Located in Atchison, Kansas, on forty acres of rolling hills, in a Benedictine environment of a praying community, the Sophia Center provides an ideal setting for prayer and reflection. Retreats and workshops are on the grounds of the monastery. Spend prayerful time in the inspiring chapels, share in the spiritual and intellectual resources of the sisters and, most importantly, experience worship with a monastic community known for its reverent, beautiful liturgies. Open to persons of all faiths, the programs include courses on the Scripture, monastic spirituality, reflection days, directed and group retreats, Advent and Lenten days of prayer, days of recollection, and much more.
One of my favorite quotes is from Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” I thought of this several times last weekend as we celebrated the 25th anniversary of our Souljourners program, which forms spiritual directors. In many ways it has been a small but mighty production. In 25 years we have graduated 222 men and women. This year we have a total of 31 students enrolled in years one, two and three.
As we listened to the stories of our graduates, I realized what a difference they have made and are making. They are listeners who help others respond to God’s invitation to a deeper relationship. I wondered how many stories they have heard of divine encounters. What a gift they are giving to a world that often doesn’t have time to listen or to pay attention to God working in our midst, bringing about goodness and holiness in each person’s life. We appreciate the 70-plus people who were with us to celebrate, and we recognize each graduate wherever they are. Thank you for being a part of our journey.
As we gathered, we celebrated S. Micaela Randolph, who has been with the program since its inception. Over the course of 25 years, she has served as director, a full-time and, most recently, a part-time staff member. We were able to applaud the many gifts she has shared over the years, but it’s impossible to enumerate all the ways she has enriched us individually and collectively. As she steps away from Souljourners, she will continue to offer spiritual direction, and care for our plants.
Sophia and the Souljourners program are made possible because of the commitment of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica, who support the program financially, providing staff, a beautiful building and all else that is needed, including prayers. Fees do not begin to cover the expenses, and this year scholarships account for 34.7% of the Souljourners income. We are so very grateful to those who financially support our ministry by direct donations or through the annual Night of Dreams fundraiser and those who support us through prayer.
Please know that we remain committed to living the Gospel and following the Rule of Benedict in our corner of Kansas. Souljourners and Sophia Center are two of the ways we do this. Our summer and fall programs are planned and will soon be published on the web and in our mailer. Come join us for a programmed retreat or schedule a time for a private retreat, and be assured of our prayers.
S. Carol Ann Petersen
Director of Sophia Center
We are always grateful for the wonderful support we receive for our ministry. Please select “Sophia Spirituality Center” under the designation menu.
Sophia Spirituality Center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Central Time) Tuesday through Friday. The office is closed on Mondays.
If you call and leave a message, we will be prompt in answering.
For scheduled retreats, check-in time is one half hour before the retreat is scheduled to begin. For groups, the check in time will be established with the leader in advance of the retreat. For private retreats we ask that you arrive between 9:30-3:30 p.m. Special arrangements can be made if necessary.
Please come to Sophia Center on the main floor of the Feeney building to check in. The entrance to Sophia Center is on the south side of the building. If you are staying overnight, please leave your bags in the car until you are registered and have your room location and key.
Guests are welcome for Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharist. If you are new to Sophia Spirituality Center, one of the sisters will provide a brief orientation for you and find you a place in chapel. A schedule for prayer times can be found at Sophia Center and also in your room. Out of respect for the group gathered for prayer, please plan to arrive at least five minutes early for the service.
Held in the monastery choir chapel, morning prayer during the week is at 7:00 a.m. and evening praise is at 5:30 p.m. Morning prayer on Saturday is at 8:45 a.m. On Sunday, morning prayer is at 9:30 a.m. Evening praise on Saturday and Sunday is at 5:00 p.m. Sunday Eucharist is at 10:15 a.m. in St. Scholastica Chapel. Mass is held in St. Lucy Chapel (in Dooley Center) at 11:15 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
We suggest comfortable clothes, appropriate for the season, as well as comfortable walking shoes. You may find a light sweater helpful for meeting rooms. In the chapel, the dining room and meeting rooms, we suggest “business casual”. If you plan to join the sisters in the chapel, we prefer that shorts not be worn.
