DALTON – Many of the 100 women who attended the Diocese of Scranton’s recent ‘Bold and Beloved’ retreat had one thing in common: they knew little, if anything, about Saint Hildegard of Bingen.
By the end of the weekend experience, that had changed.
“I had never heard of Saint Hildegard before this,” Mary Daley of Epiphany Parish in Sayre said. “But reading the things that she wrote, it’s like you’re reading someone from today talking about the Catholic Church and the issues we’re facing.”
Held Jan. 31-Feb. 1, the third annual ‘Bold and Beloved’ women’s retreat centered on the life and teaching of Saint Hildegard, a 12th-century Benedictine abbess, mystic, composer, and Doctor of the Church.
Through prayer, study and fellowship, women of all ages explored her vision of faith, womanhood, and discipleship – many encountering her story for the first time.
The retreat was led by Annette Bergeon, CEO of Endow, a women’s apostolate devoted to intellectual and spiritual formation. Endow is one of the only women’s organizations that has a study specifically on Saint Hildegard.
“She was a doctor, a writer and author – and I can relate to a lot of that,” Hannah Halliday of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Peckville, a third-year retreat participant, said. “It taught me so much about her and about her life.”
Participants took part in four large-group talks, followed by structured small-group discussions. The weekend retreat also included daily Mass, the Rosary, Liturgy of the Hours, Eucharistic Adoration, opportunities for Reconciliation, and time for rest and fellowship.
The retreat was open to women over the age of eighteen, and many mother-daughter pairs participated.
“I’ve always loved coming to retreats and once I learned about this one, I was really excited and immediately messaged my mom and said, do you want to do this with me, and here we are,” Concetta Cooney of Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Pittston said.
“Women are created as social beings. We are extremely communal,” Marianne Guarnieri, Director of Discipleship for the Diocesan Office for Parish Life, explained. “This is a weekend that is designed to create fellowship. It is a wonderful time.”
For younger participants like Stephanie Kucharski, a first-year college student from Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Duryea, the retreat offered both renewal and connection.
“It’s nice to just take a break and relax and get away for a weekend from the workload,” she said. “It has been very interesting and cool to see like-minded people here for the same reason which is exploring their faith together.”
Others described the retreat as deeply affirming.
“In the real world, it’s not always easy to be Catholic,” Daley added. “It is so refreshing to be here with other Catholic women, sharing the same beliefs, and helping to strengthen those beliefs. I really appreciate it. It’s like water in the desert.”
As the retreat concluded, many participants say they’re already looking forward to next year.
“It’s an amazing opportunity and I encourage anybody that is even thinking about coming on it to take that step,” Halliday said.