Relax and Renew at the Heartland Center for Spirituality

By Linda Orlando

At the Heartland Center for Spirituality, even the landscaping has been designed to provide visitors with feeling of serenity. The retreat and conference center, which is a Catholic facility open to church groups, religious organizations, and other nonprofit groups, is owned and operated by the Dominican Sisters of Great Bend, Kansas. The center is part of Heartland Ministries, which also includes the Heartland Center for Wholistic Health and the Heartland Farm.

The goal of the Center is to provide visitors with an oasis where they can feel welcome, and the staff makes every effort to create an atmosphere for renewing and energizing the human spirit. The grounds are inviting and spacious, and there are facilities designed to accommodate both individuals and groups of any size. Intimate settings can accommodate individuals, offering private retreats, access to facilities, and scheduling to coincide with liturgies and meals enjoyed by the community. Groups can take advantage of larger meeting spaces, a video and book library, and spiritual guidance and outreach.

The Center’s offices, meeting rooms, and many of its bedrooms are located in the Sisters’ motherhouse, a large red brick building that greets visitors. The 32 acres of carefully tended, beautifully landscaped campus contain lovely gardens, serene grottos, and inspirational Stations of the Cross for quiet prayer and reflection.

The Chapel of the Plains, which seats 250, is a worship space that has been designed to maximize participation and reinforce a sense of community for all visitors. The auditorium offers a state-of-the-art sound system and audiovisual equipment for group presentations and conferences. In addition to the auditorium, there are two meeting rooms and several break-out rooms. The spacious cafeteria-style dining room offers tasteful, carefully-prepared meals.

The six staffers at the Heartland Center bring a wide variety of experience, expertise, and special gifts to the Center. Some of the ongoing offerings of the Center include spiritual direction and "companioning," where staffers meet with individuals to help them become aware of God’s healing presence and goodness. Outreach programs conducted by staffers provide groups with presentations for workshops and retreats, either at the Center or at other facilities.

Groups with special events can schedule use of the facilities to include spiritual enrichment activities, educational programs, staff development, conferences, or retreats, and the Center will assist in providing whatever is required to meet specific needs. The Center is open seven days a week, every day of the year.

Visit the Center’s website to learn more about the facilities, the staff members, and the rates and fees for various services and accommodations. Whatever your needs, the Center can provide you with a relaxed, comfortable setting where you can experience hospitality, serenity, and personal growth.