The Epiphany Party

A lasting St. Therese tradition

Over the 18.5 years of St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission, many traditions have developed within these walls. Some have spanned a few seasons, while others remained for years before retiring. But one of my favorite traditions has spanned our entire history: the arrival of the Three Kings bearing “Epiphany Gifts” for our community.

While I am always excited to receive my gift from the Kings, over the last ten years my favorite part of this tradition has been its popularity with our broader community. This past week, alumni have reached out, one after another from all the program year cohorts, with the same question: “Will you draw an Epiphany Gift for me this year?”

What is an Epiphany Gift? 

The roots of this tradition stretch back to the Madonna House community and its foundress, Catherine Doherty. Catherine taught that just as the Magi brought treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ Child, the Lord in His infinite generosity has a specific “spiritual treasure” intended for each of us to carry throughout the new year. Catherine shares details of this practice in her book, “Donkey Bells”.

In our St. Therese adaptation, someone dresses as one of the Three Kings and carries a treasure chest through the gathering. Inside are small slips of paper, each inscribed with a different virtue or word. With a prayer to the Holy Spirit, each person draws a slip. We trust that the chosen word is a “spiritual assignment”—a whisper from the Holy Spirit suggesting a pathway of grace to ponder in the months to come. 

Some years I’ll tell others what my word is. Some years I’ll keep it for pondering in private. The slip might say Patience, Love, or Tenderness. Or, it might say Suffering, Poverty, or Purification. Sometimes there is an immediate, meaningful connection; other times, I’m left wondering how on earth that grace will play out. While some words may feel daunting at first glance, God has always helped me see them as a little “star” to follow and a reminder to trust in His all-knowing, all-seeing guidance and providence.

This year, my word is Hope. I’m looking forward to it as a personal extension of the Church’s “Year of Hope” which was coming to a close just as I drew my word.

Witnesses to the Word 

I reached out to several alumni to see what these gifts have meant to them over the years (and I always love opportunities to reconnect with our alums). Their stories are a beautiful witness to how God works through a simple slip of paper.

• Sarah-Jane Bend (2014-2015): “The joy of receiving an Epiphany gift is always so tender and full of meaning—a quiet invitation from the Lord to notice where He is gently leading next. My very first word was Beatitudes. That was the year I entered the Church, and my classmate [Monica Matuszewska, now Sr. Gaudia Maria Magdalena] entered the Sisters of Life. In a beautiful mystery, we both married Jesus our Bridegroom—she through her vocation, and I through the Eucharist. Last year, my word was Charity, and it unfolded in ways I could never have planned: volunteering at Camp Attach and serving those in hospice care. This year, my word is Love; I look forward to watching that grace take flesh throughout 2026.”
• Dominique Skuban (2016-2019): “Usually I keep my word close, but last year I totally forgot about it! When I finally went back to look, the word was Presence. I realized that although I had forgotten, the Lord hadn’t. That word summed up my year perfectly; many times I found myself forgoing tasks I felt ‘needed’ to be done to instead spend time with those I love. It was a true grace.”
• André Fillion (2020-2023): “I received the word Experience. I thought it meant that after years of ministry and study, I would finally go home and ‘use’ my experience. Jim Anderson [Director of Formation] thought differently—that maybe this would be a year where I came to know Jesus personally and experientially. He was right. Through a year of much suffering, I truly came to know and love Jesus as a person who loves me.”
• Will Riley (2024-2025; my son, who has been around STIFM since he was a baby) “I was 11, I had been often arguing with my mom. We had had a big argument that Epiphany afternoon, and I was frustrated and she was ‘exhausted and grumpy’ as we left for the Epiphany party. After picking my gift, I went to her (‘looking sheepish,’ according to her) and said, ‘I said a prayer before I picked it. I got Obedience.’ I apologized to her for not listening to her as I should. But the real kicker was when she showed me her gift: Exhortation. God really knew what each of us needed!”
• Shayna Engleking (2015-2016): “This year, the word Love was pulled for me. It is something I really needed after one of the hardest years of my life, navigating the loss of my grandpa and mum. Also, I am moving back to Canada soon after living 23 months in New Zealand, leaving a community that I love and feels like home. So with lots of changes along with navigating grief, I feel Love is very fitting and a good reminder for the year ahead.”
• Gabriella Debusschere (2014-2015, 2018-2019): “My word last year was Love. While the love between my fiancé and I has grown, I believe the love God was gifting me was even deeper. For most of my life, I believed the lie that I was unlovable. By God’s grace, that wound has been healing. My fiancé’s reassurance reminds me that if a fallen human being can love me this much, then the perfect God, who sees the depths of my being, loves me so much more.”
• Janelle Ryan (2018-2020): “I received my epiphany gift last year while lying on the couch, exhausted and fighting a cold, a sinus infection, and a weary heart. Rest. I laughed out loud as soon as I saw it. It came at a time where multiple friends and family were telling me to slow down, to lessen my load, and to, well, rest. I knew they were right, and I wanted to do so, but I soon realized it was about more than slowing down the pace of my life externally. This last year, the Lord has invited me to rest in His presence. To discover what it means to truly dwell with him, in the quiet places of my spirit, and to have peace there, no matter what is going on externally. To be moved not by the world, but by His word. It has been a very fruitful gift, and one that I am, in many ways, still unwrapping.” 
• Ilianna Airey (2021-2024) “The Epiphany word I received in my second year at St. Therese was ‘suffering.’ The Lord took me on a beautiful and challenging journey of learning to understand what it means to truly take up our cross and follow Him. He taught me so much, and I am so grateful. I still draw on the graces I received during that year!”
• Katie Yamniuk (2009-2010, Staff 2010-2013): “I’ve found that I really only notice the gift at the end of the year. It’s exciting to wonder about it in January, but even better to look back in December and say, ‘Oh! That is what God meant!’ His plan is always better than what my logical brain tries to come up with.”

