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
October 22, 2024
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.
Yoga as a Tool for Finding Our “Inner” Harvest
With Kay Totten
November 5 - 7, 2024
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
November is a month when we naturally think of GRATITUDE as we near the time of Thanksgiving and the culmination of our summer and fall season activities. This Yoga retreat will focus on our deep inner need to begin each day with an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE using the key themes of: LIGHT, WARMTH, ENDINGS, RESILIENCE, AND BEAUTY.
Am I On a Spiritual Journey?
With Sr. Teresa Jackson, OSB
November 12 - 14, 2024
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Are you looking for a deeper sense of meaning in your life? Perhaps the beliefs, values, practices of faith that you once had no longer seem to be enough or feel confining. Perhaps "religion" has never worked but you know that there is more to faith than doctrines and institutions. In this retreat we will talk about what it means to be on a spiritual path and what are some of the common elements of the journey including practices, commitment, values, and transformation. There will be silence, presentations, reflection, sharing with fellow retreatants and more. It will be a safe…
Diffusions – Praying with the Desert Mothers : Humility and the Manifestation of Thoughts
With Dr. Samantha L. Miller
December 4, 2024
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!
Come to the Quiet
With Spirituality Ministry Team
January 24 - 31, 2025
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
At the core of Benedictine spirituality is the practice of listening deeply. Relax in God's presence, surrounded by natural beauty and supported by a praying community. Experience a week of silence for your heart, soul, mind, and body. Let go and listen deeply. Come To The Quiet retreatants stay in a private room with a private bathroom, receive three meals a day, and access all of Spirit Center's amenities. Included Optional Offerings: Readings and images to spark your reflection Conversations with a spiritual director Communal prayer with the sisters of the Monastery of St. Gertrude T'ai Chi body prayer with…
Diffusions – Praying with the Desert Mothers : Penthos and Tears – Signs of Conversion
With Dr. Samantha L. Miller
February 5, 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!
The Sacred Art of Traditional Iconography
With Fr. Damian Higgins
February 17 - 21, 2025
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
"Holy icons direct us toward the Divine." Fr. Damian Higgins is an iconographer whose works are featured around the world. Don't miss this encounter with sacred Christian art using traditional egg tempera. Materials provided; no experience is necessary.
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!
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.