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.
Diffusions :: The Four Agreements
With Tim Oberholzer
May 7 - June 25, 2026
Zoom
This eight-week book discussion will explore don Miguel Ruiz's book The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom. 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. The four agreements are: Be Impeccable with Your Word, Don't Take Anything Personally, Don't Make Assumptions, and Always Do Your Best. We will discuss a chapter a week. After discussing the book's seven chapters, we will have a final wrap-up session for a total of 8 conversations.
Deepening Our Spirituality with Mindfulness
With Gail Stearns
May 8 - 10, 2026
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Ancient spiritual wisdom and current science are showing we can actually shift the way our brains work, to experience less reactivity toward greater calm and purpose. When we combine mindfulness tools with spiritual, contemplative practice, we can experience this transformation in a beautiful way.
Using our Yoga Practice to Celebrate the Joys of Summer
With Kay Totten
June 12 - 14, 2026
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
We will explore the themes of purity, contentment, self-discipline, self-study, and devotion to our spiritual journey during the retreat weekend. I’m excited to announce that I will be joined by an amazing yoga teacher who will now be part of the “team” that will provide you with a safe and yet challenging space to rest, explore, and honor your own body and spirit connection. Yoga is a true form of body prayer rich with opportunities to learn more about your own soul/body connection. All levels welcome. It is highly recommended you bring any props you have (mat, blocks, bolsters, straps)…
Exploring Nature’s Gifts 2026
With Sr. Carlotta Fontes, OSB
June 25 - 28, 2026
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
“Our backyard is an abundant source of God’s gift of healing plants to us.” Discover what ancient herbal wisdom has to show us today. Learn how to identify and harvest herbs in order to make herbal teas, salves, and more. The retreat activities will take participants onto the Monastery of St. Gertrude hillside for hands-on experience.
Sensing the Divine with St Hildegard of Bingen.
With Karla Neumann Smiley, Obl.S.B.
July 7 - 10, 2026
Monastery of St. Gertrude, Spirit Center
St. Hildegard of Bingen was a 12th century Benedictine mystic, visionary, artist, composer, herbalist, and Doctor of the Church. A polymath who has left us with a vast array of music, writing, art, and inspiration, Hildegard’s life and work offer a rich and multi-sensory experience. In this retreat we will engage our five senses as we explore the diversity of her life and prayer and work. We will bring her gifts to the 12th century church forward to today and ask how they might help draw us closer to the Divine.
Come to the Quiet
With Retreat Team
July 17 - 24, 2026
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
Experiencing Creation as CREATION
With Mary Litch
August 9 - 14, 2026
Spirit Center
This outdoor-focused retreat aims to give participants the experience of God’s presence in the natural world. The retreat journey starts by introducing Franciscan (Catholic) theology, which emphasizes God’s immanence in the world. From there, we use a variety of indoor and outdoor exercises to build an attitude of gratitude for and mindfulness of the natural world, culminating in an outdoor exercise that leads participants to “step into Creation.” On the final retreat day, we use exercises based on Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si, to examine the implications of God’s immanence in Creation on our actions.
Mappa Divina 2026
With Heather Berndt
September 10 - 13, 2026
Are you facing the uncertainties of midlife, questioning where you are and what lies ahead? Do you long for a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper, more authentic spirituality as you step into this transformative season of life? 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. Drawing from the art of cartography, mythology, and archetypal psychology, Mappa Divina© invites you to engage with imagery, words, and prayer to create a personalized map of your evolving Self. Unlike a traditional vision board, Mappa Divina© speaks…
A Watercolor Journey II
With Pearl Maxner
September 15 - 17, 2026
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
St. Benedict highlighted the role of artisans in monastic life. The Center for Benedictine Life fosters awareness of the sacred moment, tending the inner life and the beauty of creation. Art is essential to the contemplative path. It expresses new ways to “see” the invisible and participate with the Divine and the human. Surrounded by the prayer and peace of the Monastery of St. Gertrude, take the next step toward becoming a confident watercolorist. Revisit the basics techniques learned in "A Watercolor Journey" or similar beginner class and move forward to new skills. Any beginner class will serve as a…
Introduction to Centering Prayer
With Donna Kreiensieck and Mary Bieter
September 18 - 20, 2026
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.
Spiritual Discipline of Contemporary Iconography
With Kara Gillette
October 8 - 14, 2026
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Iconography Retreats are a time to break from our busy modern lives and connect deeply with God through the ancient practice of icon writing. Throughout this 6-day retreat, instructor Kara Gillette will provide detailed instruction, as well as individual support, guiding the process using a combination of traditional techniques and processes with the aid of modern materials such as acrylic paint and 23kt patent gold. Participants will learn the art of iconography by painting At its heart iconography is a spiritual discipline, emphasis will be placed on spirituality and embracing our work as a form of prayer. Participants should prepare…
The Letter : An Intimate Pilgrimage
With Cheryl Johnson and Tim Oberholzer
October 27 - 31, 2026
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
On this pilgrimage we will accompany each other on this personal road to Emmaus. We will begin by finding one “person” (family member, friend, colleague, Saint, God, pet, tree, animal, house, strangers within and without, etc) with whom we will explore on pilgrimage. We will address our letters to this person. By the end of our pilgrimage, each retreatant will leave with a stack of letters. Perhaps, ready for mailing or for storing or for continuing the journey. Each day we will explore a variety of ways to write these letters--expressing gratitude, forgiveness, discord, healing—whatever surfaces and asks for attention.