Would You Like a “Star,” too?

Although we are past Epiphany, we’re still in Epiphanytide! We’d love to include you in this tradition. Like the majority of our alumni, you don’t have to be in Bruno to receive your word for the year! We trust that the Lord wants to speak grace into your life—and the Epiphany Gift word can be that “star” to lead you closer to His heart in the months ahead. 

If you would like us to draw an Epiphany Gift for you or your family, drop us an email at epiphany[remove-this]gifts@sttherese.ca by January 31, 2026. Include the names of everyone you’d like gifts drawn for. We will draw a word from the treasure chest and reply with your gift. (please remove the obvious part from the email address than needs to go — it’s there to try reduce spam)

Once you receive your word, jot it down, tuck it into your Bible, or place it in your prayer corner. Like Katie mentioned above, you might be surprised by the “Oh! That’s what He meant!” moment waiting for you at the end of the year.

We can’t wait to hear how the Holy Spirit works in your life!

An Advent Who-Done-It Mystery

St. Therese Institute’s Version of the Secret Santa Tradition

The noise of excitement and anticipation grows in the St. Therese coffee lounge as people finish their after-supper chores and make their way into the room. Decorated for Christmas and with furniture reconfigured for seating in the round, the room is transformed into a festive courtroom. 

These past few weeks of Advent have included some sneaking, some scheming, some bribing accomplices, and some clandestine undercover work. It all culminates in tonight’s final ceremony of the “Advent Angel” game. Advent Angel is the St. Therese Institute version of Secret Santa. In tonight’s ceremony, witnesses will be called and have their chance to lay down accusations of “who-done-it” – an attempt to guess the person who has been secretly blessing them with small gifts these past weeks. 

With hot chocolate in hand, the chairs, couches, and cushions on the floor are claimed. The room falls to silence as director Nick Pierlot rises and, instead of banging a gavel on the desk, erects a single pointer finger – the St.Therese community’s signal for “may I have your attention.” Nick welcomes everyone, explains the proceedings, and draws attention to Exhibit A, the focal point of this assemblage: the Christmas tree with 36 presents arranged under it, each wrapped in mystery. The presents are the final gifts of this annual Advent game.

The reason we give gifts at all goes deeper than just having seasonal fun! From a Catholic perspective, our sneaky gift exchanges are a direct sequel to the very first Christmas gifts: the offerings brought by the Magi, whom we will commemorate soon at the feast of the Ephiphany. When the three Wise Men rolled up to Bethlehem in the camel caravan, their gifts weren’t random stocking stuffers; they were a profound revelation of Jesus’ identity! 

• Gold, the still-sought-after precious metal, said, “You are a King!” 
• Frankincense, an incense used in the temple, said, “You are a High Priest!” and also acknowledged Jesus as God.
• Myrrh, used in embalming, said, “But, you must sacrifice your life to accomplish your mission!” 

