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
April 22, 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.
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 Like Monks, Living Like Fools
With Tim Oberholzer
May 1 - July 18, 2025
Zoom
This book discussion will explore Tyler Staton's book Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer. In this weekly 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.
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.
Mappa Divina
With Heather Berndt
June 20 - 22, 2025
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Mappa Divina© offers a creative and contemplative process to help you reconnect with your soul’s path as you navigate the threshold of life’s second half.
The Gift of Nature
With Sr. Carlotta Fontes, OSB
June 26 - 29, 2025
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
The vast expanse of the Monastery grounds and hills offer an opportunity to savor the beauty of God's creation and to learn about the many plants that can be used for medicinal purposes.
Not Your Grandma’s Bible Study: Creative Approaches to Scripture
With Sr. Teresa Jackson, OSB
July 11 - 13, 2025
Spirit center
We will approach Scripture through reflection, and imagination, with our heart and a willingness to be stretched while taking it seriously as the Word of God. There are many ways to engage with this life-changing book and we’ll try several. Come and experience the Bible like you never have before. No experience needed.
Yoga as a Tool to Invite Ourselves Into the Gifts of Summer
With Kay Totten
July 25 - 27, 2025
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
We will explore the unique gifts of summer (light, growth, arrival, flow, and balance) through the practice of yoga. Yoga is a form of body prayer rich with possibilities that are far beyond the physical realm. All levels welcome.
Hope-Filled in a Wounded and Polarized World
With Sr. Betty Schumacher
August 8 - 10, 2025
Spirit Center
"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness." Desmond Tutu How do we live with hope in a world that is wounded, broken, chaotic and polarized? Our culture and society continue to tell stories to justify the sufferings and injustice that many are experiencing today. We have an opportunity to re-tell the stories from another perspective that offers hope to our world.
Emotional Healing Through Forgiveness
With Terese Luikens
August 22 - 24, 2025
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude's
Has a person or an event emotionally shattered you? A liberal dose of forgiveness is what our wounds need. Where there is forgiveness, there is healing. In truth, when someone hurts you, forgiveness helps you to heal.
Diffusions – Praying with the Desert Mothers : The Hidden Life
With Dr. Samantha L. Miller
September 3, 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!
Introduction to Centering Prayer
With Donna Kreiensieck and Marti Taylor
September 5 - 7, 2025
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
This retreat will provide the background and fundamentals of Centering Prayer and teach how to develop a continuing practice.
Diffusions – Praying with the Desert Mothers : Prayer and Hospitality
With Dr. Samantha L. Miller
October 8, 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!