To apply for a retreat, please scroll to
the bottom of the page and click on APPLICATION.
The directed retreat focuses
on an individual’s experience of God at a given time in
their faith-journey. The length of time given to this kind
of retreat varies, from six days to 30 days.
Central to this retreat is the role of the director
who meets with the retreatant, usually daily. Retreatants
talk over with their director what is happening as they seek to
open themselves to God and become sensitive to the promptings
of the Holy Spirit deep in their hearts. The director offers
material and suggestions for the follow day’s prayer.
Although the entire day can be considered a time
of prayer, the day itself is best divided into certain periods
of formal prayer, ordinarily adding up to between three to five
hours.
Secondly, there are times for reflection following
each period of formal prayer; the retreatant reflects on what
was going on in the prayer (what was God like? What was I feeling:
what is God saying to me? etc., etc.)
Thirdly, there need to be periods of relaxation
and rest, for very little is attained in an atmosphere of strain
and weariness. These periods of relaxation are intended
to provide a helpful change of pace; still, care needs to be taken,
by continuing to observe the retreat silence, not to lose the
taste and desire for prayer.
A
quiet, peaceful and prayerful atmosphere is essential so that
each may hopefully find their own daily rhythm of prayer, reflection
and relaxation in an atmosphere of peace and calm. It is
in a climate of silence and simplicity that one can best be alone
with God and experience the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit.
In addition to the desire to pray, the directed
retreatant must have a capacity and willingness to be open with
the director in expressing and sharing what is going on during
prayer. This, of course, can be difficult, particularly
if this constitutes a new experience for a person, since one’s
prayer is a very personal thing.
The director has no preconceived goals or expectations
regarding the retreatant’s prayer. For those seeking to
find God in prayer and to dispose themselves as well as possible
for God’s self-communication, there are no preconceived
norms of success or failure. The retreatant simply seeks
to be open to the Lord.
Meeting individually with their directors, retreatants
look comtemplatively at the movement of their spirit in their
prayer and reflection. These meetings ordinarily take place
daily. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the only scheduled
communal gathering during these retreats.
Requests for a particular director will be honored
when possible, but cannot be guaranteed.