by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
TOPEKA — Rest can be hard to come by, but Sept. 25 will be a day set aside for just that for women of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
A daylong women’s retreat at Mother Teresa Church in Topeka, led by “Bible Study Evangelista” Sonja Corbitt, a Catholic Scripture teacher, is designed to provide peace and fellowship to those who attend.
“The purpose of the ladies retreat is to assure women that their suffering is not arbitrary,” said Corbitt, “and show them how to work with the Holy Spirit, rather than against him, in what he intends by allowing it.”
All women who are interested are invited to gather at 8:30 a.m. to pray the rosary. The retreat will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m.
There is no cost to attend, but a freewill offering will be accepted.
Mary Zachariasen, coordinator for the retreat, said it is important women take the time to step away from the chaos of life to deepen their faith.
“In order to live, love and walk in truth, we have to know what the truth is,” she said. “Sonja has a way of getting to the heart of the matter.”
Corbitt aims to provide a peaceful space where women can rest their thoughts, emotions, body and soul.
She plans to introduce tools that will help those in attendance unearth that same rest in any situation they face.
Learning those skills in a faith-based environment is an essential part of growing spiritually, said Corbitt.
“We need community,” she said. “We receive as much strength and consolation from one another at an event like this as we do directly from the Holy Spirit.”
Zachariasen has high hopes for the retreat and believes Corbitt is the perfect person to inspire women of the archdiocese.
“Sonja’s love for the word of God is very contagious,” she said. “It’s our prayer that women all over the archdiocese will connect — or reconnect — with Jesus in a more personal way.”
Registration for the retreat is required. Visit the website at: mtcctopeka.org.
To learn more about Corbitt, visit her website at: biblestudyevangelista.com.
