Our Retreat Ministry

Our Mission

Retreat, Reflect, Renew is a Christian retreat ministry dedicated to creating sacred community for women and men to find support, encouragement, and inspiration to live a more faith-filled life. We recognize that people are seeking more balanced, meaningful, and faith-filled lives and yearn for spirituality in convenient, relevant, and empowering ways. Yet we see that many do not have the time nor a safe community in which to share. We want Retreat, Reflect, Renew to help satisfy this yearning in accessible ways.

Our Hospitality

Our top priority is creating a welcoming and non-judgmental space for you to reflect and grow spiritually. We know that signing up for something new can feel intimidating. We empathize with those who are afraid of being judged. It does not matter to us if you attend church every week or feel disconnected from institutional religion. Come as you are and grow at your own pace and in your own way.

Our Foundress

Christine Jurisich

Christine Jurisich created this ministry after writing the personal retreat journal, Retreat, Reflect, Renew: A Sacred Journal for a More Peaceful You. She was giving retreats based on the journal and began to see women wanting to connect in community. Her response was to form the ministry Retreat, Reflect, Renew. Christine is a Catholic who cares about offering an ecumenical ministry, one that is welcoming to all Christians who appreciate a mind, body, and soul approach to spiritual growth. Learn more about Christine here.

Our Administrative Support

Jean Glaraton

Editor - Jean has been involved in ministry for over twenty-five years. She served as associate director of the national Ministry of Mothers Sharing and one of the founders of Within Ministries. A skilled communicator, she has a passion for encouraging individuals to discover, nurture, and share their soul gifts. She uses hers as writer, editor, facilitator, RN, and mom. Jean has extensive experience in project management and event coordination. She has worked with all aspects of the publication process: writing, editing, copyright management, layout and design, proofing, and customer service. She has developed marketing, ministry, and financial management resources at several organizations and been involved in the creative process of retreat development. Jean and her husband have four children and live in MN.

Melissa La Bouff

Communications Coordinator - Melissa’s spiritual journey began at the Newman Center at UC San Diego. Through participating in various social justice and faith explorative activities, Melissa continued her spiritual journey and to develop knowledge about her faith by sponsoring RCIA candidates multiple times. Most recently she was involved at St. Dominic’s in San Francisco. Melissa earnestly looks forward to weekly virtual Community Bible Study and fellowshipping with women of various Christian faiths. Melissa brings to Retreat, Reflect, Renew a background in project management, communications and marketing, and event management. She lived in rural Japan for four years and taught high school level English. In her spare time, Melissa likes to hike, check out the local avian population, and volunteer with the Auburn Interfaith Food Closet.

Joanne T. McShane

Development Coordinator - Joanne is tasked with identifying, developing, and securing the necessary resources to implement the aspirations and goals of the Retreat, Reflect, Renew Ministry. Her professional fundraising experience includes 7 years of increased revenues and strong relationship development as the Director of Parent Giving at Christian Brothers High School, Sacramento. She is a member of the State Bar of California and has served as a ministry leader for many years at St. John the Baptist Parish in Folsom, where she and her late husband raised their two children, Claire and Johnny. She currently lives in Sacramento and is enjoying retirement, traveling and the time to visit with family and friends.

Our Ministry Board

Mary Wurster - Treasurer:

As a born and raised Catholic, Mary began to look more closely at her faith and beliefs as she raised her four children and walked with her parents through their end of life experiences. She continues to be on a journey of — Mary Wurster - Treasurer: As a born and raised Catholic, Mary began to look more closely at her faith and beliefs as she raised her four children and walked with her parents through their end of life experiences. She continues to be on a journey of questioning, making her faith truly her own, and searching for the many ways God speaks to us. Her journey began as a facilitator for the Ministry of Mothers Sharing at St. Rose of Lima Parish over 20 years ago. She is currently a board member for Dan Hebert Camp Hope (a bereavement camp for children) and has now joined the Retreat Reflect Renew ministry as treasurer. Mary lives with her husband and 2 younger children in Roseville, California.

