Center for Benedictine Life
Our vision
Prayer awakens. Justice impels.
Compassion acts.
Thy Kingdom Come.
Join Us in Prayer and Fasting for Ukraine
Our prioress, Sr. Mary Forman, O.S.B., received the following emails this morning.
We ask that you pray with us for peace and wellbeing for all.
From Sr. Lynn Marie McKenzie, O.S.B. President, Federation of St. Scholastica (St. Gertrude’s is a member of this federation):
There are Benedictine nuns and sisters in Ukraine who need our prayers. I heard from the CIB Delegate of CIB Region 7 which includes Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania – she has been in touch with the abbess of the monastery of nuns in Zhytomyr Ukraine who said that the military base near them was destroyed by shelling last night. Some people in the area are coming to the abbey of the nuns to take refuge. I’m afraid that this will spill beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Let us pray for peace and especially for the people of Ukraine.
From Sr. Ann Hoffman, O.S.B., Director, Alliance for International Monasticism
Please hold the Benedictine Sisters at Immaculate Conception Abbey in Zhytomyr, Ukraine, the citizens of Zhytomyr, and all of Ukraine in your prayers. The city of Zhytomyr was under attack by Russian missiles early this morning (February 24). Some sisters have transferred to Lviv. The rest are staying. Families from their town are coming to the abbey because they don’t know what to do. Innocent civilians are being attacked.
Pray for peace!
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Inn at St. Gertrude
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Individual Retreat
flexible dates
St. Benedict said, “Listen with the ear of your heart.” Why? It is this type of listening that allows the hearing of divine wisdom and inspiration that guides our lives into ever-increasing fullness, peace, and joy. But sometimes the noise and blur of life make that difficult. That is why we offer you the opportunity to come to Spirit Center and listen.
Redefining Retirement:
A Spiritual Practice
MAy 25-27, 2022
Whether already retired or preparing for retirement, you can redefine the way youpengine.com/retreats/598/redefining-retirement-a-spiritual-practice/ live into the second half of your life through an examination of the wisdom of Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Richard Johnson and the values of Benedictine spirituality. Explore the challenge with others on the journey.
Justice Impels
June 3-5, 2022
Many prophets of the past and the present challenge us to find ways of journeying with those who are experiencing the evils of racism, violence, poverty, climate disruption, and human migration in search of an escape from violence and poverty. We will explore ways of looking at these issues in light of the Gospel call to be peacemakers and instruments of transformation. We will visit some of those prophets whose purpose is to awaken in us the desire to journey with the marginated.
Spirit Writing
JUNE 20-24, 2022
Slowly walk the woods and grounds of the Monastery or the labyrinth; follow images and words and see where they take you. Writing demands quiet listening, a deepening, not only of craft but heart. It is a spiritual practice like the daily rhythm of life in a monastery, with time “out” for solitude and renewal. Come join us on this path. You don’t have to be a writer. We are here to listen to the Spirit in the practice of writing.
Come to the Quiet
July 15 – 22, 2022
Come away for a silent, individually directed retreat with optional faith sharing, creative expression, body prayer, and ritual. Relax in God’s presence, surrounded by natural beauty and supported by a praying community.
Compassion Acts
August 12 – 14, 2022
Compassion Acts is an experiential retreat encompassing numerous topics including: empathy, compassion, self-compassion, perfectionism, forgiveness, suffering, disability, The Two Wolves at the Door, One Good Deed, and works of compassion. Over the course of the weekend, Sr. Kim will present each topic through personal stories and select videos.
Renovation Update
In 2021, St. Gertrude’s crossed the fundraising goal line for the $2.3 million renovation project of the 72-year-old residential wing. In April 2021, the sisters moved back in. “After years of planning, design, and construction we are at completion! This has required the efforts of so many to make this possible,” wrote Oblate Jo-Anne Zimmer in a recent update. “We have gone from a 72-year-old building to a more modern space with the major highlights being private bathrooms, larger spaces, an asbestos-free environment, added insulation to the outside walls, updated plumbing and electrical, and more. It’s a joy to watch this spring into completion!”
Visit Us
The Welcome Center, Historical Museum, Inn, and Spirit Center are open. The Chapel remains closed due to Covid-19. We are livestreaming Sunday Mass at 11:30 a.m. on our Facebook page. We are on Pacific Time. Welcome Center and Historical Museum Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Get Directions