About The Holy Byways
Catholic retreats for women ready to come alive.
The Holy Byways offers retreats rooted in Catholic theology, gritty natural beauty, and authentic community. Inspired by the wisdom of St. Hildegard and the works of St. John Paul II, these paths invite you to get out of your head, off your screen, and into real conversation with God and each other.
Why ‘Byways'?
A byway is the quieter, slower road most people skip over, but it's exactly where beauty lives and waits. We think of retreats as a sacred detour. Dirty boots. Holy grounds. Where soul meets soil.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple: to provide women a sacred space to disconnect from the world and reconnect with God through nature, prayer, and sisterhood. We believe that the wilderness — whether a quiet stream, a mountain summit, or a forest trail, — offers an ideal environment for encountering God’s presence and experience holistic renewal of the mind, body, and soul.
Each of our retreats is crafted to guide you into a deeper relationship with God, challenge you physically and spiritually, and allow you to form lasting bonds with fellow Catholic women on the same path. At the heart of our mission is St. Hildegard’s concept of Viriditas. She used this word to describe the spiritual vitality that comes from living in tune with God — a greenness of soul, a holy vibrancy —something found throughout creation and something that is inherently part of us as well.
Why Choose The Holy Byways?
If you have ever wanted to visit a National Park and go on a retreat at the same time, this is for you! Our retreats are designed for women seeking a blend of physical challenge, outdoor exploration, quiet spiritual reflection, and community building.
Meet the Founder
Cassady Giefer
Hi friends! I’m Cassady Giefer — founder of The Holy Byways and co-host of Vitae: Seeking Holistic Holiness.
I grew up as an Air Force kid, which means adventure was part of my life from the beginning. Moving gave me countless opportunities to travel, hike, and camp in incredible places — and along the way, I fell in love with the way God speaks through His creation. At this point, the National Parks have become part of my personality - ask me about my water bottle.
I went on to Benedictine College, where I studied Strength & Conditioning and Evangelization & Catechesis. While there, I discipled other women and led small groups, mentoring women in their faith journeys — an experience that helped deepen my passion for building strong, faith-filled communities.
The idea for The Holy Byways grew from a simple desire: to combine my love of nature and theology. I wanted to create spaces where women could step away from the busyness of life and reconnect with God through nature, prayer, and sisterhood. I was inspired by St. Hildegard of Bingen’s beautiful concept of viriditas and by St. John Paul II’s tradition of leading young people into the mountains to encounter Christ through adventure, conversation, and quiet reflection.
When I’m not leading retreats or recording podcasts, you can find me walking my dog Pippin (named for my favorite hobbit from The Lord of the Rings), baking sourdough bread, playing boardgames and sports with friends and family, or curled up with a good book (or three).
I’m passionate about living simply, walking closely with Christ, and helping women find restoration and joy in both the wilderness and everyday life.
I’m excited to walk the byways with you!
Meet the Team
Sydney Giefer Crnkovich
Meet Sydney —your big sister-in-faith and co-host of the Vitae Podcast. She wears many hats: wife, friend, car-singer, and thrifter extraordinaire, Catholic life coach, speaker, personal stylist, and homeschool mom to four.
With a background in theology and theater, she helps women integrate faith, calling, and everyday life. Sydney draws on over a decade of experience working with women and youth. She’s passionate about TOB, personal style as sacramental, and helping others live from their identity as beloved in Christ. Her training in mindset and skillset coaching equips her as the ultimate encourager!
Quick facts:
Her love for the outdoors began in Colorado at her grandparents’ house and blossomed for 3 years exploring Alaska as a girl.
Currently, she’s particularly inspired by generosity and spunk of St. Katharine Drexel.
She’s loves talking architecture, interior design, and anything pregnancy and birth related (she has lots of thoughts).
She’d travel to the Mosel Valley in Germany for Riesling and a bike ride in a heartbeat. One day, she hopes to visit Sydney, Australia.
Sydney’s deepest desire is to help God reveal His path of integration: weaving together faith and actual day-to-day life. She’s honored to walk with you—on the byways or to your local coffee shop (just say the word).
Joseph “Joe” Crnkovich
Bringing the masculine genius to the team, Joe is the kind of guy who likes to explain deep theological truths almost as much he likes to explain the rules to a complicated board game. Sydney’s husband, father of four, basketball enthusiast, and full-time connoisseur of beer and dad jokes, he is friend to one and all.
Raised in northern California in an Opus Dei home, Joe developed a lifelong love for the saints—real life heroes—and draws on their example to talk about virtue, vocation, and finding holiness in the ordinary (even whilst stepping on LEGOs).
Joe brings a steady presence, a sharp mind, sweet guitar riffs, and just the right amount of nerdy humor to the retreat team. Whether he's referencing Tolkien, bragging about his favorite baseball team, or slipping a pun into a talk on divine sonship, Joe invites listeners to take both faith and joy seriously. He’s passionate about helping others see that sanctity isn't about being perfect—it's about saying yes, and beginning over and over again, right where you are. Preferably with a good high fantasy novel nearby.
Stay in the loop!
Stay up to date on upcoming events and retreats or drop us a line and ask a question.