Healing Retreat Speakers

The Retreat Begins on August 12th!

Here’s a preview!

The Retreat is self-paced.

This means that you can participate wherever you are and whenever you have the time.

It’s like a do-it-yourself retreat, but you’re not doing alone — we’re doing it with you! We hope you’ll join us.

Hearing God’s Voice in Daily Prayer

by Ryan O’Hara

“Where is God in our Suffering?”

by Ryan O’Hara

Learning How to Embrace the Cross

by Fr. Ricardo Pineda

Lectio Divina, Praying with Scripture

by Katie Sciba

Praying with Scripture: “Come to me and I will give you rest”

by Ryan O’Hara

Choosing the Better Part: The Story of Martha & Mary

by Karen May

God’s Unfathomable Mercy

by Fr. Ricardo Pineda

— Why join the Pray More Healing Retreat? — 

Fr. Ricardo was born into a Catholic family of both Salvadoran and Mexican descent. He is the fourth of five children, and a native of San Diego, California.

Following high school, he attended the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. While in studies at Notre Dame, he played trumpet in the marching Band of the Fighting Irish. In May of 2008, he graduated from Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and a minor in Theology.

Fr. Ricardo began hearing a call to the priesthood as early as age 6, but it was not until his freshmen year of high school that he began serious discernment of his vocation in prayer. This discernment continued throughout high school and college. After learning more about the vocation to priesthood as well as the vocation to marriage, he discovered that although the thought of marriage made him happy, he understood that he would be happier as a priest, serving God for the salvation of souls. So by the end of his second year at Notre Dame, he had accepted God’s call to the priesthood with a firm “Yes!” In time, he further discerned a call to the religious life. Fr. Ricardo joined the Fathers of Mercy as a postulant in July of 2008.

Following his one- year novitiate, he professed his first year of temporary vows of Obedience, Poverty, and Chastity on August 14, 2009. He graduated from Holy Apostles College and Seminary and was ordained a priest for the Fathers of Mercy in May of 2013. For three years, he served as an associate pastor of four small parishes in the Archdiocese of Louisville. In June of 2016, he was reassigned to the Fathers of Mercy Mission Band. He also currently serves as the community’s Treasurer General. Fr. Ricardo and other Fathers of Mercy priests can be followed at fathersofmercy.com, as well as on Youtube, Facebook and other social media.

Katie Sciba is a national speaker known for her humor, candor, and deeply practical approach to the spiritual life. With a theology degree from Benedictine College, Katie has spent fifteen years encouraging audiences to pursue holy simplicity, cultivate intimacy with Jesus, and strengthen the domestic church. She is an eleven-time Catholic Press Award–winning columnist and the host of the Holy Simplicity podcast, where she explores the freedom and clarity that come from living with Christ as the center and ultimate pursuit. Katie lives in Omaha, Nebraska with her husband and children.

Ryan O’Hara has 25+ years of ministry experience with college students and young adults and continues to serve the Church across the country through speaking, consulting, and podcasting.  A trusted and sought-after preacher and teacher, he has spoken to thousands of people around the world.  Ryan is passionate about seeing Catholics center their lives on Jesus Christ and become disciples who generously live and share their faith with others. He has a B.A. in History from William Jewell College and an M.A. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. Ryan and his wife Jill live in West St Paul, MN, and are parents to four teenage and young adult sons

Karen May is a dynamic and inspirational author, speaker, and spiritual director who shares hope, encouragement, and practical faith in a warm, relatable style. Her approach to faith is simple and accessible, yet deeply transformative and fruitful. Helping others discover God actively and intimately at work in their lives is a gift that she shares in her writing, speaking, and spiritual direction.

Karen has been featured on EWTN, Relevant Radio, The Jen Fulwiler Show, Formed, and more. She is the author of Be Not Afraid: Living with Faith in the Midst of a Fearful World, Walking Through Holy Week, and Draw Near. You can find her at www.AmayzingGraces.com.