By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN
Managing Editor

The Springfield Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (SDCCW) is sponsoring a Lenten retreat Tuesday, March 28 and Wednesday, March 29 at the Villa Maria Catholic Life Center in Springfield. The subject of the retreat is “Our Journey of Faith.” 

The SDCCW retreat is a tradition and features spiritual presentations, prayer, Mass, rosary, the sacrament of confession, and fellowship. The retreat begins with registration and a light breakfast at 9 a.m. on March 28 and concludes after lunch on March 29. 

This year’s retreat speaker is Kim Padan. After the birth of a stillborn son, Padan and her husband Bruce were foster parents to 41 foster children over an eight-year period. She was the executive director of the local prolife group for 11 years. She joined and served two years as president of the Peoria DCCW. She joined the national Spirituality Commission in 2018, and is currently the chair of that commission. She  periodically writes articles for The Catholic Post, the newspaper for the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, and is also a lay Dominican. 

Retreat costs include meals, refreshments, retreat materials, and the use of the Villa Maria facility, which is located on the shores of Lake Springfield.  The cost for an overnight stay, double occupancy is $100. An overnight stay, single occupancy (if available) is $120. Commuters pay $70.  For those who want to stay overnight on March 27, the fee is $70 double/$50 single, with no  meals.

Registration fees payable to SDCCW are due by March 21. Contact your parish office, your women’s group, or your deanery president for additional information and registration form, or contact Alice Massey at or (217) 371-1108.