Pre-Lenten parish retreats open to all the faithful in the Diocese of Salt Lake City: Retreat on Divine Mercy

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PARK CITY — A parish retreat on the topic of Divine Mercy will be held Feb. 21-22; all the faithful are invited.

The retreat at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church will be guided by Father Jim McCormack, a member of the Congregation of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, who “will be leading us in deeper prayer (Adoration), knowledge through talks, and shared community,” said Annie Voegele, who is organizing the retreat in conjunction with the parish.

The idea for the retreat came last year, when Voegele went to a leadership forum through the GIVEN Institute.

“During the summer I attended a five-day forum with about 150 other young adult women, 125 Catholic women mentors and religious sisters from about 25 different orders,” Voegele said.

Prior to being accepted to the program, each woman submitted a project idea; the retreat was Voegele’s, and she received a year of one-on-one mentorship after the forum to help implement it.

“This retreat is intended to reach the spiritual needs of Catholic adults in the Diocese of Salt Lake who are searching for more insights into their faith life and understanding of the heart of Jesus,” she said. “Divine Mercy is something I am passionate about, and Fr. McCormack said he would serve as retreat master, so it worked out beautifully.”

Voegele hopes that the retreat will create a quiet prayer space for participants to step away from the world and “into the presence of God, who sustains us,” she said. “I also hope that people understand more about the unique promises Jesus gives us through this devotion and how to pray for others, especially at the moment of their death.”

Fr. McCormack professed his perpetual vows in the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 2009; he was ordained in 2010. He holds a licentiate degree in the Theology of the Consecrated Life. He served at the Marian Scholasticate in Washington, D.C. until 2023; he now is parochial vicar of St. Patrick Parish in Yorkville, Ill.

Those who attend the retreat can expect to “encounter Jesus’ merciful love in Adoration, guided prayer by Fr. Jim, and through other diocesan participants in sharing meals together,” Voegele said.

She also hopes that through Fr. McCormack’s talks, “retreatants will learn about the devotion of Divine Mercy and come away from the retreat with a personal plan on how to live out the message of Divine Mercy and renounce a lukewarm faith,” she said. “As Jesus told St. Faustina in her Diary, living out mercy is primarily through mercy towards their neighbor in active deeds; speaking about Jesus’ mercy in their words of truth, hope and encouragement; and finding designated time for Eucharistic prayer in their daily life.”

Jesus is always calling everyone into closer relationship with him, and “what better way than to take a Friday evening and Saturday to quiet our hearts and listen to him speak?” Voegele asked. “I believe people attending this retreat will have their hearts stirred by Fr. Jim’s words, and also the community together in prayer. It is also great timing, as it is a couple weeks prior to the start of Lent where we are able to give more thought to how we will grow closer to God.”

WHAT: Divine Mercy Retreat

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 21, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 22, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, 1505 White Pine Canyon Road, Park City

Free. The Saturday event will start with Mass and end at 4 p.m., at which time Confession/Adoration will be available. To register, scan the QR code or visit https://www.stmarysparkcity.com/mercy