When we give a gift, even if it’s just a snack, or note, or a cozy pair of socks, we’re mimicking the Magi—offering our own small tribute to the image of the King of the Universe in that person we care for.

The absolute reason we give gifts, however, is because God gave first. I think of the celebration of Christmas as the time we receive the gift of Jesus through His birth. But there is a surprise party that starts the whole thing nine months earlier. God was with us in Mary’s womb for nine months before coming into the larger world at Christmas. So, the Feast of the Annunciation, on March 25, is our first celebration of God’s gift of Himself in Christ. The gift of this moment is so foundational for everything else in the Gospel, that the Church also invites us to commemorate the Annunciation every day of the year, in the words of the Angelus prayer. 

Add in holy historical heroes—like St. Nicholas, the original “secret Santa” who slyly slipped gifts of gold coins to a family whose daughters were at risk of being sold into slavery, and we see how richly inspired our tradition of gift-giving is. 

Consider, too, the adaptation of various other ancient and cultural practices that Christians have redeemed from their pagan roots, in our characteristically confidence that we can baptise anything good into the great story of divine love!

Through it all, our generosity with each other becomes more than a mere tradition. It becomes a consistent spirit of gratitude that redeems our whole lives. It is the very sanctifying spirit that molds us increasingly toward the likeness of our God, who is the ultimate Self-Giver. 

And that is why our Advent Angel revelation ceremony is so awesome! Those weeks of sneaking notes, dropping off tiny treats, and (hopefully) stealthily performing acts of service are all ‘little ways’ of entering into this much larger and very holy reality. 

Tonight, witnesses are called one by one to take the stand. They are given two chances to guess who their Advent Angel is. Maybe the culprit wasn’t as sneaky as he or she thought! Maybe too many clues were found and the jig is up! Their identity is guessed. 

More often, however, the deeds done went unobserved, and the two accused suspects plead innocence, satisfying the jury. Then the witness unwraps a gift that is designed to be a clue. A chorus of “Oh’s” and “Wows” erupts from both the gift opener and the assembly. One final guess is cast, and whether right or wrong, the perpetrating Advent Angel reveals him or herself to thunderous applause – and often to heartfelt hugs of gratitude. 

It’s a moment to cheer for the selfless and quiet love that was shown to you for weeks, just like God’s love was silently and humbly given to the whole world, wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger. 

We wish you all a very blessed Advent and joyous Christmas. Thank you for the ways so many of you are gifts to this Catholic mission and to the ministries at St. Therese Institute!

Journey toward Glory with Mary

St. Therese Institute devotions for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Every Advent on December 8, the Church celebrates a singular moment in history: the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a day of joyful hymns. White vestments replace the normal purple of Advent. We declare that grace is stronger than sin. 

This solemnity holds deep significance our St. Therese Institute program participants because they have prepared for 33 days! Our Gap Year participants just completed the 33 Days to Morning Glory program, a journey that led them to consecrate themselves to Jesus through the hands of Mary His Mother. Residents who are here for a Mission Year completed consecration to the Sacred Heart. Staff members on the intern team even did a 33 day consecration to St. Joseph. 

To celebrate the culmination of this journey, the St. Therese Institute community gathered with the wider parish in the morning at the church of St. Bruno. We were joined by Sr. April Mireau of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary for a profound reflection before Mass. Fr. Pius Schroh offered a festal Mass that was made especially beautiful by a schola cantorum choir from St. Therese Institute, led by Rachelle Bentler, which sang all the proper and ordinary parts of the Mass a cappella. Finally, St. Therese Institute hosted a feast day brunch afterwards at our campus. The total experience was indeed glorious. 

So what is the idea of “consecration,” and why is it such a magnet for young hearts in 2025?

Consecration to Mary: The “Surest, Easiest, Shortest” Way to Holiness 

The spiritual practice of consecrating oneself to Jesus through Mary is not new. Its most famous architect was St. Louis de Montfort, a fiery 18th-century French missionary who wrote the classic text, True Devotion to Mary. De Montfort’s premise was simple but radical: Since God chose to come to us through Mary, the most perfect way for us to return to God is also through her. 

