This is a retreat: A time for God, a time for assessing our relationship with God. We spend time with the people we cherish and respect. We spend time with God. A retreat nurtures our spiritual life in an environment away from the ordinary distractions of life. In the Scriptures, we read that Jesus would simply go off and pray. Each and every one of us needs time to be alone, and a retreat provides us with this opportunity. Organizations also need these times. We need to pause and discern where we are; where we are going; where we want to be and how we get there. A retreat provides these possibilities for any organization.

Time is our most precious commodity, yet if we just hurl ourselves along, are we really living? Taking time to assess our life honestly and without pressure will help us get more out of life and this is why Jesus came, "that we may have life and have it to its fullness." (John 10:10)  Whatever your purpose may be, we encourage you to take some time apart to focus on your relationship with God or to spend time accomplishing what you need to do.

A retreat is a time-honored experience of drawing aside to a quiet place by oneself - or with a spouse or with a group - to learn more of the ways of God's loving relationship with us and to recognize in the moments of very ordinary living, as well as in the extra-ordinary events of our life, the presence of the Sacred.

An ancient philosopher once warned of the emptiness of a life in which there is no time taken to reflect on it. It is a lesson that many are discovering anew and there is evidence of a hunger among many of the people, especially the young, for things of the spirit. Reflection and prayer are the two components that nourish the spirit, and the retreat experience focuses on those very aspects.

A retreat is a time to examine, to discover, and to decide; to look back with reverence and gratitude, and, perhaps, even with some sorrow and regret; a time to find peace in the present and hope for the future; a time to decide which path of life we will follow, our own, or that of Jesus and the Gospel.  

Is a Retreat for Me?

If you want to find a measure of peace and a way to deal with the tension that often exists between living gospel values and just earning a living, a retreat may be of great help for you.

If you are confronted with difficult relationships at home or at work, a retreat may be just what you need to rediscover your capacity to love meaningfully.

If there is a sense of loss, hurt or pain, or if you must deal with catastrophic illness, a retreat may be the respite and refreshment you need.

If you sense a need to deepen your faith, to recover your values, to find the courage to face an uncertain future, you may find a retreat to be of great benefit

For these and myriad other reasons people find the answers they need when unencumbered by the trappings of everyday life in a retreat setting.  You will, too.

Last Updated: July 31, 2008