About
WHAT IS KOINONIA
The following information was written by Jack Miller and Sharon Voldberg and appeared in the Superior Catholic Herald on August 17, 2006 under the caption of Local News. What is Koinonia? In a previous Catholic Herald article, Cursillo was introduced as one of the retreat opportunities available to Catholic Christians living in the Diocese of Superior. Another retreat program offered in the diocese is Koinonia (coin-o-nia). Through Koinonia, adults are called to celebrate the paschal mystery in community. What is Koinonia? Koinonia is a Greek word meaning “community.” Individuals making a Koinonia retreat are referred to as “candidates.” The group of laity and clergy directing and assisting at the retreat are referred to as the “team.” As the weekend progresses and as team and candidates reflect on the very heart of our Catholic faith, the paschal mystery of our Lord, Jesus Christ, they form a bond, a community, a “Koinonia.” History of the movement In 1975 at Springfield, Illinois, Koinonia was “born” out of the T.E.C. (Teens Encounter Christ) movement. The program was redesigned to answer the needs of adults who wished to make a weekend retreat in a community setting. Since that time, Koinonia has made its way to Green Bay (1980) and Minnesota (1982). In November 1995, Koinonians from the Diocese of Superior were invited to conduct a Koinonia Retreat Weekend at Immaculate Conception Parish, New Richmond. Additional weekends continued to be scheduled annually in the southwest area of the diocese under the title W.W. (Western Wisconsin) Koinonia. In 1997, N.E.W. (North Eastern Wisconsin) Koinonia was formed to bring this retreat opportunity to the northeastern part of our diocese. A core committee composed of laity and clergy is charged with overseeing this diocesan approved program. To ensure that proper theology and spirituality are reflected in the program, a priest of the diocese is appointed by Bishop Raphael M. Fliss to serve as spiritual director. What happens at a Koinonia? The Koinonia weekend begins on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and concludes at approximately 4p.m. on Sunday. Candidates experience a full schedule and are expected to be present for the entire weekend. Team members present 11 meditations throughout the weekend. Each talk is followed by time for reflection and sharing in a small group. The celebration of Mass and an opportunity for the sacrament of reconciliation are also included in the structure of the retreat. Each day builds on the central theme of the paschal mystery. The Friday evening presentation focuses on the death of Jesus on the cross. The theme for Saturday centers on the resurrection of Jesus. A few wonderful “surprises” are built into the day as it progresses. Pentecost is the focus for Sunday as the team and candidates go forth into their everyday lives to spread the good news. What are the benefits? Anyone wishing to enrich his/her spiritual life, to gain valuable faith experience and to share in community building is encouraged to make a Koinonia retreat. Our diocese is blessed to have a variety of retreat experiences within close driving distances and at affordable fees, i.e., Cursillo, Teens Encounter Christ (T.E.C.), North Eastern Wisconsin (N.E.W.) Koinonia and Western Wisconsin (W.W.). Time spent with our Lord in a community of fellow Catholic Christians is a great gift to give yourself. It will be time well spent. |
North East Wisconsin (N.E.W.) Koinonia
Mission Statement Calling adults to celebrate the Pascal Mystery in Community. History After approximately two years of prayerful planning N.E.W. Koinonia was formed in September, 1999. During the first year Koinonia weekends were held in Park Falls, Ashland and Hurley. (Exhibit I – history of retreat weekends) The original Koinonia team was formed from persons who had made Western Wisconsin Koinonia and Agape TEC from our Superior Diocese and from Green Bay Koinonia. This team, our core committee, attended the National TEC/Koinonia convention held in May, 2000 in Quincy, Illinois which provided the opportunity to learn, share and pray with individuals from other established retreat centers. Facts
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Koinonia History
Koinonia began in l976 in Springfield, Illinois. Members of the first meeting were looking to provide adults with an experience similar to that which they had on a Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) weekend. Koinonia was designed with a two-fold purpose:
The first weekend was scheduled for August 1976, but just prior to the weekend, the first spiritual director, Msgr. Victor Balke, was named bishop for Crookston, MN. The first weekend was then moved to September, 1976.
In 1978 “out-of-town” and “out-of-state” Koinonia weekends were held. The Koinonia at Green Bay was unusual because it accommodated 75 participants and also was the first weekend where some of the participants slept at home rather than at a retreat center.
Overall, Koinonia has been held in 25 states, in two different islands in the Bahamas and in Canada. There have been approximately 2,000 weekends and an estimated 30,000 participants. Through the prompting of God’s Spirit, the spread of Koinonia continues without a national office and without formal fund raising.
