April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
FAMILY, YOUNG ADULT RETREATS
The Priory's new leaders look forward
The Priory's new leaders look forward
The Priory recently welcomed a new executive director, Dustin Katona. His wife, Lanni Lantto, is serving as the retreat houses' associate director; the couple have an infant son, Satori Rising. The family relocated from upper Michigan to Warren County.
"We hope to live more simply," Mr. Katona said. In his hometown, "there's so much emphasis on going into the city and getting a successful job. We both felt like that wasn't fulfilling. We wanted to create a space to get to know God and find God in nature."
The family is embracing The Priory's history as a Benedictine monastery that hosted retreats rooted in communal prayer and hospitality. Founded as a monastic community in the 1970s, The Priory had become a retreat center by the '80s.
"We have individual and group retreats," Mrs. Lantto told The Evangelist, noting that their "undirected quiet weekend" retreats are the most popular.
Those particular retreats are meant to help people reflect in silence on their own lives and spirituality. A spiritual director is available. Other upcoming offerings include a "Faith in Film" series in February.
The family is learning their own lessons in leading The Priory.
"I'm learning to find Jesus in the little ways," Mrs. Lantto shared. "It was very intentional to raise our family around nature. Being here, you have the perfect opportunity for that. At night, you have the stars. You have owls making noise instead of neighbors. It's a different way of life. We want to bring other people in to experience that."
The property spans 100 acres on top of a small mountain in the Adirondack Park. Guests are encouraged to use the groomed hiking trails that wind through the wooded area surrounding the retreat house, leading to ponds, gardens and natural springs.
Directing The Priory is allowing Mr. Katona to mesh together his spiritual and professional lives.
"I feel stronger with less," he said. "A simple gesture to the Lord in the midst of the day, like, 'Lord, have mercy,' will sometimes get me through a whole afternoon. I'm more empowered by the task at hand.
"My faith has grown," he told The Evangelist. "I feel like God directed my spiritual life."
"When you remove yourself from the distractions of the world, you find that you have more time to focus on the things that really matter," Mrs. Lantto added.
Mr. Katona has high hopes for The Priory's future: "We hope to have more family- and young adult-centered retreats."
He is also seeking volunteers to help with painting and caring for the retreat house. He'd like to create a community garden, too.
"As a family, we are excited to be here," Mr. Katona concluded. "We want people to know that we have a place for them."
(Learn more at prioryretreathouse.org.)[[In-content Ad]]
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