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Thirty-three clergy wives from eight dioceses and stavropegial institutions of the Orthodox Church in America gathered at the Antiochian Village from July 27–30 for the 2026 Office of Pastoral Life’s Clergy Wives Retreat.
Organized by Clergy Wives Ministry, the retreat carried the theme “Come Away and Rest: Blueprint for Renewal and Resilience in Our Journey with the Lord.” The gathering offered participants time away from the ordinary demands of family, parish, and professional life for prayer, reflection, fellowship, and the chance to rest in Christ.
The retreat was led by Dr. Ioana Popa of Team For The Soul® Institute, an experienced Orthodox Christian spiritual coach and theologically trained physician-psychiatrist with over twenty years of experience leading retreats.
Through presentations, journaling, contemplation, and small- and large-group conversations, Dr. Popa helped participants better understand the chronic stress many Christian women in ministry experience. Clergy wives were invited to identify practices of renewal and begin developing a personal “renewal blueprint” for living and serving in a more sustainable way.
Dr. Popa’s particular insight that taking on other people’s emotions is not necessary in order to be a loving listener was extremely helpful to many attendees. Some commented this was the single most important insight they would be taking away from the retreat, with one calling it “liberating.”
“The retreat was an opportunity for clergy wives to step away, cultivate inner stillness, and reconnect with the Lord. We also hoped to kindle lasting friendships from scratch. These were lofty goals,” said Matushka Carrie Foley, who leads the Office of Pastoral Life’s Clergy Wives Ministry. “As with any first effort, one must anticipate expectations will fall short. But I am thrilled to report, our expectations were surpassed. We shared prayers, tears, a-ha moments, laughter, hugs, and amens. The Lord was surely with us!”
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated Thursday morning by Father Vjekoslav Jovicic with Matushka Marina Garcia directing. In his sermon, Father Vjekoslav recollected women saints throughout the Scriptures, persecutions, and desert monasticism who lived hidden yet crucial lives in the Kingdom of God.
Throughout the four-day gathering, participants shared meals, informal fellowship, and directed conversation with other clergy wives whose lives carry many of the same joys, responsibilities, and challenges. Strolls along the quiet beauty of Antiochian Village’s Meditation Trail, and veneration of the relics of St. Raphael of Brooklyn were other bright stars in the midst of the retreat.
For Matushka Jenn Franchak, of St. Basil the Great Church, in Simpson, PA, the retreat provided important relief from isolation: “For the first time in 17 years of being a clergy wife, I actually had the opportunity to connect with and learn from other women who understand this life and its challenges. Thank you so much for the care and effort that you put into this retreat. It was such a blessing for me, and has helped me in so many ways. I am so excited for next year!”
The retreat is part of the Office of Pastoral Life’s continuing effort to strengthen the lives of clergy families and foster deeper relationships among clergy wives throughout the Orthodox Church in America. Matushka Carrie expressed her heartfelt gratitude to all the hierarchs, parishes, and individuals whose concrete support made this retreat possible. Matushka Jenny Mosher and Matushka Jodi Mathews, who volunteered countless hours to the planning and logistics, were indispensable to the success of this inaugural retreat.
Clergy Wives Ministry is dedicated to providing avenues of connection and renewal for clergy wives. In addition to the annual retreat planned for next year (stay tuned for an announcement of dates coming soon), a downloadable companion guide designed for group discussion for One Book One Sisterhood is now available. The website is expanding, so check back frequently for more opportunities for fellowship and encouragement.
The Office of Pastoral Life supports the clergy and clergy families of the Orthodox Church in America through programs promoting spiritual, vocational, relational, and financial well-being. Additional information is available at opl.oca.org.
