Fr. Christopher Barak
Ordained a priest in 1987 for the diocese of Lincoln, Fr. Barak is chaplain of the Carmel of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph near Valparaiso, Nebraska.
Father Barak was raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and attended St. Albert High School there. He attended Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln before enrolling at St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia.
In his ministry, he served as an assistant pastor at St. Wenceslaus Church in Wahoo and Blessed Sacrament in Lincoln. He also taught at Pius X and Bishop Neumann high schools. He pursued post-graduate studies in Rome before being named pastor of St. Francis Parish in rural David City; he also taught at Aquinas High School. In 1993 Father Barak was named pastor of St. Leo Parish in Palmyra, St. Martin Parish in Douglas and St. Michael Parish in Cheney. He has also served as administrator of parishes in Aurora and Giltner
Fr Barak had served the Diocese of Lincoln as assistant director of the Family Life Office and director of religious education, he also helps with the Masses with Prayers for Healing ministry.
Events with Fr. Christopher Barak
Ignatian Retreat: 4-Day August 25-29August 25 - 29, 2025
We are also offering other 4-day and 8-day retreats. To register for other date options go here: Aug. 25-Sept. 2 – 8-day (Mon-Fri) with Fr. Barak/Matt Simmons/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa Aug. 29-Sept. 2 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) with Fr. Barak/Matt Simons/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa (Labor Day) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is…
Ignatian Retreat: 8-Day (& 4 Days) Aug. 25-Sept. 2August 25 - September 2, 2025
We are also offering other 4-day retreats. To register for other date options go here: Aug. 25-29 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) with Fr. Barak/Fr. Coulter/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa Aug. 29-Sept. 2 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) with Fr. Barak/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa (Labor Day) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit. The…
Ignatian Retreat: 8-Day (& 4 Days) Aug. 25-Sept. 2August 25 - September 2, 2025
Aug. 25-Sept. 2 – 8-day (Mon-Tues) with Fr. Barak/Matt Simmons/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa We are also offering 4-day retreats: Aug. 25-29 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) with Fr. Barak/Matt Simmons/Fr. Coulter/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa Aug. 29-Sept. 2 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) with Fr. Barak/Matt Simmons/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa (Labor Day) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat…
Ignatian Retreat: 4-Day Aug. 25-29August 25 - 29, 2025
Aug. 25-29 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) with Fr. Barak/Fr. Coulter/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Aug. 25-Sept. 2 – 8-day Ignatian Retreat (Mon-Tues) with Fr. Christopher Barak, Sarina Stokes and Jo Vasa Aug. 29-Sept. 2 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) with Fr. Barak/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa (Labor Day) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture.…
Ignatian Retreat: 4-Day Aug. 29-Sept. 2August 25 - 29, 2025
Aug. 29-Sept. 2 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) with Fr. Barak/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa (Labor Day) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Aug. 25-Sept. 2 – 8-day Ignatian Retreat (Mon-Tues) with Fr. Christopher Barak, Sarina Stokes and Jo Vasa Aug. 25-29 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) with Fr. Barak/Fr. Coulter/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture.…
Ignatian Retreat: 4-Day Aug. 29-Sept. 2August 29 - September 2, 2025
We are offering 4-day and 8-day retreats. You can register for the date option of your choice: Aug. 25-Sept. 2 – 8-day (Mon-Tues) with Fr. Barak/Matt Simmons/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa Aug. 25-29 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) with Fr. Barak/Fr. Coulter/Matt Simmons/Sarina Stokes/Jo Vasa What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy…
The Prodigal Retreat for MenOctober 24 - 26, 2025
The Prodigal Retreat for Men Oct 24-27, 2025 with Fr. Christopher Barak, Matt Simmons, and Fr. Ben Holdren (Spiritual Direction Available) Retreat starts Friday with rosary and Mass at 8:00pm, ends Sunday with Mass and Noon lunch. Men’s Retreat Are you like the Prodigal brother, too angry to receive the Father’s love? Or more like the Prodigal son, too ashamed to come home? Or maybe you are like the Prodigal father, hoping and waiting for the conversion of a loved one? Many of us spend a lifetime avoiding or “going around” our most difficult feelings. To grow in our spiritual…
Ignatian Retreat: 8-Day (& 4 Days) Oct. 30-Nov. 7October 30 - November 7, 2025
Oct. 30-Nov. 7 – 8-day (Thurs-Fri) We are also offering 4-day retreats: Oct. 30-Nov. 3 – 4-day (Thurs-Mon) Nov. 3-7 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit. The retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no common prayers or devotions outside…
Ignatian Retreat: 4-Day Oct. 30-Nov. 3October 30 - November 3, 2025
Oct. 30-Nov. 3 – 4-day (Thurs-Mon) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Oct. 30-Nov. 7 – 8-day (Thurs-Fri) Nov. 3-7 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit. The retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no…
Ignatian Retreat: 4-Day Nov. 3-7November 3 - 7, 2025
Nov. 3-7 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Oct. 30-Nov. 7 – 8-day (Thurs-Fri) Oct. 30-Nov. 3 – 4-day (Thurs-Mon) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit. The retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no…
Ignatian Retreat: 8-Day (& 4 Days) Nov. 16-24November 16 - 24, 2025
Nov. 16-24 – 8-day (Sun-Mon) We are also offering 4-day retreats: Nov. 16-20 – 4-day (Sun-Thurs) Nov. 20-24 – 4-day (Thurs-Mon) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit. The retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no common prayers or devotions outside of Mass…
Ignatian Retreat: 4-Day Nov. 16-20November 16 - 20, 2025
Nov. 16-20 – 4-day (Sun-Thurs) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Nov. 16-24 – 8-day (Sun-Mon) Nov. 20-24 – 4-day (Thurs-Mon) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit. The retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no common prayers…
Ignatian Retreat: 4-Day Nov. 20-24November 20 - 24, 2025
Nov. 20-24 – 4-day (Thurs-Mon) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Nov. 16-24 – 8-day (Sun-Mon) Nov. 16-20 – 4-day (Sun-Thurs) What is the Silent Directed Ignatian Retreat for Men or Women? Ignatian Retreats, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are also known as directed retreats. The heart of the Ignatian Retreat involves spending four or five prayer periods each day in meditation on scripture. Thus the real director of an Ignatian Retreat is the Holy Spirit. The retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no common prayers…