by Greg Mies
One of the unexpected blessings of my role as director of Savior Pastoral and Retreat Center (SPARC) is that people often greet me in the community to share their experiences of being here.
Sometimes, it’s a retreat that deepened their prayer life. Sometimes, it’s a quiet day of reflection that brought peace during a difficult season. Sometimes, it’s simply the memory of laughter and fellowship with their faith community.
Each story reminds me that SPARC is more than a building — it is a place where God moves in people’s lives.
Recently, we were blessed to host the Catholic Spiritual Mentorship program for a retreat that filled our campus. Every space was alive with prayer and conversation.
The chapel echoed with voices lifted in the Eucharist and moments of quiet adoration. Meeting rooms became places of formation, mentoring and heartfelt sharing. Our dining hall became more than a place for meals, it became a place of communion, where friendships were formed and faith was strengthened over conversation and laughter.
What struck me most was not just the fullness of our property, but the fullness of the Spirit that seemed to flow through every corner. Watching people gather in small circles for prayer or pause in stillness before the tabernacle reminded me of how deeply the church longs for spaces of encounter. Retreats like this are a beautiful reminder that when we make room for God — both physically and spiritually — he never disappoints.
At SPARC, we see our mission as one of hospitality in the Spirit: to provide sacred space where the faithful can step away from daily life and be renewed in Christ. We are humbled each time a group entrusts us with their retreat, and grateful to witness the quiet but powerful work of grace unfolding in the lives of those who come for a personal encounter with Christ.
Retreats are an invitation: to step aside, to slow down and to make space for God. And when communities gather in that spirit, the fruits multiply — not only for those present, but for the parishes and families they return to.
As I reflect on the Catholic Spiritual Mentorship retreat, I find myself giving thanks for all who seek the Lord in this way. Their witness encourages us all to remember that God desires to meet us when we make room for him.
My prayer is that SPARC will continue to be such a place: where individuals and groups can rest, be renewed and return to their lives with hearts on fire for the Gospel.
