MINISTRY OF CARING

History of Ministry of Caring Retreats

• The Ministry of Caring retreats were started in 1997 in Bemidji, MN by a group of forward-thinking nurses, guided by a chaplain, who believed that yearly spiritual renewal would enrich their role as caregivers. To celebrate Nurses Week each May, the Ministry of Caring retreat was intended to be a gift to nurses. The first retreat, which primarily targeted a nursing audience, was entitled, “A Ministry of Nursing: Letting Love In, Letting Love Out”.

• After the first two years the retreat participant focus was expanded by the committee to include all licensed members of the caring professions and the retreats were renamed the “Ministry of Caring” retreats. The current typical audience is comprised of nurses, social workers, pastors, chaplains, clinical psychologists, university faculty and students of the same disciplines.

• The spiritual nature of the retreats is unique and attendees come from a large regional area that includes all of Northern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. The first retreats were attended by approximately 80 attendees and yearly attendance has remained steadfast at 60-90. Retreat sponsors vary slightly from year to year but are made up of the following: Sanford Bemidji Medical Center, St Joseph’s Area Health Services, Park Rapids, MN.  Registration fees and sponsor support has kept the retreat project self- supporting with only enough funds from year to year to support the next year’s retreat which is the goal of the committee.

• The volunteer committee members, namely, Riki Scheela, Cheryl Yarnott, Bev Erickson, Marcia Undem, Carmen Capes, Barb Eriksson-Capes, Judy Killian, Janine Brostrom Carol Gilbertson, Mary Miller, Mary Eaton, Michele Brielmaier and Alice Thompson plan and coordinate the retreat each year. Most committee members are the same people who started the retreat in 1997. The retreat project has been a great source of joy and satisfaction to each of the committee members. Each retreat, in a unique way, has been defined by the Holy Spirit, directed with love by the committee and serves as a source of refreshment to all of those who attend.

 

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