History of Koinonia Retreats
Location Date # of Candidates
#1 Park Falls September, 1999 18
#2 Ashland February, 2000 24
#3 Hurley March, 2000 20
#4 Rhinelander October, 2000 13
#5 Phillips November, 2000 13
#6 Hurley January, 2001 14
#7 Spooner March, 2001 15
#8 Rhinelander August, 2001 5
#9 Park Falls November, 2001 17
#10 Glidden June, 2002 6
#11 Phillips November, 2002 21
#12 Woodruff February, 2003 10
#13 Park Falls November, 2003 10
#14 Ladysmith February, 2004 15
#15 Mercer April, 2004 14
#16 Hurley September, 2004 17
#17 Catawba November, 2004 19
#18 Medford February, 2005 13
#19 Dobie September, 2005 9
#20 Ladysmith November, 2005 9
#21 Park Falls March, 2006 18
#22 Hurley September, 2006 3
#23 Tomahawk November, 2006 4
#24 Webster March, 2007 18
#25 Superior September, 2007 9
#26 Ashland November, 2007 13
#27 Phillips February, 2008 34
#28 Barron November, 2008 18
#29 Medford March, 2009 16
#30 Woodruff November, 2009 15
#31 Mellen March, 2010 21
#32 Superior September, 2010 16
#33 Menomonie November, 2010 18
#34 Weyerhaueser March, 2011 22
#35 Hayward September, 2011 5
#36 Spooner November, 2011 11
#37 Merrill September, 2012 20
#38 Somerset November, 2012 20
#39 Rhinelander March, 2013 28
#40 Woodruff September, 2013 8
#41 Hudson November, 2013 15
#42 Medford March, 2014 36
#43 Edgar November, 2014 8
#44 Phillips April, 2015 13
#45 Park Falls October, 2015 6
#46 Tomahawk April, 2016 15
#47 Ladysmith October, 2016 14
#48 Hayward March, 2017 20
#49 Tony January, 2018 * 25
#50 Park Falls February, 2018 10
#51 Merrill October, 2018 7
#52 Tony January, 2019 * 27
#53 Ladysmith May, 2019 6
#54 Tony January, 2020 * 36
#55 Tony October, 2020 * 24
#56 Tony April, 2021 – * 37
#57 Woodruff September, 2021 7
#58 Tony March, 2022 * 41
#59 Catawba May, 2022 6
Total candidates/attendees 932
NOTE: “*” denotes Day Retreat for Koinonians
Koinonia began in l976 in Springfield, Illinois. Members of the first meeting were looking to provide adults with an experience similar to that which they had on a Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) weekend. Koinonia was designed with a two-fold purpose:
- To provide adult Catholics an opportunity to experience Christian Community centered on the Paschal Mystery where each participant is encouraged to take part in that Christian fellowship and sharing which Paul describes in his epistles with the Greek Word – Koinonia.
- To provide a depth of faith-sharing support that allows and challenges interior renewal for each participant at his or her own level, as renewal most often brings about a desire to serve. Koinonia emphasizes that this service is meant to take place in one’s home parish and community not just within the Koinonia group.
The first weekend was scheduled for August 1976, but just prior to the weekend, the first spiritual director, Msgr. Victor Balke, was named bishop for Crookston, MN. The first weekend was then moved to September, 1976.
In 1978 “out-of-town” and “out-of-state” Koinonia weekends were held. The Koinonia at Green Bay was unusual because it accommodated 75 participants and also was the first weekend where some of the participants slept at home rather than at a retreat center.
Overall, Koinonia has been held in 25 states, in two different islands in the Bahamas and in Canada. There have been approximately 2,000 weekends and an estimated 30,000 participants. Through the prompting of God’s Spirit, the spread of Koinonia continues without a national office and without formal fund raising.
History of Koinonia Retreats
Location Date # of Candidates
#1 Park Falls September, 1999 18
#2 Ashland February, 2000 24
#3 Hurley March, 2000 20
#4 Rhinelander October, 2000 13
#5 Phillips November, 2000 13
#6 Hurley January, 2001 14
#7 Spooner March, 2001 15
#8 Rhinelander August, 2001 5
#9 Park Falls November, 2001 17
#10 Glidden June, 2002 6
#11 Phillips November, 2002 21
#12 Woodruff February, 2003 10
#13 Park Falls November, 2003 10
#14 Ladysmith February, 2004 15
#15 Mercer April, 2004 14
#16 Hurley September, 2004 17
#17 Catawba November, 2004 19
#18 Medford February, 2005 13
#19 Dobie September, 2005 9
#20 Ladysmith November, 2005 9
#21 Park Falls March, 2006 18
#22 Hurley September, 2006 3
#23 Tomahawk November, 2006 4
#24 Webster March, 2007 18
#25 Superior September, 2007 9
#26 Ashland November, 2007 13
#27 Phillips February, 2008 34
#28 Barron November, 2008 18
#29 Medford March, 2009 16
#30 Woodruff November, 2009 15
#31 Mellen March, 2010 21
#32 Superior September, 2010 16
#33 Menomonie November, 2010 18
#34 Weyerhaueser March, 2011 22
#35 Hayward September, 2011 5
#36 Spooner November, 2011 11
#37 Merrill September, 2012 20
#38 Somerset November, 2012 20
#39 Rhinelander March, 2013 28
#40 Woodruff September, 2013 8
#41 Hudson November, 2013 15
#42 Medford March, 2014 36
#43 Edgar November, 2014 8
#44 Phillips April, 2015 13
#45 Park Falls October, 2015 6
#46 Tomahawk April, 2016 15
#47 Ladysmith October, 2016 14
#48 Hayward March, 2017 20
#49 Tony January, 2018 * 25
#50 Park Falls February, 2018 10
#51 Merrill October, 2018 7
#52 Tony January, 2019 * 27
#53 Ladysmith May, 2019 6
#54 Tony January, 2020 * 36
#55 Tony October, 2020 * 24
#56 Tony April, 2021 – * 37
#57 Woodruff September, 2021 7
#58 Tony March, 2022 * 41
#59 Catawba May, 2022 6
Total candidates/attendees 932
NOTE: “*” denotes Day Retreat for Koinonians