De Montfort famously described this path as the “surest, easiest, shortest, and the most perfect means” to becoming a saint. He argued that while we can certainly approach Jesus directly, our own human frailty can make the path stumbling and slow. When we go through Mary, we are carried. We give her our small, imperfect merits, and she purifies them, presenting them to Jesus with her own perfect love. 

For a 21st-century reader, though, de Montfort’s 300-year-old language can sometimes feel intimidating. Enter Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC, and his transformative book, 33 Days to Morning Glory. Fr. Gaitley describes his program as a “do-it-yourself retreat” updated for the Third Millennium. He takes the core of de Montfort’s teaching but expands it through the lens of three other “Marian Giants” of the modern era: St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and St. John Paul II. This 33-day immersion brings a deeper relationship with Jesus’ mother and a deeper understanding of Mary’s roles in salvation history and our own spiritual journeys. 

Sr. April Mireau: Living the Mysteries 

Sr. April, a Sister of the Presentation of Mary, radiates the charisms of her order: to follow the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary presenting herself for service in the temple, in a spirit of adoration and self-offering. The Sisters of the Presentation are also dedicated to the Christian education of youth. 

In a talk filled with personal stories about her journey with Mary, Sr. April invited us to posture our hearts to receive. She challenged us to see the Rosary as a reality we live. Rather than seeing the Joyful, Sorrowful, Luminous, and Glorious mysteries as events that happened 2,000 years ago, our own lives can be a participation in these very mysteries. 

“We’re called not only to meditate on the mysteries of Jesus in the Rosary, but also to live them,” said Sr. April. “There will be times in our life that are ‘Joyful,’ times that are ‘Sorrowful,’ times that are ‘Luminous,’ and one day, by God’s grace, ‘Glorious.’ We’re called to enter in and live these mysteries of Christ. It will look different for each one of us, but we’ll all touch them.”  

Sr. April reminded us that by consecrating ourselves to Mary, we are asking her to be present in every mystery we live, just as she was present in the life of Christ. Alongside Mary and the rosary, “you can ask yourself: which mystery am I living today in the life of Christ?” 

She ended with a beautiful prayer reflection and a challenge to the St. Therese residents to find a single word that summarizes their personal relationship with the Blessed Mother. “What is my key word? How am I going to live out that consecration and renew it as I go?” For Sr. April herself, the word is “dependence”, a concept that was at the heart of many of the personal stories she shared.

Voices from the Gap Year: “I’m Going to Hold Your Hand” 

Mass followed Sr. April’s talk. The atmosphere after Mass shifted from solemn prayer to joyful celebration with a special brunch in a festively decorated dining hall. After brunch, I chatted with several of our Gap Year students to see how the “33 Day” journey had landed in their hearts. 

Elizabeth Pueschel saw the “33 Days” book as a practical tool. The readings prepared her to face the reality of spiritual life which isn’t a straight line. Elizabeth found comfort in the idea of consecration as a partnership for the long haul. 

“The whole journey up to consecration made me realize that consecration day is not a one-and-done thing. It was great preparation, not only for the consecration, but also for life after the consecration. It gave lots of foresight for how I want to respond when I encounter challenges in life – to offer it back to Mary. The consecration is basically me saying, ‘Yes, I’m going to hold your hand, and now we’re actually going to walk down a road together.’” 

It’s not about having a perfect map; it’s about having the right companion. 

Mikayla Klover, Daniel Côté and Gabriel Lazar shared a discussion on the communal aspects of the consecrations and solemnity. In an age of individualism, doing something this significant together made an impression. 

“Doing the consecration as a group was cool, instead of just doing it by ourselves. The entire experience together, the atmosphere, and the community unity stood out. The rest of the parish was also invited, which was lovely to witness and participate in. The Schola did the music, which was beautiful. We’re so blessed to have so many good voices,” Mikayla shared. 

Daniel noted how the men’s community banded together during the 33 day preparation to support each other through: “Doing it together was so much fun. It made it a lot easier for all of us to do it, because we could encourage each other. If someone was falling asleep, someone would be there to gently smack him in the back of the head, wake him up again, and keep going.” 

Gabriel’s family had consecrated themselves to Mary in the past, but this time for him was different. “Because we did it as a family, I was mostly just passively listening. In all honesty, I did fall asleep a few times each year. Reading it this year [for myself] helped me understand it better.” 

