June 11 program to benefit Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House

St. Lawrence parishioner Sandra Hartlieb of Indianapolis portrays St. Theodora Guérin in an original play that she wrote for Sisterhood Christian Drama Ministry called “In Her Own Words.” Hartlieb will present the play about the life and ministries of Indiana’s first saint during a June 11 fundraiser for Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House in Indianapolis. (Submitted photo)

By Mary Ann Wyand

“Called to Holiness: An Evening in Support of the Ministry of Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House” on June 11 will focus on spiritual renewal as well as fundraising.

St. Lawrence parishioner Sandra Hartlieb of Indianapolis, a member of Sisterhood Christian Drama Ministry, will present “In Her Own Words,” a dramatic presentation on the life and ministries of St. Theodora Guérin, who founded the Sisters of Providence at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in 1840.

The program begins at 7 p.m. in the Joe O’Malia Performing Arts Center at Cathedral High School, 5225 E. 56th St., in Indianapolis, adjacent to the archdiocesan retreat center property.

After Hartlieb’s performance, Father Jim Farrell, Fatima’s director, and Leo Stenz, the advisory board president, will discuss how people can become involved in the retreat house ministry.

Guests will enjoy desserts and coffee during the fundraising event.

“The evening is important for Fatima as an opportunity for the larger community to express its support for spiritual renewal and retreat programs at the archdiocesan retreat house,” Father Farrell said. “In order to keep retreat offerings available to people at a modest price, Fatima depends upon contributions from people in the community at large to help us to make ends meet.

“… Even though we need to solicit funds to support Fatima’s ministries, we wanted to do so in a context that was in harmony with what we do here at Fatima all the time, which is to provide opportunities for spiritual renewal and for retreats,” he said. “… The spiritually uplifting evening offers us the opportunity to stay close to our mission even while we go about the serious work of increasing support for Fatima’s ministries.”

In recent years, Father Farrell said, the generosity of donors has enabled the archdiocesan retreat center staff to upgrade the facilities. Improvements include a lift so all three floors are accessible to everyone, a handicap-accessible restroom and accessibility features in some of the guest rooms.

“We also are trying to enhance some other pieces of our property, repaving the parking lot and upgrading some of the meeting spaces on the lower level,” he said. “One donor made a donation in honor of Father John Luerman so one of the rooms is being transformed into a presenter’s resource room and will be named … in honor of him and in gratitude for his years of ministry to the archdiocese.”

Fatima’s staff is grateful to Cathedral High School for their support of the archdiocesan retreat ministry, Father Farrell said, and for the use of the school’s theater for this production.

Hartlieb is looking forward to sharing the life story of St. Theodora to help Fatima raise funds for its ministries.

“This will be Sisterhood’s first collaboration with Fatima Retreat House,” she said. “I think it’s really a wonderful opportunity and a great time to collaborate because their event is ‘Called to Holiness’ and Mother Theodore’s story just fits so well.”