As she reflects on the experiences Lindenwood offered in 2023 and looks forward to 2024, Retreat Development Manager Weslee Aristor considers herself a vessel for what the community needs rather than the creator of retreats she thinks would appeal to them. Lindenwood programing focuses on the needs of the greater community, and it’s also focuses on building community among Sisters, coworkers, and residents. “It’s nice to connect with participants and Sisters. It’s made work more fun to connect in a deeper way.”
She cited retreat participant and Maria Center resident Elsa Littman as an example of someone who’s used her faith journey to deepen community at The Center at Donaldson. “If we take care of our community, our family, the work continues through conversations that lead to healing, wholeness, and joy,” Weslee noted of Elsa and other coworkers in the way retreat participation deepens their approach to their ministry.
It’s been a very active year for Lindenwood according to Weslee. “We have six more retreats to go in 2023 (as of November 9th) and I’m very excited about 2024. We have a lot planned, and it should flow nicely from this year to next.”
Some upcoming offerings include ENJOYU, which is a six-week, virtual program beginning in mid-December designed to help participants dive deeper into themselves, alleviate blockages from the past, and more fully enjoy who they are. “It’s letting go of comparison, discontent, and old identity. The goal is for everyone to walk away understanding, appreciating, and enjoying who they are,” Weslee said. “Stress, it’s killing us. It interferes with right relationships and our quality of life. These are strategies to help us notice things so we can stay connected and to release what we’re subconsciously stressing over,” she explained.
Some other offerings in 2024 will include a retreat with Dr. Sally Hare on January 27, 2024, titled Connecting Soul to Role designed to help participants connect to their passion and purpose. “She (Dr. Hare) is an amazing woman. She was awarded the Phenomenal Woman of South Carolina for all the amazing work she has done in ministry, and poet Maya Angelo read the poem Phenomenal Woman herself as she (Dr. Hare) accepted the award,” Weslee noted. “I can’t wait!”
2024 will also feature a post-holiday relaxation opportunity, Re-Charge Getaway, led by DEI Executive Director Justine Johnson. In this experience, retreat goers will have the opportunity to unwind through activities such as journaling, crafting, cooking comfort food, and relaxing with a good book fireside while surrounded by the natural beauty at Lindenwood. This retreat takes place the weekend of February 2-4, 2024.
Peter Pearson will also lead his popular icon painting retreat in late February and will return in March to lead a session on mindfulness.
Throughout her first year at Lindenwood, Weslee has used feedback from coworkers and community members to offer retreats on topics of interest to them. Offerings such as the Grief workshops and the May 2024 Covenant Connect marital retreat all came from suggestions by coworker and retreat attendee feedback. “I do love to hear from the community and fulfill what people need to heal,” she added.
She’s also learning about how to market meaningful experiences to the community through social media and email through her work with Marketing and Social Media coordinator Joana Reese. “I love seeing an email go out and after that people registering for our retreats,” she said. “It’s been an exciting challenge,” said Weslee.
The Gift of the Spirit Scholarship is always there to help anyone in need of financial support to attend any of these upcoming retreats.