We welcome men as guests for private retreats, as participants in scheduled retreats or hosted retreats.
There are some bedrooms located in St. Catherine’s Hall, across the street from the main Sophia Center building and some are located on the third floor of St. Cecilia’s, which is attached to the monastery building. It requires some walking to get to both buildings.
We provide sheets, towels, wash cloths, pillows and blankets. Please bring toiletries and other personal items you may need. Since some of the bathrooms are down the hall, you will also want to bring a bathrobe.
Ordinarily guests will be given a private room unless they choose to share a room with someone they know.
All the bathrooms are private. Some are shared between two bedrooms. Others are down the hall.
Sophia Center is equipped with wired and wireless connectivity in the main building and in St. Cecilia’s.
September, 2023
Approximately one week prior to an on-site program, Sophia Center pays housekeeping to clean and ready the rooms and the kitchen staff purchases food and prepares meals for our guests. Additional staff works to organize materials and ensure everything is ready for your arrival. Also, we compensate our presenters independent of the number of retreatants registered for both Zoom and on-site retreats. In order to help offset the financial impact of cancellations, we have implemented the following:
Please consider donating your payment as a gift to Sophia Center if you are in a position to do so. The Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica subsidize our retreats and programs, making it possible for us to offer them at or below the actual cost.
Sister Carol Ann Petersen, OSB is a member of the Benedictine Community of Mount St. Scholastica. She earned her master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She served as principal of schools in Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri before ministering for eleven years as associate superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph. She was the founding director of Keeler Women’s Center and served there from 2003-2016. She has served as director of Sophia Spirituality Center since the spring of 2016.
Donna Coleman grew up in the nearby town of Weston, MO and completed her Bachelor’s degree in English at Benedictine College, later going on to receive certification in Graphic Design at the Kansas City Art Institute. Donna enjoys meeting new people and putting her creative skills to work for Sophia. You will most likely see her online, supporting our Zoom presenters and participants.
Joanne Yankauskis is a member of the Benedictine Community of Mount St. Scholastica. She has been Administrative Assistant at Sophia Center since 2011. Joanne earned her master’s degree in Education from Fitchburg State College, Fitchburg, Massachusetts and a Masters in Spirituality from St. Michael’s College, Winooski, Vermont.
Sister Sharon began her teaching career at an elementary school in Corning, Kansas, before spending five years teaching math at Mount St. Scholastica Academy. Finding her niche at the college level, she taught math for over twenty years each at Longview Community College in Missouri, and Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas.
During her last five years at Donnelly, along with teaching, Sister Sharon set up and coordinated the Campus Cupboard, where Donnelly students could get food, hygiene, and school supplies for free.
She enjoys making and decorating cakes, dancing for special liturgies, and sewing. She hopes all of these will come in handy working at Sophia Center.
Mary Kay Whitacre has worked in pastoral ministry in the Catholic Church for more than 45 years. She received a Master’s degree in Religious Education in 1982, and her Doctor of Ministry in 2017 from Seattle University. After she graduated from the Souljourners Spiritual Direction Formation Program in 2005, she joined the Souljourners staff. Currently, Mary Kay is a part of the Souljourners Leadership team and the Sophia Center staff.
Sister Micaela Randolph, OSB is a member of the Benedictine Community of Mount St. Scholastica. She earned a master’s degree in Religious Education from St. Meinrad’s in Meinrad, IN in 1979 and a master’s degree in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University in 1990. Micaela is a former Director of Initial Formation for her community. She has been ministering in Sophia Center since 2003 and served as Director of Souljourners for 15 years. She continues to serve on the staff of Souljourners along with offering spiritual direction, supervision, and retreats.