Ovid, NY 14521.  You will receive a call or text if relocation is necessary  Let us pray for good weather.