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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.
Discovering Your Soul Potential: A Retreat on the Breakthrough Enneagram
With Sr. Barbara Jean Glodowski, OSB
April 18 - 20, 2023
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
“I cannot even understand my own actions. I do not do what I want to do but what I hate.” -- Romans 7:15 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…
L.I.V.E. – More Than A Vision :: Benedictines in the 21st Century: a new time, a new vision, a new model
With Sr. Teresa Jackson, OSB
April 23, 2023
ZOOM
More than a vision: Making new forms of Benedictine life a reality today In this time of change, where is Benedictine life headed? Is it time for a new way to look at what it means to be a Benedictine? Join us for a series of ZOOM presentations about how the Center for Benedictine Life at the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho is creating a new model for Benedictine communities today. The leaders will include a variety of people actively involved in building the Center for Benedictine Life including Sisters, oblates, employees, and cohousing members. The topic for…
L.I.V.E. – More Than A Vision :: More than friends of the monastery: A new identity for oblates
April 30, 2023
ZOOM
More than a vision: Making new forms of Benedictine life a reality today In this time of change, where is Benedictine life headed? Is it time for a new way to look at what it means to be a Benedictine? Join us for a series of ZOOM presentations about how the Center for Benedictine Life at the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho is creating a new model for Benedictine communities today. The leaders will include a variety of people actively involved in building the Center for Benedictine Life including Sisters, oblates, employees, and cohousing members. The topic for…
Hearts on Fire: The Medieval Mystics and Their Spirituality
With Sr. Mary Forman, OSB
May 5 - 7, 2023
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Monastic women who experienced God as visionaries and/or mystics serve as powerful teachers for a loving relationship with God.
L.I.V.E. – More Than A Vision :: Oblate leadership: Oblates building their own communities
May 7, 2023
ZOOM
More than a vision: Making new forms of Benedictine life a reality today In this time of change, where is Benedictine life headed? Is it time for a new way to look at what it means to be a Benedictine? Join us for a series of ZOOM presentations about how the Center for Benedictine Life at the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho is creating a new model for Benedictine communities today. The leaders will include a variety of people actively involved in building the Center for Benedictine Life including Sisters, oblates, employees, and cohousing members. The topic for…
L.I.V.E. – Rest and Play as Spiritual Practice
With Dr. Samantha L. Miller
May 10, 2023
Zoom
Play is a neglected spiritual discipline. Most of us find it difficult to keep rest with any regularity. But God has called us to Sabbath rhythms, and play is largely about the imagination and joy, which are crucial elements of faith. Come for a conversation about how rest and play can shape our imaginations to see God more clearly, follow him more nearly, and love him more dearly.
L.I.V.E. – More Than A Vision :: We’re all in this together: Benedictine formation for all
With Sr. Barbara Jean Glodowski, OSB and Tim Oberholzer
May 14, 2023
ZOOM
More than a vision: Making new forms of Benedictine life a reality today In this time of change, where is Benedictine life headed? Is it time for a new way to look at what it means to be a Benedictine? Join us for a series of ZOOM presentations about how the Center for Benedictine Life at the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho is creating a new model for Benedictine communities today. The leaders will include a variety of people actively involved in building the Center for Benedictine Life including Sisters, oblates, employees, and cohousing members. The topic for…
L.I.V.E. – More Than A Vision :: New wineskins for cenobitic communities: An exploration of new legal and organizational structures
With Sr. Teresa Jackson, OSB
May 21, 2023
ZOOM
More than a vision: Making new forms of Benedictine life a reality today In this time of change, where is Benedictine life headed? Is it time for a new way to look at what it means to be a Benedictine? Join us for a series of ZOOM presentations about how the Center for Benedictine Life at the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho is creating a new model for Benedictine communities today. The leaders will include a variety of people actively involved in building the Center for Benedictine Life including Sisters, oblates, employees, and cohousing members. The topic for…
Dream Tending – An Invitation to Spiritual Growth
With Amy Curran and Fr. Daniel Renaud, OMI
May 22 - 25, 2023
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Dreams are meant to provide healing and create wholeness for us, according to author and Dreamworker, Jeromy Taylor. In fact, dreams can be seen as, ‘Unopened Letters From God’, like the book title suggests, from Rev. Robert L. Haden Jr, of the Haden Dream Institute. If we are willing to ‘open’ and explore our nocturnal dreams thru deep spiritual listening, like the prophets who were guided by their dreams, we may hear what God is saying to us.
