Mary’s Call: Finding the courage to say yes.

As I reflect on my journey, I realize how profoundly STIR retreats have transformed me. When I first joined, I hovered on the edges, willing to help but equally ready to walk away. The retreat pushed me beyond my comfort zone—those dreaded sharing circles, the vulnerability, the deep team connection. My whole being was on high alert, screaming “Danger!”—yet, I stayed.

What kept me there was one retreatant/facilitator’s share: We all have different life experiences, but the underlying spiritual movement is the same. This truth is the heart of STIR. Whether or not we’ve struggled with addiction, we are all spiritually connected. In connecting with my fellow retreatants, I allow my Higher Power to connect with me.

STIR retreats create a space for us to listen without fixing, giving each other room to speak from the heart. In doing so, we connect with the “God of my understanding” who has always been present in our lives. Retreatants leave with a deep sense of God’s loving care, along with Ignatian tools to strengthen that connection.