7303 N 112th St, Waverly, NE, USA
August 25 - September 2, 2025
About this Retreat
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 St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia.
In his ministry, he served as an assistant pastor at St. Wenceslaus Church in Wahoo and Blessed Sacrament in Lincoln. He also taught at Pius X and Bishop Neumann high schools. He pursued post-graduate studies in Rome before being named pastor of St. Francis Parish in rural David City; he also taught at Aquinas High School. In 1993 Father Barak was named pastor of St. Leo Parish in Palmyra, St. Martin Parish in Douglas and St. Michael Parish in Cheney. He has also served as administrator of parishes in Aurora and Giltner
Fr Barak had served the Diocese of Lincoln as assistant director of the Family Life Office and director of religious education, he also helps with the Masses with Prayers for Healing ministry.
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 ticket to Europe and become a pilgrim.
She came back to the US and returned to Lincoln, which had been such “a well” for her during her time as a missionary. It was there in 2022 that she made a private vow consecrating her heart, mind, body and soul to Jesus.
Sarina then took a pioneering position at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House, serving in a new position as its Outreach and Ministry Coordinator, working as the retreat house’s marketing specialist, planning youth retreats, offering spiritual direction and prayerfully discerning what formation is most needed.
The “Back to the Garden” retreat is about allowing women to encounter Jesus’ mercy in that place of woundedness, like Mary Magdalen did in the garden after the Resurrection. Sarina hopes women will walk away with a newfound sense of Jesus as bridegroom and beloved.
“Your heart is the garden, it’s the indwelling of God,” Sarina explained. “This is what you’ve been made for, but there’s a place of woundedness in the feminine heart that really ruptures our relationship with Jesus.”
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. I also have my Masters in Christain Spirituality from Creighton. I have a Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation and Behavorial Science from the College of Saint Mary. I was a professional photographer and business owner for ten years until God called me to Spiritual Direction.
It is an honor to journey with others as they go deeper into their prayer life and spirituality. I take this calling seriously as it took me many years of discernment and prayer before entered into my training. I delight in journeying with women, especially young women, as they seek a more intimate prayer life with God.
Details of this retreat
We are also offering other 4-day retreats. To register for other date options go here:
Aug. 25-29 - 4-day (Mon-Fri) with Fr. Barak/Fr. Coulter/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa
Aug. 29-Sept. 2 - 4-day (Fri-Tues) with Fr. Barak/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa (Labor Day)
What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women?
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 Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat will begin with a 7 PM meeting and then Holy Hour on opening night, check-in from 6-7 PM. You will sign-up for daily individual meetings with your retreat director. The retreat ends with a shared lunch on the final day of the retreat.
Please consider giving your director a personal gift (tip stipend) for his time. You can give cash or check to him 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. If the retreat you’re interested is full, contact us to be put on a waiting list. A few double rooms are available upon request. Airport transportation to/from LNK or OMA is also available upon request.
What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women?
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 Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat will begin with a 7 PM meeting and then Holy Hour on opening night, check-in from 6-7 PM. You will sign-up for daily individual meetings with your retreat director. The retreat ends with a shared lunch on the final day of the retreat.
Please consider giving your director a personal gift (tip stipend) for his time. You can give cash or check to him 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. If the retreat you’re interested is full, contact us to be put on a waiting list. A few double rooms are available upon request. Airport transportation to/from LNK or OMA is also available upon request.
To register for an At-home Ignatian Retreat, in which you will be directed daily via zoom, use the discount code VIRTUALIGNATIAN for a 50% off discount.
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