L.I.V.E. – More Than A Vision :: Living Benedictine life beyond the vows: introducing the Benedictine Cohousing Companions
May 28, 2023
ZOOM
More than a vision: Making new forms of Benedictine life a reality today In this time of change, where is Benedictine life headed? Is it time for a new way to look at what it means to be a Benedictine? Join us for a series of ZOOM presentations about how the Center for Benedictine Life at the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho is creating a new model for Benedictine communities today. The leaders will include a variety of people actively involved in building the Center for Benedictine Life including Sisters, oblates, employees, and cohousing members. The topic for…
Come to the Quiet
With Spirituality Ministry Team
June 16 - 23, 2023
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.
Exploring Nature’s Gifts
With Sr. Carlotta Fontes, OSB
June 29 - July 2, 2023
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Discover what ancient herbal wisdom has to show us today. Learn how to identify and harvest herbs in order to make herbal teas, salve, and more. The retreat activities will take participants onto the Monastery of St. Gertrude hillside for a hands-on experience. Come ready to hike, dig, and get dirty! Tools and materials provided.
Parables in Pictures
With Tim Oberholzer
July 14 - 16, 2023
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Henri Nouwen demonstrates the practice of visio divina in his book The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming. Visio divina applies the steps of lectio divina to images. Come encounter the parables of Jesus of Nazareth from a different perspective.
Creative Peacemaking
With Sr. Elisa Martinez, OSB
July 21 - 23, 2023
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
In today’s world, we are being exposed to many faces of violence. Poverty, climate change, nuclear weapons, refugee rights, preparation and response to future pandemics, Healthcare crisis, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, gender equality, disinformation, freedom of the press, violence within our school, families, and communities, mass shootings, corruption, just to name a few. In light of this reality, how do we regain our inner peace and what is our role as peacemakers? During this weekend experience, we hope to discover ways to gain some inner peace and become peacemakers within our family, our neighborhoods, and our world communities. Spirit…
Mappa Divina
With Heather Berndt
August 15 - 17, 2023
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Mappa Divina© is a sacred visioning process rooted in the contemplative practices of map making and pilgrimage. It involves writing, collage, and prayer intended to promote communion with the divine and alignment with Godde’s highest good for your life. The process is like creating a vision board but dives deeper into your inner landscape and is oriented toward being and doing rather than having. At the end of the retreat, participants will have a set of words and images to guide them on their journey forward. Best of all, it’s fun!
Living as a Monk in Everyday Life: A Benedictine Spirituality Cohort
With Sr. Teresa Jackson, OSB and Cecilia McKean, Obl.S.B.
August 21 - 27, 2023
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Many people today are discovering a deep hunger for God at their core. The ancient Benedictine monastic tradition is a way of life designed to help people live a life focused on God. In this nine-month program, we will focus on how ordinary people can integrate Benedictine monastic prayer, values, and structures into their lives outside of a monastery. The program begins with a week-long retreat at the Monastery of St. Gertrude. Over the next nine months, participants will take online classes in Benedictine spirituality, participate in online discussions with other participants, explore suggested readings, and do regular integration/reflection exercises. …
A Watercolor Journey II
With Pearl Maxner
September 19 - 21, 2023
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Take the next step toward becoming a confident watercolorist. Revisit the techniques learned in "A Watercolor Journey" and move forward to new skills. Any beginner class will serve as a prerequisite for this retreat. All materials provided.
Introduction to Centering Prayer
With Donna Kreiensieck
September 22 - 24, 2023
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
St. Benedict frequently unites silence and prayer in the work of seeking God. Centering prayer is one of several prayer practices that flow out of Benedictine Life. Thomas Merton describes centering prayer as "a 'return to the heart,' finding one's deepest center, awakening the profound depths of our being in the presence of God." The goal is to be present to the Lord and aware of the divine action within you. This introductory retreat will provide the background and fundamentals of Centering Prayer and teach how to develop a continuing practice.
Redefining Retirement: A Spiritual Practice
With Sr. Barbara Jean Glodowski, OSB
October 10 - 12, 2023
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Whether already retired or preparing for retirement, you can redefine the way you 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.
Deep Writing: Excavating the Inner Life
With Cheryl Johnson and Tim Oberholzer
November 13 - 17, 2023
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
We are archaeological sites. Personal artifacts buried in the rich humus of our lives long to tell their stories. These objects are sacred vessels, "tools" for listening, witnessing, and healing. Artifacts preserve "moments" and invite us below the surface where truth lies. Like archaeologists, we will dust off our objects and with our trowels of creative seeing, record, restore, and redeem them. Writing will be our "digging" practice. We'll show up and see what we uncover. You don't need to be "a writer" to attend this retreat. So, let go of that lizard on your shoulder and get ready to go…