Spirit Center Retreats
Gift Certificate Purchase
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.
Silence the Christmas Noise 2023
Flexible Dates
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Set aside a few days for calm, quiet Advent reflection this year. You are worth this gift of time away from the holiday rush, to prepare yourself for the true meaning of Christmas.
Diffusions – Quill in Hand: Writers Seeking Balance with Benedictine Spirituality
With Julie Ferraro
January 13, 2024
ZOOM
This monthly discussion group will serve as a means for writers of short fiction, poetry, and novels to support each other as they deal with the struggles inherent to their creativity, while finding a source of balance in the Rule of St. Benedict. The group will meet via Zoom on the second Saturday of each month. Diffusions offers online programs to further opportunities for prayer, learning, community, and spiritual growth from a Benedictine perspective. We look forward to bringing Wisdom from the Center to you, wherever you are.
Diffusions :: Inside the School of Charity: Lessons from the Monastery
With Tim Oberholzer
January 18 - May 9, 2024
Zoom
In 2003, Trisha Day had the opportunity to enter the enclosure of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey and live the Benedictine life practiced by the Cistercian sisters of the monastery. This book discussion will explore Trisha's experiences, reflections, and takeaways from her three-month stay as recorded in Inside the School of Charity: Lessons from the Monastery. In this 17-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 section.
Diffusions – Listening with the Ear of Your Heart – Benedictine Formation
With Debbie McCoy, Obl.S.B. and Diane Penny, Obl.S.B.
January 21, 2024
ZOOM
In this 5-part retreat series developed by Sr. Teresa Jackson, Prioress of the Monastery of St. Gertrude, we will explore how that call is the beginning of a lifelong journey in Benedictine Formation. On the most fundamental level, formation is how we live Benedictine life on a daily basis. It is absolutely critical to our commitment as oblates. And yet, we may struggle at times to clearly understand what formation is and how to participate fully in the power of Benedictine practice. This retreat will deeply enrich your understanding of Benedictine formation, challenge you to deepen your commitment, and introduce…
Come to the Quiet
With Spirituality Ministry Team
January 26 - February 2, 2024
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
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 Sr. Carlotta Mid-retreat faith sharing Group art creation of a sand mandala
The Sacred Art of Traditional Iconography
With Fr. Damian Higgins
February 5 - 9, 2024
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 – Benedict for Everyone
With Sr. Teresa Jackson, OSB
February 10, 2024
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 and practice. Each session will build…
Lenten Yoga Journey
With Kay Totten
February 16 - 18, 2024
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
The season of Lent can be an excellent tool for us to deepen and enrich our spiritual journey. Though it is often wrapped in the need to repent and "do more"; it is actually a time of hope; of longing for what Lent actually means: SPRING. Yes, Lent comes during our winter month of February this year. In fact, Ash Wednesday (the beginning of the Lenten time) is on the Feast Day of St. Valentine when we send cards and other treats to those we LOVE. However, the focus of this year's Lenten yoga retreat will be a deeper exploration…
A Watercolor Journey
With Pearl Maxner
March 5 - 7, 2024
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. For beginning to intermediate painters. All supplies provided.
Grateful Simplicity
With Julie Ferraro, Obl.S.B.
March 15 - 17, 2024
Spirit Center
Using concepts drawn from Benedictine and Franciscan spirituality, this holistic retreat will provide suggestions and insights about decluttering body, mind, and soul, shaking the dust off old ideas, and rearranging what is important, in order to move forward on a journey of gratitude, with openness and awareness that every experience, every person we meet, can teach us valuable lessons that bring us closer to God.
Centering Prayer Intensive
With Donna Kreiensieck
April 8 - 14, 2024
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.
Discovering Your Soul Potential: A Retreat on the Breakthrough Enneagram
With Sr. Barbara Jean Glodowski, OSB
April 16 - 18, 2024
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
The Enneagram is a spiritual wisdom tradition that was widely used by the desert Elders of the Christian church along with mystics and theologians who lived during the first five centuries AD. The Hurley/Dobson Breakthrough Enneagram Retreat is a refreshingly new and easy way to learn the Enneagram. It presents the Enneagram in the simple language of thinking, feeling, and doing, which are the three centers of intelligence we use every day. It answers the age-old question, “why do people do what they do?” It accomplishes this goal by describing nine personality styles. It also reveals what a person can…
Contemplative Photography
With Julie Ferraro, Obl.S.B.
May 24 - 26, 2024
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
With modern cell phones able to take photos, anyone can snap pictures. What, though, do we see in those photos? This retreat will offer participants an opportunity to see – and photograph – the natural surroundings at the monastery and other sights, while contemplating the purpose of those efforts, the results, and how the spiritual journey can progress while considering the beauty being captured with digital technology. (Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their DSLR or another style camera or cell phone with a high-resolution camera.)