MONONA — A day long Lenten family retreat run by the Apostolate for Family Consecration will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Parish, 5101 Schofield St., Monona.
The event, titled “Holy Sacrifice, Holy Families! Catholic Family Fest”, will focus on the Eucharist and will include Mass celebrated by Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison, adult talks, children’s activities, Eucharistic Adoration, and opportunities for Confession for all members of the family.
The children’s activities are suitable for children as young as four as well as teenagers. Children younger than four are welcomed to stay with their parents at the adult events.
The Apostolate for Family Consecration has been running family retreats since 1975. Its primary focus has been to offer weeklong camping retreats for the family at its main location, Catholic Family Land, in Bloomingdale, Ohio.
This is the second year the retreat has been offered in the Diocese of Madison. Last year, it was hosted at Christ the King Parish in McFarland, but the popularity of the event led to the decision to move the retreat’s location to IHM.
Jill Yanke, a parishioner of St. Patrick Parish in Cottage Grove, has been helping to organize the event with her family.
She said she thought last year’s retreat went exceptionally well, with over 150 people in attendance, and anticipates an even larger turnout this year.
“It’s a great opportunity for families to have a Lenten retreat together,” she said, adding that the Apostolate for Family Consecration has played a big role in her family. “Our family has gone for about 17 years every summer for a week long Holy Family Fest. Two of our sons have actually married women that they met at the Apostolate’s family camps.”
The event is $40 per household and includes lunch and dinner for the entire family. Visit MenOfChristMadison.com/AFC to register.