What Is the Cost of the
Retreat?
The retreat is offered free of charge.
The retreat staff volunteer their time and
service. Donations from the Archdiocese
of Louisville, retreatants’ parishes and
generous friends cover the operations
costs for the retreat.
We are always in need of free will
offerings to offset expenses especially
for medical transportation, medical
supplies (including oxygen) and
hospitality needs for our retreatants.
If you wish to contribute please send
your offering to:
Gennesaret Retreat
Saint Barnabas Church
3042 Hikes Lane
Louisville, Kentucky 40220
Where and When Will the
Retreat Be Held?
Each Gennesaret Retreat for the
Seriously Ill is held at the Abbey of
Gethsemani, Trapppist, Kentucky.
The next scheduled retreat dates
are: October 22-24, 2010.
GENNESARET
RETREAT
The Healing at Gennesaret FOR THE
“After making the cross, they came to land at
Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were SERIOUSLY
leaving the boat, people immediately recognized
him. They scurried about the surrounding country ILL
and began to bring in the sick on mats to
wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or
towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick
in the marketplaces and begded him that they
might touch only tassel on his cloak; and as many
as touched it were healed.”
Mark 6: 53-56
St. Barnabas
PARISH OFFICE
3042 Hikes Ln., Louisville, Ky. 40220
Phone: (502) 459-4251
FAX: (502) 459-9815
Web Site: www.stbarnabaslou.org
Elaine Hulsman
Contact Coordinator
Phone: (502) 499-2360
Who Can Attend?
Anyone with a serious chronic illness
may be a candidate for the Gennesaret
retreat experience. The retreat is open
to people of all faiths, though it is a
Roman Catholic retreat in format, style
and prayer.
What Does Seriously Ill
Mean?
This retreat is designed for persons
whose medical condition would normally
be considered a hindrance to
participating in an overnight retreat
program. The retreatant’s medical
condition must be considered chronic
and potentially health threatening. We
welcome persons with life conditions as
varied as advance multiple sclerosis
(MS), diabetes, ALS, cancer, stroke,
AIDS and the like.
How Many Retreatants Can
Be Accommodated For This
Retreat?
The retreat is limited to 15 persons.
How Will the Retreatant’s
Medical Needs be Cared
For?
The retreat staff includes a full nursing
staff available for the entire retreat. The
retreat nurse coordinator will contact and
interview each prospective retreatant
prior to the retreat. A full medical history
will be gathered, as well as current
information on the person’s medical
condition and medical needs.
Arrangements will be coordinated with
family members and/or the retantant’s
physician for ongoing care during the
retreat. A planned course of action will
be set in place in the case of any
unforeseen medical emergency.
How Will Retreatants Be
Selected?
A member of the nursing staff will
assess each prospective retreatant’s
medical condition and current care
needs. In addition, the retreat directors
will conduct a separate interview for a
spiritual care assessment. Selection for
participation will be made on the basis of
a two fold criterion.
participate and profit from the retreat
activities (e.g., prayer with others and
alone; ability to read, listen and speak
about the scriptures; willingness to
interact with others; and ability to endure
a three-day overnight schedule).
Second, the nursing staff must be able
to meet the retreatants’ medical needs.
This may limit the number of retreatants
who would require maximum attention
and care.
Participation will be made on a case by
case basis; after the retreat roster is full,
a waiting list will be maintained for last-
minute openings and for future retreats.
Each decision will be made on a case
by case basis. A waiting list will be
maintained for last minute openings and
for future retreats.


 First, a retreatant must manifest a level

of mental awareness, alertness, and
stamina that would allow the retreatant to