OCA Urges Clergy to Register Soon for 2026 Pastoral Retreat

MUNDELEIN, IL — With the Sept. 1 registration deadline approaching, the Orthodox Church in America’s (OCA) Office of Pastoral Life is reminding bishops and priests to sign up for its 2026 Pastoral Retreat, a four-day gathering dedicated to prayer, fellowship, and pastoral renewal.

The retreat will be held Sept. 29 through Oct. 2 at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake and will focus on the theme, “The Fields Are Ripe for the Harvest.” Organizers say the event is intended to give clergy an opportunity to step away from the demands of parish ministry, strengthen relationships with fellow priests, and renew themselves through worship, discussion, keynote presentations, and rest.

Archpriest Nicholas Solak, director of the Office of Pastoral Life, said the retreat is built on the conviction that healthy parishes are sustained by healthy clergy. Featured speakers will include Mother Christophora, abbess of Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Pennsylvania, and Archpriest John Parker, dean of Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, who will offer reflections on faithful, long-term pastoral ministry.

The retreat will also include the celebration of the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God at New Gracanica Monastery on Oct. 1. Organizers are encouraging clergy to register before the Sept. 1 deadline to allow sufficient time for lodging, meal, and program arrangements.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the OCA hosted its inaugural retreat for clergy wives.