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A Place of Retreat
Did you know?
A
million women and men seek out a retreat each year?
On a retreat people give themselves a day or several to
relax and attend to their spirit. They leave ordinary,
everyday routines and environment to focus on and to deepen
a relationship with the Holy One.
Why Retreat?
Our
lives are busy and noisy. Reflection and prayer are not easy
to come by. A
retreat is sabbath time!
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Sabbath means quit. Stop.
Take a break
God created then rested, and so can you.
A retreat is
your time to rest.
To reflect.
To find your centre.
To restore your soul.
The Sounds of Silence
Silence is an important element of a retreat. Why? Because
silence provides a supportive climate of solitude and
stillness for paying attention to the still small voice of
God.
Environment
An
atmosphere of silence supported by:
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a private bedroom
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a retreatants’ dining room
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a meditation room
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a path in the woods and beautiful grounds to roam along
the river bank.
Different Kinds of
Retreats
 Directed Retreats
On a
directed retreat you’d spend your day/days in sabbath rest:
praying several times throughout the day, journaling,
exercising, doing whatever re-creates.
In addition, you have the
opportunity to meet daily with a spiritual director/companion to share
and notice what is happening in your time of prayer. The
director offers suggestions for prayer, often scriptural
material or sacred poetry.
Group Directed Retreat
In
July, St. Benedict’s schedules a directed retreat. Women and
men may sign up for this retreat which lasts eight days or a
portion thereof. Besides the daily meeting with a spiritual
director,
retreatants receive the support of one another in prayer and
silence. (See our General Program Brochure for dates.)
Personal Self-Directed Retreats
In
these retreats, individuals take time for solitude and
prayer, choosing to use the facilities and benefit from the
atmosphere.
Other "Retreats"
These include a variety of programs open to the public and
are described in the general brochure. These “retreats” are
often of an interactive nature and structured. Some retreats
are designed with a specific group in mind, e.g. the
unemployed. Others focus on personal growth, e.g. Dreams,
Journaling or the Enneagram, and others are contemplative in
nature, like Centering Prayer. There is something for
everyone.
 Cost
of Retreats
The
following costs for retreats apply:
$25 (lunch/room
for the day)
$40
(lunch/supper/room for the day)
24-hour:
$70 ($65 if shared facilities)
Weekend: $165; 5-day: $325; 7-day: $450
Spiritual direction while on retreat: $20/meeting
Spiritual Directors may be available to accompany you. We
also offer Reiki and massage by pre-appointment for those on
longer retreats and sabbaticals. Please make your request
known when you make arrangements for your retreat.
 St
Benedict’s is an area resource center for Contemplative
Outreach Canada.
Trained presenters are available to offer Centering Prayer
Introductory workshops for your group either at St.
Benedict’s or at your location. If you would like to learn
more about this traditional Christian prayer or plan for a
workshop, contact Sr. Catherine, area coordinator of
Contemplative Outreach, at (204) 339-1705. St.
Benedict's offers a wide variety of Centering Prayer
retreats and events. Please see our
Spirituality Programs Calendar for
more information.
For more information, please contact us! |
