People have always looked to the Bible in order to answer questions about faith and direction. Next month a series of workshops and a retreat will put focus on how those questions can be answered.

Sister Carol Perry of Marble Collegiate Church, New York, will make her return to the Diocese of Beaumont this June as she presents two workshop series and a weekend retreat at Holy Family Retreat Center, Beaumont.

The two workshop series will be June 2-5 with one series presented in the morning and the other in the evening.

The morning workshop series, titled “The Power Brokers,” will focus on power and how to use it wisely.

“Everyone in the world wants power. There are numerous examples of this in the Bible from Pilate to Jezebel to James and Peter and Paul. This is an important topic especially in an election year,” Sister Perry said.

“We’ll be discussing how to use power wisely and how it affects you. Everyone has some level of power. Even the youngest child probably bosses the cat around. Learning how to use your power is part of our vocation into Gods family,” Sister Perry said.

The evening workshop series titled “Living Through Questions” will take a look at the various questions Jesus asked of his disciples and his followers during his teachings in the New Testament.

“Jesus taught by asking true questions. He asked dozens of questions all throughout his teachings. Through looking at the questions we can find new insight into how Jesus speaks to us even today,” Sister Perry said.

Sister Perry will also be presenting a weekend retreat titled “Now is the Season.” The retreat will be a time of reflection and a look at how we perceive our past, present and future.

“The main idea of the retreat is that yes we do need the past, yes we have to look toward the future but we do not want to lose what the present has to offer us. Its a peaceful time to look at who you are and where you’re going on your faith journey,” Sister Perry said.

Sister Perry hopes that these workshops will help people find a greater understand in their faith and in the Bible itself.

“The Bible is not just an ancient document. We are still human. Even though we now wear suits instead of robes, we are still the people Jesus was speaking to. It’s still very compelling for us in the 21st century,” Sister Perry said.

The morning and the evening workshops will be June 2-5. The morning workshop will be from 10 to11:30 a.m. The evening workshop will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The weekend retreat will be June 6-8.

The workshops will cost $50 per person. The weekend retreat will cost $165 for a single room and $125 for a shared room with a $35 deposit. The registration deadline for all the events is May 22. For more information call the retreat center, (409) 899-5617.