2023 Retreat
Details
When: August 12th, 2023
Where: Weber Farm in Cambridge, IA. Read more about the location.
Registration: Click or tap to register
Cost: Free but donations are appreciated and encouraged so the retreat stays free.
Children: Due to wanting to maintain the peacefulness of the farm, we will not have babysitting provided. However, if you need assistance in finding a reliable sitter you may contact us for suggestions. Babies are welcome and we plan to have changing tables, space for nursing mothers, etc. if anyone needs it.
Activities
This year's retreat will feature the following activities.
- Confession
- Adoration
- Lunch Date with just your spouse
- Speakers - Married Catholic couples living out their Vocations
- Dinner group date
- Mass
Details
When: August 12th, 2023
Where: Weber Farm in Cambridge, IA. Read more about the location.
Registration: Click or tap to register
Cost: Free but donations are appreciated and encouraged so the retreat stays free.
Children: Due to wanting to maintain the peacefulness of the farm, we will not have babysitting provided. However, if you need assistance in finding a reliable sitter you may contact us for suggestions. Babies are welcome and we plan to have changing tables, space for nursing mothers, etc. if anyone needs it.
Organizers
This retreat is made possible because of Christina and Jon Weber who have planned, hosted, and fundraised this retreat since the beginning. Read more about them.
This year's team
John and Jill Sankovitch
John and Jill Sankovitch are formally from Ames, Iowa now living in Wildwood, MO. They have celebrated 29 years of marriage and have 4 children. Both were married previously, John brought two sons into the marriage and Jill brought two daughters. They currently have six grandchildren. John is currently retired after working in operations management for Emerson. He is currently involved in Youth Ministry and as a Lecture, took part in creating ManUp in Ames and brought a book study to his work environment called Heart of a Leader. Jill is also retired after working for the government for many years here and abroad. She is currently involved as a sacristan, small group and bible studies. They both also teach PreCana and participate in their church's adoration. Being active in Church Ministries is important to them both as it provides an opportunity to serve God and all his loved ones wherever they may be in their journey of faith.
One of the things they find most important in a marriage is understanding oneself, what gifts you bring to the marriage and what struggles you harbor. Diving in and understanding how your past impacts your marriage, actions you can take to make change, inviting God to be a part your journey and supporting one another can lead to a more joyful and faith filled marriage.
Jerry and Tammy Loew
Jerry and Tammy Loew have been married for 34 years. They have raised 3 sons and 1 daughter, have a daughter in Heaven, have 2 daughters-in-law, 1 son-in-law, 8 living grandchildren, and 5 grandchildren in Heaven. They have lived in Madrid since March of 1992.
Jerry and Tammy have been members of St. Malachy Church for 34 years. They have been active in the parish in many ways. They served as a sponsor couple for engaged couples in their parish for several years, were part of several diocesan Engaged Encounter retreat teams, were youth leaders in their parish religious education program of which Tammy was Coordinator, then Director of the RE program for nearly 20 years. In 1993, Tammy & Jerry coordinated a trip to Denver, CO for the youth group to attend the World Youth Day event to see now St. Pope John Paul II. They have led and chaperoned many retreats to Steubenville, Youth 2000 retreats, and NCYC. In 2008, Jerry helped initiate the restarting of the Knights of Columbus at St. Malachy's, serving as the first Grand Knight of the Monsignor Louis Kollasch Council and remains active in the council today. Both were part of the implementation of the Christ Renews His Parish retreat program in Boone County serving on several of the retreat teams. Currently, Tammy is a member of the St. Malachy Social Justice Committee, and both she and Jerry serve as Ushers, Greeters, and Lectors for Liturgical Ministries. They also enjoy and are grateful for the opportunity to attend daily masses and weekly Adoration.
Matt and Stacy Halbach
It's your classic story of boy meets girl. Boy is in seminary, girl wants to be a nun. Girl meets seminarian and talks for hours about all things Catholic. Boy and girl discern that God has a very different life in store for them both... Matt and Stacy met in summer 2006 on Totus Tuus where both gave their summers to live for the Lord. They were encouraged during training to "Jump In" to the river of the Holy Spirit and let God lead their lives, and they did! That unpredictable river of the Holy Spirit led them to one another and a life better than either could imagine. Read the full story of how they met.
Today, Matt and Stacy have been married for 16 years and have 6 children together, 2 more are awaiting in heaven. Deacon Matt serves at St. Luke's in Ankeny and Stacy homeschools 5 of their kids. Matt and Stacy are launching their Catholic Ministry called Jump In Catholic Family Ministry where they both write, speak, and create resources to support the domestic church. Check out their website at www.JumpInCatholic.com
Rachel and Eric Manley
Rachel and Eric met in 1999 at Gross Catholic High School in Bellevue, Nebraska. It was the perfect love story, Eric the band geek, and Rachel the cheerleader. They quickly became inseparable and went on many adventures from being swallowed by man-eating plants and selling whoopie cushions; they did everything together. Rachel converted to Catholicism in 2004, and they were married on New Year's Eve that same year. They have now been married 19 years and officially an item, for 24 years. They are parents of 10 children, 5 saints in heaven, and 1 in the womb. While their love story has been truly a fairy tale, they have certainly fought their share of demons in their marriage, always (most of the time) trusting in the Holy Spirit to be their guide and protection.
Besides being totally committed to their vocations as spouses and parents, Eric and Rachel are both teachers by trade. Eric teaches computer science at Drake, and Rachel taught middle school at a Catholic school in Nebraska before she became the head teacher at the Manley family home school. Eric and Rachel are also heavily involved with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and have both served as catechists since 2015. Rachel is currently in the process of becoming a formation leader in CGS. They have previously taught classes for engaged couples for the Diocese of Des Moines, as well as baptism preparation classes.
Ian and Maria Schneider
Ian and Maria Schneider have been married for 19 years. They met as students at Iowa State, married as graduate students in North Carolina and then moved to San Diego, CA where they welcomed their first child. Ian was offered a job as a professor at Iowa State University in 2008 and they have been in Ames ever since.
God has blessed them with five lively, joyful children. Maria has the privilege of staying home and homeschooling them.
Meggan and James Young
James, Meggan, and their six children (ages 2-14) love their small-town life in Atchison, Kansas. The whole family enjoys homeschooling, gardening, camping, playing music, and their newest adventure: raising chickens. James has taught economics at Benedictine college for twelve years. Meggan teaches in their homeschool Montessori co-op and is a Good Shepherd catechist and coordinator. Teams of Our Lady helps them follow Christ together.
The Youngs thank God for their wonderful faith community which includes dear friends, many lively children, and plenty of fun and holy monks.