The Honey Bee is not native to North America; she is an immigrant from Europe, Asia, and Africa.  In 1940, America had roughly 6 million managed beehives. Today we have a little more than 2 million, with more mouths to feed. Our bees are transported around the country—to pollinate more than a third of the produce that Americans eat. Like migrant workers, bees work under stressful conditions of night travel.  

The beloved bee is transported on flat bed trucks at night to the pumpkin patches of Texas, citrus groves in Florida, cranberry bogs in Massachusetts, blueberry fields in Michigan, and the apple orchards in Washington state.  We do this not for the honey bee’s benefit, but rather to sustain the American agricultural system, built on production, perfection, proximity, price, and profit.  Is this practice sustainable? Is this practice just? 

If you are concerned about protecting the environment in light of climate change, if you are passionate about social justice, or if you are curious about our role in the natural world, this is a retreat for you.  

In this retreat, we will have:

• insightful presentations with real bees,

• lively discussions,

• prayerful rituals,

• intriguing activities (Including honey tasting and candle making),

• we will tackle head on the issues outlined in Pope Francis’ Laudato si to see what each of us can do in our own lives to care for creation,

• As Christians living in a modern world, we will study a just response to Christ’s admonition, “Feed my sheep."  

Come then and see how the lessons from the hive can inspire your imagination and give you hope in a challenging world.   

Fee: $135 commuter, includes meals; with lodging $250 single, $150 double per person.  Retreat spans from Friday January 17 at 6 pm to January 19 at 1 pm.