Sarah Bresniker:

Sarah first learned the importance of taking time out of a busy life to focus on her relationship with God when she joined a Ministry of Mothers Sharing group as a young mother. She is proud to be able to encourage others to make t — Sarah Bresniker: Sarah first learned the importance of taking time out of a busy life to focus on her relationship with God when she joined a Ministry of Mothers Sharing group as a young mother. She is proud to be able to encourage others to make this journey through the Retreat Reflect Renew ministry. Sarah was a librarian with the City of Roseville, California and with St. Rose Catholic school. She started her career as a paralegal. Sarah has devoted much of her life to volunteering. She has been a board member and facilitator for the Ministry of Mothers Sharing and held leadership roles and worked with her daughter for a variety of local charities with National Charity League. Sarah has two children and lives with her husband in Placer County, California and is a member of St. Joseph Marello Parish.

Diana Francis Metzler, RSM - Board Adviser:
Sr. Diana Francis is our advisory board member. She has been a Sister of Mercy for thirty-nine years. In addition to various board experiences and religious community committees and appointments, she has al — Diana Francis Metzler, RSM - Board Adviser: Sr. Diana Francis is our advisory board member. She has been a Sister of Mercy for thirty-nine years. In addition to various board experiences and religious community committees and appointments, she has also been a catechist, teacher, and high school administrator prior to her becoming a spiritual guide/director. She had obtained her Master’s degree in Spiritual Guidance from Sofia University in Palo Alto in 2015. Her published thesis, Will to Be: The Pilgrimage to Elderhood through Spiritual Group Work, stems from her study and research into the connection and enhancement of spirituality upon optimal aging. She has worked with dream groups, monthly spiritual guidance groups, retreat days, and longer retreat experiences. Sr. Diana is on staff at Mercy Center Auburn, California.

Kelly Risse – Secretary: Beginning her faith journey as a Catholic convert at age 19, Kelly has strived to keep that “new Catholic” fire central in her life. She learned early in her faith journey that being intentional about taking retreats (wherever she could squeeze them in) was vital to keeping that fire fed. Kelly has served the church as a volunteer and a as a paid employee over the years in several capacities: Eucharistic Minister, small group leader, marriage preparation facilitator, Youth Minister, Confirmation teacher and Communications Administrative Assistant. She has also volunteered for the local chapter of Special Olympics and Adaptive Sports; and been active with her hometown Historical Society and Friends of the Public Library. Before having and raising three sons, she worked as a newspaper journalist, recently returning to that field as news curator for online journalism outlet, Patch.com. Kelly lives with her husband, one son and a mischievous little dog named Reggie in Roseville, California. She is a member of St. Clare Parish.

Cheryl Starling - In her early years, religion was not part of her upbringing. Even though not part of any one denomination or a regular attendee, Cheryl always believed there was a God who watched over and cared about her. It was not until her late 20’s that she was introduced to the Bible and began attending Christian churches and her faith began to grow from that mustard seed. Believing strongly in helping others, Cheryl was the coordinator for the homeless outreach at her church for two years and loves volunteering and supporting others. Cheryl is an RN, managing Emergency Departments and Trauma Centers for many years, then went into disaster medicine working for the State of California and Homeland Security preparing medical entities (hospitals, EMS, clinics, public health) for emergency and disaster response within the state and nationally. Currently, working on COVID-19 response for the State. Cheryl lives in Rocklin with her puppy Molly and attends Bayside Church.

Our Retreat Facilitators

Darlene Carlson

Darlene is a spiritual direction, trained by The Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. She has led numerous faith sharing and prayer groups for the past twelve years and has over 22 years experience both as a catechist and Catholic school elementary school teacher. She loves the spiritual connections created across all Christian faiths, gently encouraging one another to go deeper in faith.

Shannon Dahlstedt

Shannon is a spiritual director, trained by The Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, and has led faith-sharing groups and parish retreats since 2011. She played guitar in her church choir for seven years and shares her musical gifts in our retreats. Shannon loves listening for the movement of the Holy Spirit in each person’s life, and holding space for discovering the great mystery all around us.