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 May 15-19May 15 - 19, 2026
May 15-19 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: May 15-22 (Fri-Fri) 8-day May 19-22 (Tues-Fri) 3-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 retreat is marked by a complete silence, as there are no common prayers or devotions…
Ignatian Retreat: 8-Day (& 4 Days) June 22-30June 22 - 30, 2026
June 22-30 (8-day) Mon-Tues We are also offering 4-day retreats: June 22-26 (4-day) Mon-Fri June 26-30 (4-day) Fri-Tues 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 and Exposition, and…
Ignatian Retreat: 8-Day (& 4 Days) July 1-9July 1 - 9, 2026
July 1-9 (8-day) Wed-Thurs We are also offering 4-day retreats: July 1-5 (4-day) Wed-Sun July 5-9 (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 or devotions outside of Mass and Exposition, and…
Ignatian Retreat: 8-Day (& 4 Days) Aug. 17-25August 17 - 25, 2026
Aug. 17-25 – 8-day (Mon-Tues) We are also offering 4-day retreats: Aug. 17-21 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) Aug. 21-25 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) 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 Aug. 17-21August 17 - 21, 2026
Aug. 17-21 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Aug. 17-25 – 8-day (Mon-Tues) Aug. 21-25 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) 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 Aug. 21-25August 21 - 25, 2026
Aug. 21-25 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Aug. 17-25 – 8-day (Mon-Tues) Aug. 17-21 – 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…
The Prodigal Retreat for Men 2026September 11 - 13, 2026
The Prodigal Retreat for Men Sept 11-13, 2026 with Fr. Christopher Barak, Fr. Ben Holdren and Jonathan Little (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: 4-Day Oct. 23-27October 23 - 27, 2026
Oct 23-27 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Oct 23-30 – 8-day (Fri-Fri) Oct 27-30 – 4-day (Tues-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…
Ignatian Retreat: 8-Day (& 4 Days) Oct. 23-30October 23 - 30, 2026
Oct 23-30 – 8-day (Fri-Fri) We are also offering 4-day retreats: Oct 23-27 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) Oct 27-30 – 4-day (Tues-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 of Mass…
Ignatian Retreat: 4-Day Oct. 27-30October 27 - 30, 2026
Oct. 27-30 – 4-day (Tues-Fri) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Oct 23-30 – 8-day (Fri-Fri) Oct 23-27 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) 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: 8-Day (& 4 Days) Nov. 16-23November 16 - 23, 2026
Nov. 16-23 – 8-day (Mon-Mon) We are also offering 4-day retreats: Nov. 16-19 – 4-day (Mon-Thurs) Nov. 19-23 – 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. 16-19November 16 - 19, 2026
Nov. 16-19 – 4-day (Mon-Thurs) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Nov. 16-23 – 8-day (Mon-Mon) Nov. 19-23 – 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. 19-23November 19 - 23, 2026
Nov. 19-23 – 4-day (Thurs-Mon) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Nov. 16-23 – 8-day (Mon-Mon) Nov. 16-19 – 4-day (Mon-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…
Ignatian Retreat: 8-Day (& 4 Days) Dec. 14-22December 14 - 22, 2026
Dec. 14-22 – 8-day (Mon-Tues) We are also offering 4-day retreats: Dec. 14-18 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) Dec. 18-22 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) 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 Dec. 14-18December 14 - 18, 2026
Dec. 14-18 – 4-day (Mon-Fri) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Dec. 14-22 – 8-day (Mon-Tues) Dec. 18-22 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) 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 Dec. 18-22December 18 - 22, 2026
Dec. 18-22 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Dec. 14-22 – 8-day (Mon-Tues) Dec. 14-18 – 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…
Ignatian Retreat: 4-Day Jan. 1-4January 1 - 4, 2027
Jan. 1-4 – 4-day (Fri-Tues) We are also offering other options of 4-day and 8-day retreats: Dec. 28-Jan 4 – 8-day (Mon-Tues) Dec. 28-Jan. 1 – 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…