Finally, Olivia Wilson shared a vulnerable testimony from her “33 Days” program experience. She admitted that trusting God directly can sometimes feel overwhelming, but also noted that Mary offers a gentle, accessible way to approach the Divine. In response to Sr. April’s challenge to find a specific word, Olivia shared her choice: 

“The word was Surrender. That word comes to my mind when I think of Jesus and constantly trying to surrender myself and everything to Him, especially while struggling with trust in the Lord. I asked myself a question the other day because I was really struggling with my trust in God, thinking, ‘Hey, today, I just don’t trust God at all.’ A little voice in my head asked, ‘But do you trust Mary?’ and I realized, ‘Yes, I think I do trust Mary, actually.’” 

This realization changed Olivia’s prayer life, giving her new confidence to approach the Lord. 

“So, even if God seems daunting to me, His mother seems less daunting. I can always go to her with my worries, and she’ll still bring those to her Son and to God. Whenever I imagine myself bringing something to God, I now imagine holding Mary’s hand and approaching God. She’s there to comfort me and essentially says, ‘You’ve got this! You can just go up to him and tell him about it.’” 

Walking Forward in Morning Glory 

As the sun set on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the feeling on campus was one blessedness. Whether living a “Joyful” mystery of laughter in community or a “Sorrowful” mystery of personal struggle, these Gap Year participants all share a new confidence: they do not walk alone. They have consecrated their lives to a Mother who makes all things possible through grace. They walk with their hands in hers. She will not let go until they reach that full glory shared by all the saints.

A Full House at St. Therese Institute

Some of the best attendance ever for Fall Open Week

Last week saw St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission (STIFM) host its first Open House Week of the year. This semi-annual event is 

• an opportunity for prospective students to immerse themselves in Canada’s Catholic Gap Year program; 
• a chance for parents and friends of the program to see inside the mission they support; 
• and a chance for alumni to reconnect, sit in on classes and – for some – to discern coming back for one of our advanced formation program options. 

The week coincides with many university reading weeks, making it convenient for university students to attend. 

A total of thirty-six people came to St. Therese Institute as special guests this past week. Although we’re back to our regular schedule this week, our hearts are full after welcoming so many to stay and break bread with us, and we are grateful for having shared the St. Therese experience.

Sharing the Experience 

Jacob Powell, our marketing director, described the Open House as “one of the best ways for prospective participants to experience a day-in-the-life of our program. An Open House Week visitor gets to live exactly like a resident: attending classes, joining in community prayer and Mass, eating meals with the community, and participating in daily chores and recreation…and they get to witness the real transformation, joy, community, and intentionality of other participants and staff.” 

Our admission officer, Monica Hartman (also an alumna), explained that an Open House Week is “a chance for our guests to hear testimonies and stories from the participants. You get to see how we think, live, speak and interact, and we do it in a way that’s different than what most people have experienced in their daily lives. Relationships look different here, which speaks hope, and it’s really special to experience!” 

Rachelle Bentler, our intern receptionist, reported that guests “travelled to Bruno from all across the prairie provinces to visit St. Therese during the week.” 

Jacob summed things up with the news that this year was “one of our biggest Fall Open Houses to date, with over half of the visitors discerning applying to the program.” 

Several alumni brought friends or siblings along to experience the community. It was a welcome chance for me – a long-time mission staff member – to catch up with these old friends and to meet some of the people who are important in their lives.

Socializing Galore

Just before our Open House Week began, the STIFM community had a “Rest and Relaxation Weekend.” These weekends happen every month or two as a break from obligations at St. Therese and a chance for residents to take time for themselves. Some St. Theresers used their R&R weekend to participate in a Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO) dodgeball tournament in Saskatoon. Connections were made there that led several out-of-province dodgeballers to postpone their return travel and come check out STIFM for a couple days before returning to Alberta. 

St. Therese Institute hosted a tournament of our own during the Open House. In addition to the regular St. Therese schedule, guests who were visiting on Wednesday had the special opportunity to participate in an evening volleyball tournament. The atmosphere was electric and playfully competitive as the addition of new young adults allowed the formation of more teams than would normally be possible. “We had people drive in from Saskatoon and Humboldt to participate in the tournament,” said Rachelle Bentler. “It was great to have everyone come join in for the fun and excitement!” 

What Folks Were Saying 

Different aspects of STIFM-life resonated with different Open House Week guests. Their feedback affirms the value of sharing the unique St. Therese Institute community experience with everyone. 

