January 24-26, 2025
Diakonia: How Not to Serve at Table
Led by Fr. Lucius Amarillas, O.S.B
This preached retreat will be an opportunity for deacons and their wives in the Diocese of Orlando to spend time in prayer, reflection, and fellowship.
**This retreat is only open to deacons and their wives serving in the Diocese of Orlando**
The Church’s ministers, especially Deacons, have been formed to bring the selfless service of Christ to the peripheries of the world and Church; yet, how easy is that radical life of service? What happens when we lose sight of the Lord in the ones we serve? We know how our ministry in the Church is defined but do we know how to bring it to fruition? Escape from the noise of the world with Fr. Lucius Amarillas, OSB, at our next retreat to revive the selfless service the Church needs from you!
All Retreat Fees Are Paid By The Diocese
Online Registration Has Closed.
Very Rev. Lucius Amarillas, O.S.B. is a monk and priest of the Order of Saint Benedict at Saint Leo Abbey, Florida, where the Benedictine monks have worked and prayed since 1889. Fr. Lucius serves as the Prior of the Monastery, University Chaplain, and Adjunct Professor of Theology at Saint Leo University. Along with ministering to the Saint Leo community, Father Lucius also ministers throughout the United States, preaching retreats to laity, clergy, and consecrated religious.
February 21-23, 2025
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Led By Deacon Andy Neu
This preached retreat will be an opportunity for deacons and their wives in the Diocese of Orlando to spend time in prayer, reflection, and fellowship.
**This retreat is only open to deacons and their wives serving in the Diocese of Orlando**
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts." PSALM 139
This weekend retreat for Deacons and Wives will explore our relationship with Jesus Christ, and our place in the Kingdom of God. Our identity as workers in the vineyard of the Lord... formed when Jesus first began to call us and perfected by the Holy Spirit that dwells within us... is a fluid reality. Not 'Who do the people say that Jesus is?' but 'Who does Jesus say that you are?' Among other things, you'll explore what gets you out of bed in the morning? How far are you willing to go? And what do you want people to say about you when you are gone? The retreat will feature short presentations primarily through storytelling, along with prayer and ritual, and ample time to reflect, restore, and be renewed.
All Retreat Fees Are Paid By The Diocese
Online registration has closed
Deacon Andy has been a permanent Deacon for the Archdiocese of Chicago for 24 years. After a successful career in graphic design and corporate communications, he answered the call to active duty in secondary Catholic education where he spent 17 years as a Theology Teacher, Department Chair, Campus Minister, and Chaplain.
Deacon Andy has spent the last four years in parish ministry as a Pastoral Associate and Director of Parish Mission and Ministry at his home parish of St. Barnabas. He enjoys preaching, leading scripture studies and book clubs, preparing children, parents, and engaged couples for their Sacraments, and running a retreat program for elementary and middle school students, faculty, and staff.
Deacon Andy is a storyteller at heart, with a passion for prayer and ritual. His spirituality is grounded in the charisms of Dorothy Day, Henri Nouwen, the Marist Brothers, and St. Francis of Assisi. Recently, Deacon Andy became a Certified Professional Spiritual Director, accompanying seekers from all walks of life on their spiritual journey.
Deacon Andy has been married to his best friend, Cindy, for 41 years. Together they mentor deacon candidates and their wives in theological reflection and preparation for ordination. Their greatest achievement, however, has been to be blessed with two amazing daughters.
March 21-23, 2025
The Hiddenness of the Diaconate
Led by Deacon Joseph Michalak
This preached retreat will be an opportunity for deacons and their wives in the Diocese of Orlando to spend time in prayer, reflection, and fellowship.
**This retreat is only open to deacons and their wives serving in the Diocese of Orlando**
We will aim to see more truly the hidden (interior) work of conversion in our lives, the hidden manner of the Father’s Love, especially through relational prayer, and the particularly hidden character of what is essential to our diaconal participation in Jesus’ diakonia. All of these have implications for our marriage and celibacy, too.”
All Retreat Fees Are Paid By The Diocese
Deacon Joseph Michalak, M.A.T. For over ten years, Deacon Michalak lived as a member of a lay ecumenical brotherhood and served in evangelistic and formational work in Michigan, London (England), and Minnesota. Since 1997 he has served as adjunct faculty in theology at the University of St. Thomas and at the Saint Paul Seminary and is an instructor in the Archdiocese’s Catechetical Institute and School of Prayer.
In 2023 Deacon Michalak completed twenty-three years as Director of the Institute for Diaconate Formation at the Saint Paul Seminary, and he has preached retreats or taught in about 50 dioceses in the United States, Canada, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. He is a regular conference speaker—most recently at the National Eucharistic Congress--, has served on the national board for deacon directors, and develops resources for forming other deacon directors.
In May 2022 Archbishop Hebda asked Dn Michalak to transition to a newly created role as Director of the Office of Synod Evangelization for the Archdiocese and to assume responsibility for implementing the Archdiocese’s three-year synod, form missionary disciples, and form future formators.
Deacon Michalak and his Scottish wife Anne have five children. Though in exile in Minnesota from his boyhood Pittsburgh home, Deacon Michalak remains an avid Pirates and Steelers fan, and, as a good father should, has passed that love on to his children. Deacon Michalak was ordained in September 2010 and after ten years at Holy Spirit parish now serves at Little Sisters of the Poor in St. Paul.
Abril 25-27 del 2025
Identidad de la Familia Diaconal, Signo de Esperanza
Dirigido Por P. Duberney Rodas Grajales
Este retiro predicado será una oportunidad para que los diáconos y sus esposas en la Diócesis de Orlando pasen tiempo en oración, reflexión y compañerismo.
**Este retiro solo está abierto a diáconos y sus esposas que sirven en la Diócesis de Orlando.**
En el marco de la celebración del Año Jubilar 2025 “Peregrinos de esperanza”, este retiro ofrece la oportunidad para fortalecer la identidad de la familia diaconal, que es signo de esperanza cristiana. Tendremos la oportunidad de reflexionar y orar juntos, para que al encuentro con Jesús y fortalecidos en la consciencia del don recibido, el servicio diaconal se manifieste como signo de esperanza en el pueblo de Dios al que servimos en el ministerio eclesial, según la indicación del apóstol: "El que ha recibido el don de la palabra, que la enseñe como palabra de Dios. El que ejerce un ministerio, que lo haga como quien recibe de Dios ese poder, para que Dios sea glorificado en todas las cosas, por Jesucristo. ¡A él sea la gloria y el poder, por los siglos de los siglos!" Amén. (1Pedro 4,11).
Todas las tarifas del retiro son pagadas por la Diócesis.
P. Duberney Rodas Grajales, nacido en Colombia, fue ordenado en la Orden de Predicadores en el 2006. Es licenciado en Filosofía de la Universidad Santo Tomas y Licenciado en Sagrada Teología de la Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. Después de diferentes ministerios en Colombia y Canadá, al llegar a Florida Central sirvió en la Iglesia Católica St Ann en Haines City y la Misión Guadalupana en Wahneta, actualmente se desempeña como vicario parroquial en la Iglesia Católica Santa María Magdalena en Altamonte Springs.