Faber House launches women’s retreat

Tucked between the corners of Dakota Street and Desmet Avenue, the Faber House is home to three University Ministry Student Assistants, Colleen Dawson, Kelley Hickey and Alyssa Harvey. It was these three girls who proposed an idea for the first women's retreat for the month of February.

Scheduled for Feb. 12-13, the two- day retreat will feature four main topics, relationships with men, relationships with other women, relationships with self, and relationships with God.

Cardoner Retreat Coordinator Michelle Wheatley oversees the Faber House Retreat.
"It's an upstart program with the goal of becoming a tradition. The girls want to bring women together in a safe space to focus on specific topics related to women such as relationships and spirituality," Wheatley said.

Faber House is named after Blessed Peter Faber, S.J., who was a retreat director. Faber House is an extension of University Ministry. There they prepare retreats and store supplies. The three women who live there help with the University Ministry programs and manage the house.

"[This retreat] is the idea of the girls who are currently living in Faber House, it's a project that they wanted to do as part of their job," Wheatley said. "From my perspective, the goal is to have meaningful conversation with women and emphasizing ideals like fellowship."

University Ministry is hopeful that the retreat will develop into a tradition, and will allow for additional retreats of this type as well.

 "If there is a long enough waitlist there will be another women's retreat later in April and there is a possibility of a men's retreat if all goes well." Wheatley said.

There is a $10 fee to cover meals and there is a capacity for 20 retreaters. There are spots available. Admission is on a first come, first serve basis. For a retreat application, go to the University Ministry website: www.gonzaga.edu/um.