St. Patrick’s Co-Cathedral recently hosted a spiritual healing retreat on September 13-14, 2024, which was filled with inspirational speakers and various prayer forms. The event was intended to accommodate Catholics of all ages, to uncover spiritual wounds, and find avenues for healing. Jordan Nielsen, a BCCHS junior, attended the retreat on her free weekend and said, “I personally liked doing the heart sandwich, which is where you put your hand on your heart, and someone puts their hand on your heart as well, and then they pray over you.” Nielsen also attended the Steubenville Northwest Conference both in 2023 and 2024, and she reflected on her time there in comparison to her experience at this most recent spiritual encounter. “I thought we asked the Holy Spirit to come upon us more than any other time, like Steubenville or anywhere prior…I just feel like the power of the Holy Spirit really came upon all of us more than I’ve ever experienced.”
Relatives of Nielsen, Christi Tipton and her husband, Adam Tipton, were instrumental in organizing and producing the event. Adam Tipton, along with BCCHS teachers Mike Martinson and Daria Haney, assisted in music with local priests providing reconciliation services for participants. St. Patrick’s Co-Cathedral was also a crucial partner in providing space in their youth center for the event to take place.
A similar retreat had been held years before, and while many participants had previously experienced a similar event, Nielsen felt that the impact was just as priceless. “Christi did one when I was in sixth grade, and it was very similar, like with the speaking in tongues, and it was just kind of cool to gain back and experience it again.” However, the retreat still had some uniqueness that made the short time memorable. Going forward, the retreat encouraged prayer to sustain the relationship that was found, rediscovered, or revitalized. While the special time of intense spirituality is over, attendees have left with valuable experiences and inner healing to transform their lives.
