Annual Newman Retreat Celebrates Saints

For over 40 years, STM students, staff and faculty, as well as Newman members from across the University of Saskatchewan campus have gathered at St. Peter’s Abbey for the Annual Newman Retreat.  This year, the retreat was held on Jan. 31-Feb. 2 with the theme, “Celebrating Saints.”
This year’s theme was incredibly apt, as the patron of Newman Centres all around the world, John Henry Cardinal Newman was canonized a saint in October.  The weekend was an exploration of what makes a saint, who are some of the saints, and what is the process to become one. In the process, participants got to hear about Newman, St. Thomas More, and the stories of many other saints. They also were able to watch a short video of STM faculty and staff talking about their favourite saints.  The weekend included prayer, a screening of “A Man for All Seasons”, socializing and games, a photo scavenger hunt, All Saints Jeopardy and music throughout the weekend led by STM Campus Ministry’s own Celeste Woloschuk.  Friday’s evening prayer was led by Fr. Andre Lalach, and was an Akathist to Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky, C.Ss.R., who was a Bishop and Martyr.
A highlight of the weekend for many was the pilgrimage walk to St. Peter’s Cathedral in Muenster, where Fr. Paul Paproski, OSB, and Fr. Demetrius Wasylyniuk, OSB, talked about all the saints and the art in the church by Count Berthold von Imhoff,  an artist known for his religious murals and paintings.  The Newman Executive is responsible for planning the retreat with the guidance of their STM Staff Mentor,  Michael MacLean.  Michael made sure to include a remembrance of long-time Newman Retreat attendee and well-loved STM Faculty member Dr. Alan Reese, who passed away in June of 2019.
The weekend wrapped up with Sunday mass with the monks of St. Peter’s.  Abbot Peter Novecosky, OSB, presided, and spoke in his homily of the saints and those in the world that inspire us by their perseverance and dedication.  There was a positive spirit amongst the retreatants, and they commented on their evaluations expressing gratitude for this special weekend away. 

 To keep up with the Newman exec, please follow their Facebook page, found here: https://www.facebook.com/NewmanCentreUOfS/