Mary Litch
Mary is a former philosophy professor who has planned and executed many out-of-the-classroom learning experiences for her students. She has facilitated a retreat on spiritual practices for Quakers. She is trained in wilderness first aid, and volunteered for several years as a docent leading outdoor travel events with Irvine Ranch Conservancy (in Orange, CA). She has spent the first six years of her retirement traveling on foot and horseback deep in the backcountry in federally-designated wilderness areas.
Upcoming Programs by Mary Litch
Experiencing Creation as CREATION
August 10 - 13, 2026
This outdoor-focused retreat aims to give participants the experience of God’s presence in the
natural world. The retreat journey starts by introducing Franciscan (Catholic) theology, which
emphasizes God’s immanence in the world. From there, we use a variety of indoor and outdoor
exercises to build an attitude of gratitude for and mindfulness of the natural world, culminating
in an outdoor exercise that leads participants to “step into Creation.” On the final retreat day,
we use exercises based on Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si, to
examine the implications of God’s immanence in Creation on our actions.