• Aimée Bentler reflected on the impact of the routine and formation: “I was a bit tentative before coming for the open house week, but I’ve been delightfully surprised by how refreshing it is; much like a retreat experience. Every class left me filled and enriched with so much truth, beauty, and goodness, and the routine here leaves so much space for stillness and intimacy with God through prayer. This is the kind of experience that I know must be continued over the length of nine months.” 
• Megan Homan appreciated the welcoming atmosphere: “Everyone was so kind and welcoming. I appreciated the opportunity to attend classes and truly see what St Therese is all about. Daily Prayer time is a gift here and brings the community closer together”. 
• Anastasia Ibach (alumna, Class of 2025) shared how quickly she felt at ease being back at STIFM, despite not having met many of the current Gap Year residents, saying “After just one day at St. Therese, I felt like I was home. I was so deeply immersed in the community that it felt as though these students might be my own brothers and sisters… Truly, this open house week was a retreat for my mind and soul. I was renewed by the pure joy in the hearts of my fellow young Catholics.”. 

I overheard one guest, as he was heading out the door to go home, excitedly telling the group of people gathered to see him off: “I’m definitely coming back in February for the Spring Open House Week!” Cheers erupted from the group. 

Coming Soon 

We have several more opportunities coming up for you to experience the life at St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission, starting with the first of our new Open House Weekends on the weekend of St. Nicholas’ Day (Dec. 6). 

“To make the St. Therese experience more accessible to more people, we are adding new weekend Open House events this year that might be of interest for people that work and can’t take time off during the week, or high school students that don’t have a break that matches up with university reading weeks,” Jacob Powell explains. 

Open House Weekends: 

• Dec. 5th – 7th – “St. Nick Celebration” weekend 
• Jan. 16th – 18th – “Snow Fun” weekend 
• Feb. 6th – 8th – “Men’s & Women’s Day” weekend 
• Mar. 20th – 22nd – “Men’s & Women’s Day” weekend 

Register and learn more about the Open House Weekends here: https://sttherese.ca/event/open-house-weekends-2025-2026. 

Spring Open House Week: 

Save the date for our next full week Open House, from Feb. 16-21, AD2026. As always, you can choose the dates of the week that work best for you, or you can just stay for the whole time. Our Facebook and Instagram pages – or our webpage at sttherese.ca/events – will provide more information and will announce when registration for the February Open House Week opens.

A Retreat that Changes the Narrative

The Emmaus Retreat week – Canada’s Catholic Gap Year

Our lives are saturated by constant noise and distraction, from the “ba-ding” of cell phones to the chaotic clamor of the modern lifestyle. We all know the difficulty of tuning our ears to God’s quiet voice in the midst of this modern cacophony. Even when things are quieter, our internal noise keeps us distracted. Thoughts wander while we walk, drive, pray the rosary, try to be attentive in Mass, or even try to stay engaged in conversation with others. 

A couple weeks ago, the St. Therese Institute Catholic Gap Year residents were able to turn away from all the noise for their first silent retreat of the year. It’s called the Emmaus Retreat, and as you might guess, the retreat’s theme is that story of the disciples’ encounter with the resurrected Christ on their way to Emmaus, in the 24th chapter of Luke’s gospel.

Discovering New Narratives 

Phylicia Aalbers, our Female Director of Formation (and a STIFM alumna), led the retreat. “Emmaus is designed to provide the participants with skills in emotional intelligence for living in community,” she said. 

The retreat invites participants to look first at themselves, identifying personal tendencies and internal narratives that may or may not lead them closer to Christ. The whole process is based on the example of the two disciples on the road, who were stuck in grief and confusion about the crucifixion, and who had not yet realized the truth of the resurrection. There is a lesson here about the power of narratives, and of the gap that can exist between our narratives and the actual facts of what God is doing in our lives. 

“Looking at the stories we tell ourselves, we start to see how those stories impact our ability to relate to the world.” Once we realize not all of our narratives are true, there is a real opportunity. “As you discover who you are and step out of old narratives and into life-giving narratives, it frees you up to love more fully, deeply, and freely.”

The retreat weaves its way between facilitated sessions, times of prayer – including daily Mass, rosary, and adoration – personal journaling, confession, small group discussions, and “integration activities” designed to help participants put things together meaningfully for themselves.

