Spirit Center Retreats
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Open Dates
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Spirit Centers offers contemplative space for learning, renewal, and crucial conversation with others for a better world. Sometimes that means taking private time in silence and nature. Sometimes that means a group retreat to express or deepen spiritual longings. Sometimes that means sitting in safe conversation with the Holy Spirit and a spiritual director. If you aren't sure which is appropriate now, give them a gift certificate and let them choose their path.
Individual Retreat
Flexible Dates
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
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.
Diffusions – Playing with Words: Benedict’s Little Rule for Beginners
With Tim Oberholzer
February 25, 2025
ZOOM
St. Benedict's "little rule written for beginners" invites us to grow in virtue through intentional living in the ordinariness of life. The text contains numerous themes to inspire and direct individuals and communities in the way of perfection. During these Zoom sessions, we will ponder the Rule of St. Benedict by "playing" with recurring words and themes. Each month we will examine Benedict's weaving of a different word or theme through the Rule to gain an understanding of his intention and our application.
Looking Forward to Easter
With Tim Oberholzer
February 28 - March 2, 2025
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Does your life need a reset? A nudge to get everything back in balance? Where "everything" means physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. In Looking Forward to Easter we will use Chapter 49: The Observance of Lent from the Rule of St. Benedict as a guide for self-reflection and transformation. We will consider what should be washed away, what should be added, and what should be offered as we "look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing."
Diffusions – Benedict for Everyone
With Sr. Teresa Jackson, OSB
March 1 - April 5, 2025
ZOOM
Benedict for Everyone: Reading the Rule of Benedict in the Modern World In this class, we will explore how people who do not belong to monasteries can read the Rule of Benedict and apply it to their life in the “world.” Benedict’s “rule” is a guidebook for seeking a life centered on God and is easily adaptable to modern people. Together we will learn how to understand and apply Benedict’s transformative wisdom in our lives. The class will meet once a week for 1 1/2 hours. It will be challenging and interactive with discussion, practice and homework. Each session will…
Diffusions :: The Mystics Would Like a Word
With Tim Oberholzer
March 6 - April 10, 2025
Zoom
This book discussion will follow Shannon K. Evans' book The Mystics Would Like a Word: Six Women Who Met God and Found a Spirituality for Today mystic-by-mystic. In this 6-week journey, our group will meet via 1 1/2 hour Zoom sessions, Thursdays, 6-7:30 pm (Pacific) 9-10:30 pm (Eastern), to share thoughts and impressions of each chapter.
A Watercolor Journey
With Pearl Maxner
March 11 - 13, 2025
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Explore watercolor painting with step-by-step instructions on the use of color and light and capturing mood and emotion. Paint with confidence and trust God in the flowing of color in your life.
Diffusions – Praying with the Desert Mothers : The Hidden Life
With Dr. Samantha L. Miller
March 12, 2025
Zoom
Looking closely at the sayings and lives of the desert saints, we think about their particular spiritual practices, what those practices lead to, and how we might imitate these practices in our own lives. Come see what our new friends can teach us about spiritual formation in this final part of our spring desert saints series!
Centering Prayer Intensive
With Donna Kreiensieck and Marti Taylor
March 17 - 23, 2025
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Enhance your contemplative prayer life and expand the fundamentals of your Centering Prayer practice through this intensive weeklong retreat in a quiet, transformative setting.
The Passion of the Earth: Living into the New Creation Story
With Wendy Weiger
April 25 - 27, 2025
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
We humans are part of a vast web of creation that sustains all life. But we’re unraveling the web. We are standing on a cusp. The choices we make will determine the course of our planet for thousands—even millions—of years to come. What will we choose? Will we join in God’s dance of hope, healing, and new creation? Or will we continue down our current path of destruction? We will consider these questions through the lens of the Passion of the Earth, a project of artwork and poetry that integrates scientific and Biblical understanding of the story of our universe.…
Diffusions – Praying with the Desert Mothers : Prayer and Hospitality
With Dr. Samantha L. Miller
April 30, 2025
Zoom
Looking closely at the sayings and lives of the desert saints, we think about their particular spiritual practices, what those practices lead to, and how we might imitate these practices in our own lives. Come see what our new friends can teach us about spiritual formation in this final part of our spring desert saints series!
Journaling: The Sanctuary of the Heart
With Cheryl Johnson and Tim Oberholzer
May 19 - 23, 2025
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
The Center for Benedictine Life at the Monastery of St. Gertrude welcomes the monastery of your heart. Here, the quest within and the world without join hands. Prompts of the Spirit and their counterparts in key moments, find a voice in the sanctuary of your journal, the sanctuary of the heart. Journaling, Joan Chittister says, is an “x-ray of your soul.” It gets beneath our facades to the bone, blood, tissue, and the spiritual depths they house. Journals are intimate explorings of the pain and beauty hidden in our exterior and interior landscapes.
Come to the Quiet
With Spirituality Ministry Team
May 30 - June 6, 2025
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
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.