On March 14 - 16, 2025, The Very Rev. James L. Secora, will come to St. Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, and present a weekend retreat on, Mercy—A Lenten Pilgrimage with St. Luke.
A principal theme of Saint Luke’s Gospel is mercy. In the Sunday liturgical cycle of Scriptures, Year 3 is devoted (with a few exceptions) to proclamation of and reflection on Luke’s Gospel. This is especially true during Lent. This retreat will center itself around the Gospel’s most famous discourse on God’s mercy, The Parable of the Prodigal Son/Father (Ch. 15). A brief overview of the theme of divine mercy and St. Luke’s gospel will introduce our reflection. Brief consideration will be given to the Parable of the Barren Fig tree (Ch. 13) and The Encounter of Jesus with the Sinful Woman (Jn.8) as bookends to chapter 15 which are proclaimed on either side of the Parable of the Prodigal. Consideration will also be given to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as a symbol of divine mercy.
Father Jim Secora, MDiv, MEd, is a priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa presently living in Ames, Iowa. Ordained in 1975, Fr. Jim's ministerial assignments have included: full-time high school teaching; instructor in the archdiocese's permanent diaconate formation process; chairperson of the archdiocese's worship commission and master of liturgical ceremonies to the late Archbishop Daniel W. Kucera; thirty-three years as parish pastor and presenter at various workshops. Father Jim is also an Oblate of Christ the King Priory in Schuyler since 2010. He holds a B.A. from Loras College, Dubuque, IA; a M.Div. from St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore, MD; and a M.Ed. from Boston College, Newton, MA. Praying and reflecting with icons are essential components of Father Jim's prayer and ministerial life.
Friday, 7:30 p.m. to Sunday after lunch.