Nurturing Life’s Blessings 2026

Sunday, July 26 - Saturday, August 1, 2026
Facilitator(s): Diane Poplawski, OP, Linda Wieser, OSF, Marianne Kempa, SSND, Miriam Brown, OP, Stephanie Mondello

Overview

There is currently a waitlist for the Spiritual Guides Linda Wieser, OSF and Diane Poplawski, OP. 
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Description

Embrace and nurture life’s blessings, all of them, in a silent retreat for women tailored to your individual encounter with the Holy.  Opening special spiritual themes, each day includes a brief morning reflection and shared evening  prayer.  Everyone is offered a daily meeting one-on-one with a spiritual guide and silent time for solitude. Each day is a blessing.

During registration you will be asked to indicate your first and second preference for the spiritual guide who will accompany you throughout the retreat. We do our very best to honor these preferences. If we are unable to place you with your first or second choice, a staff member of the retreat center will reach out to you.

Dates and Details
Sunday, July 26 – Saturday, August 1, 2026
The retreat begins at 3:30pm on Sunday and concludes with the noon meal on Saturday.

The cost of this retreat is $890 which includes spiritual guidance appointments, overnight accommodations and meals.
A non-refundable, non-transferrable deposit of $150 is required to hold your space.

New for the 2025-2026 program year: We are offering a voluntary three-level registration fee structure for our in-person sponsored retreats in order to support both accessibility and sustainability of our retreat ministry. For more information on our three-level registration fee structure, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. Due to technical limitations, we are unable to create level pricing for retreats with a deposit. The current cost for this retreat ($890) reflects our Partner Level. We encourage participants who are able to contribute more to make a donation in the registration page to help us cover more fully all of our operational costs related to this retreat.

Registration Information
You may register and pay online by clicking the yellow “Register Here” button above, by calling the Registrar at (262) 898-2582 with a credit card number, or by mailing a check made out to Siena Retreat Center to 5637 Erie Street, Racine, WI 53402. Payment must be received to complete registration. Please see our FAQ page for our cancellation policies and other helpful information.

If cost is a barrier for you to participate, you are invited to complete our Scholarship Request Form. While we cannot guarantee that all requests can be fully accommodated, and we do ask that you contribute a portion of the fee, we will do our best to assist as many participants as possible within our available resources.

 

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About the Facilitators

Diane Poplawski, OPDiane Poplawski, OP

Diane Poplawski, OP, a Racine Dominican, has been active in vocation ministry at national and community levels and has ministered with Native Americans. She has a master’s degree in Pastoral Studies and is a graduate of Siena Retreat Center’s Spiritual Guidance Training Program. Diane resonates with Native American teachings and the prophet Micah’s invitation to “act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly....”

Linda Wieser, OSFLinda Wieser, OSF

Linda Wieser, OSF, is a holistic body therapist, spiritual guide, and Certified Personal Life Coach who focuses on the whole person, integrating the healing of body, mind, spirit, and emotions. She holds a master’s degree from Creighton University.

Marianne Kempa, SSNDMarianne Kempa, SSND

Marianne Kempa, SSND, Marianne Kempa, SSND, a School Sister of Notre Dame, currently serves as the Vice President of Mission and Catholic Identity for Notre Dame School of Milwaukee. Marianne has appreciated being able to serve in schools, parishes and community ministries.  Marianne is a graduate of Siena Retreat Center's Spiritual Guidance Training program. She offers spiritual guidance as she companions others in embracing the "star in their heart" and celebrating God’s surprise blessings and amazing goodness. Marianne currently has a waiting list for this retreat.

Miriam Brown, OPMiriam Brown, OP

Miriam Brown, OP, a Sinsinawa Dominican, is a spiritual guide, retreat facilitator, and presenter on current spirituality themes. Miriam holds a master’s degree in Religious Studies from Fordham University and directed an ecumenical organization for 13 years. Miriam has an eye for the Spirit’s movement in the world and flowing in each person’s precious life.

Stephanie MondelloStephanie Mondello

Stephanie Mondello has a master’s degree in New Testament and Early Christian Literature as well as a certificate in spiritual guidance from the Siena program. After serving many years as campus minister and a religious studies teacher at a CSJ high school in CA, she decided to return to her midwestern roots to retire and has since enjoyed learning Tai Chi and living closer to her eight grandchildren.