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Virtual & Commuter Ignatian Retreats: June 1-July 31

With Fr. Gary Coulter, Matt Simmons, Sarina Stokes, Jo Vasa and Fr. Christopher Barak

Flexible Dates

Date and Time Details: Opening night will begin with a video and typically one prayer time; closing day will end with meeting with your director.

Hosted by Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House

Contact: Retreat House
fr.gary-coulter@lincolndiocese.org
402-786-2705

  • Virtual Ignatian – $120.00
  • Prices calculated for 3 nights minimum stay

What does it mean that this is for Virtual and Commuter retreatants?

Virtual Ignatian Retreats are done from home, retreatants will have a daily individual meeting with a retreat director by video or phone. Commuter Ignatian Retreats can come out to the retreat house to pray and have their daily meetings.

You can pick any dates and length of 3-8 days as works for your schedule, although 4-day and 8-day are typical lengths.  Your commitment is to:

  1. Each day, schedule 4 Ignatian prayer times of about an hour each each day and journal about the movements that occurred there (usually just 1 prayer time the first day).
  2. Each day, schedule a less than one hour meeting with a director (no meeting the first day, just a 40-minute opening video to watch). We will try to honor but cannot guarantee your requests for a particular director.

What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women?

Our Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit.

The retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no common prayers or devotions outside of Mass and Exposition, and no social time as even the meals are taken in silence to continue the reflection and prayerful atmosphere. Retreatants journal about each of their prayer times and the movements that occurred there, so that when they meet with the director, they can be given guidance and appropriate scripture passages for their meditation. It is suggested to read Meditation and Contemplation by Father Timothy Gallagher, OMV to learn more on the Ignatian methods of meditating on Scripture.

The Virtual / Commuter Directed Ignatian Retreat will begin with a video and typically one prayer time on opening night, the next day will begin your daily individual meetings with your retreat director.

Please consider giving your director a personal gift (tip stipend) for his or her time. You can give cash or check to them personally or anonymously by credit card below the registration options.

We want our retreats to be accessible to everyone, please consider an additional donation, or contact the Retreat House to inquire about financial assistance or if your parish pays part of the cost.

About the Directors

Fr. Gary Coulter

Fr. Gary Coulter has served as Director of Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House (goodcounselretreat.org) for eleven years.  Previously he was pastor at St. Mary in Ashland and St. Joseph in Greenwood, Nebraska. His Theological Studies were at Mt. St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD and he was ordained a priest in 1999 for […]

Learn more about Fr. Gary Coulter

Matt Simmons

Matt and his wife Demetra have four beautiful children and are Catholics in good standing in the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska. With over twenty years experience personally and spiritually guiding others, Matt have worked with addicts, business leaders, clergy, house wives, and those simply searching for peace and intimacy with Jesus. He feels called to […]

Learn more about Matt Simmons

Sarina Stokes

Sarina has been on a life-long journey marked by an ever-deepening trust in God’s plan. Sarina grew up and went to college in Arizona, where she abundantly encountered the Lord’s mercy. Sarina served with FOCUS from 2019-2021 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. After her missionary years, she followed the Lord's call to book a one-way […]

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Jo Vasa

Jo Vasa, MA Certified Spiritual Director I'm a wife, mother of five sons (2 married) and a grandmother to two little girls. We have lived in Nebraska City for 26 years and our sons attended Lourdes Central Catholic School. I received my training and certification in Spiritual Direction and Ignatian Guided Retreats from Creighton University. […]

Learn more about Jo Vasa

Fr. Christopher Barak

Ordained a priest in 1987 for the diocese of Lincoln, Fr. Barak is chaplain of the Carmel of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph near Valparaiso, Nebraska. Father Barak was raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and attended St. Albert High School there. He attended Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln before enrolling at […]

Learn more about Fr. Christopher Barak

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