Most people don’t know that St. Francis of Assisi was a soldier and a prisoner of war who faced a number of hardships and challenges before undergoing a profound religious experience. In untangling the paradox of his life, this retreat will explore how the call of the warrior intersects with the call of spirituality. The group of veterans, led by Fr. Conrad Targonski, will examine, from various perspectives, the challenges confronting veterans in light of the life of a saint who rose out of the ashes of combat to become an icon of peace. With this goal in mind, we will look at the life of St. Francis through the eyes of Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey and Harry Moody’s Five Stages of the Soul.

This retreat was funded from a generous grant by the Arizona Community Foundation. Veterans with limited financial resources can receive scholarships to attend.