“It’s a time to grow in both faith and personal insight,” Phylicia says. “It’s a time of finding answers to questions like, ‘Why do I react this way when blank happens? What is it that compels this reaction? How can I implement what I learned this week to propel myself forward rather than getting stuck or falling back?'”

Over the years she has facilitated the retreat, Phylicia has seen truth strike people as dramatic insights become suddenly obvious. In other cases, she sees a process that starts with a deep sense and unfolds into clarity – akin to the disciples realizing that they have been walking with Jesus all along, so that they exclaim “were not our hearts burning within us” (Luke 24:32). 

An Excellent Retreat Team

We had two STIFM alumni join the retreat team this year: Naazim Kodita (Class of 2014) came to co-lead the retreat, with Phylicia. Naazim is a certified counsellor who runs his own practice out of Calgary, AB. Fr. Michael Horianopoulos, CC (Class of 2017) was here as the retreat chaplain. Fr. Michael is the newly ordained Associate Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Lower Sackville, NS. St. Therese Institute interns, Miranda Willenborg and Joseph Côté, rounded out the team. 

The Fruit of Silence – Testimonials

Noah Huber (pictured left) is at St. Therese for a Gap Year and had a breakthrough in his faith during the retreat: 

“Our Lord was working on my heart and my faith. Even though I struggle with doubts, our Lord was reassuring me of faith being a choice. Even if I don’t feel it, I can still choose. Renewing that choice to believe, to trust, and to love, is so important. Where usually I base my encounters with him on feelings, this was more an encounter of conviction: Yes, I choose to believe. Yes, I choose to trust in you Lord and to be yours.” 

Though silence was hard at first, Noah came to appreciate the opportunity, saying that the silence “really gave an opportunity for things to come up, like memories from the past and lies that I believed. He brings things up so that he can work on them. Tearing those apart revealed the Lord’s constant presence with me through my life, never leaving, never wavering, never abandoning. He’s always there. Coming out of the silence I realized the beauty of the silence. How you can encounter our Lord so much deeper…because there’s no distractions.”

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Kintsukuroi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold. Instead of hiding the cracks, this process highlights them as part of the object’s history, creating a unique and more beautiful piece. We can also embrace our wounds and negative experiences, transforming them into strength and resiliency. There is a Kintsukuroi integration activity in the Emmaus Retreat. 

Sara Hansen (pictured right) appreciated the impact of the Kintsukuroi experience on her retreat. “We received clay pots. We decorated them, then were told to break them (which was actually kinda fun), and then were instructed on how to mend them. I found the mending part to be frustrating as the pot kept falling apart on me. I took the still-broken pot with me to share group, and finally managed to get it put back together there. It really struck me that it was in the context of community that this ‘healing’ occurred.

The whole process helped me to realize that my imperfections and struggles are actually a unique and beautiful part of who I am.” 

The Sacraments and Community 

“All of this [happens] in the context of the sacraments,” adds Phylicia. For the disciples in Emmaus, it was through the sacrament of the Eucharist when Jesus “took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to them” (Luke 34:31) that they recognized him. 

“The sacraments are these pivotal moments of grace, and help us to become saints. So, as we are becoming more aware of our stories and narratives, we are working on changing our stories with the Lord, much like what happens in the Gospel story on the Road to Emmaus. How do we become more alive, and how are the sacraments giving us the grace to do so?” 

Reflecting back on the week, co-leader Naazim Kodita shared, “I was struck mainly by the community. Even though we were in silence, the heart of St. Therese was very much present in the love, service, and intentionality of each person. My favourite moment was near the end of the retreat: [after] the silence was lifted, each [participant] shared their own experience with God working in them that week. Love was abundant, hope was revitalizing, and their commitment to a life in Christ was inspiring.” 

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St. Therese Institute May Offer an Emmaus Retreat for the Public

Emmaus is a pivotal moment in our Catholic Gap Year programming. Now, the STIFM team is considering offering this retreat to the public, during the months of June or July. 

“It would be to bring these tools and skills into the lives of others,” Phylicia explains. “Learning these skills helps participants become better spouses, parents, and co-workers. They are operating in freedom, not brokenness, and so can love more deeply.” 

If the witness of these Gap Year participants draws you to the idea of a summer Emmaus Retreat, let us know. Sharing your interest with us will encourage our team to make the commitment. 

Stay tuned for updates in this newsletter, on our website, and on our social media.