JANUARY 2006
January 6-8
Suffering: From Curse to Blessing
Brother Michael and Father Gerard
On our own, suffering either makes us into bitter, demoralized persons, or cold, proud stoics. Through Jesus’ love, our suffering can become the most precious gift, transforming us into living flames of Love in all moments of our lives — even in the worst trials. Come and learn the simple secret of Abbot James Fox. He frequently encouraged the monks with the words: “All for Jesus through Mary with a smile.” Therein lies a secret power to transform your whole world, even THE whole world.
January 13-15 (Apr 7-9, Sep 29-Oct 1)
Centering Prayer Retreat
Frs. Tom Francis, Gerard, and Bros. Elias and Michael
Learning to Receive the Gift of God’s Presence through Loving Silence: Traditionally known as contemplative prayer, this Christ-centered practice enables us to rest in God, leading to a more personal relationship with Him.
January 27-29
Young Adult Retreat (18-35)
Brs. Michael and Elias, and Fr. James
Discovering God Alive in Each Moment: During this retreat we will be sharing with you some of our monastic practices, whose purpose is to open hearts and minds to inner transformation by the Spirit of the Risen Christ.
FEBRUARY 2006
February 10-12
Advanced Centering Prayer Retreat
Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, author of “Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening”
Discover some of the riches of Centering Prayer that can unfold over the years.
February 17-19
Basics of Yoga, Part I
Fr. Tom Francis, Br. Chaminade, and Yoga Instructors Dayna Gelinas and Scott Hodgman
For those new to Yoga or the experienced practitioner wishing to further explore the fundamentals, this retreat will provide an understanding of the different practices, their context and application to spiritual practice.
MARCH 2006
March 3-5
Spiritual Implications of the Incarnation
Abbot Francis Michael, Frs. James and Matt
In this retreat we will explore the mystery, meaning and implications of God becoming flesh, “…one like us in all things but never sinning.”
March 17-19 (Aug 7-10, Nov 3-5)
Vocation Discernment Retreat
Br. Michael
Open to single Catholic men, ages 18-45. For some people an experience such as a Vocational Discernment Retreat comes at a point in their life when they have begun to feel — or have felt for some time — an inner pull toward a religious life, or perhaps the monastic way. This can prove to be a trying and confusing time, one in which it is hard to grasp the basic direction in their lives. Vocational Discernment Retreats allow men to come together with others who share a similar focus and who want to listen to God and their own hearts in a prayerful atmosphere of silence, beauty and peace. We offer these retreats free of charge as a way of helping men to see more clearly both what they want and what God wants for them.
March 31-April 2
Trappist/Cistercian Spirituality for the Laity, on Humility
Fr. Anthony and Br. Chaminade
This retreat will show how the Rule of St. Benedict is applicable to the life of the layperson. Monks and Lay Cistercians will share with you the treasures that St. Benedict has brought into their lives through living his Rule. You will be introduced to the Psalms as they are prayed through the Liturgy of the Hours, and to Lectio Divina whereby the Scriptures become a living Word to touch and transform your life. The principles of silence, solitude, work, and community will be presented.
APRIL 2006
April 7-9
Centering Prayer Retreat
Frs. Tom Francis, Gerard, and Bros. Elias and Michael
(see description: January 13)
April 13-16
Sacred Triduum Retreat
Frs. Gerard, Anthony and Tom Francis
This retreat will help you to enter deeply into the powerful events that are the very foundation of our Christian lives. On Holy Thursday, we celebrate the gifts of the Eucharist and loving service to one another in the washing of the feet. On Good Friday, we walk with Jesus in his Passion and death. Holy Saturday is the time of being with Jesus in the silence of the tomb in preparation for the joy of the Resurrection on Easter.
April 28-30
Trinity and Science.
Fred Silva, MD
A Dialogue in Five Parts – Science and Theology: Explore the relationships between Science and Theology through the life, times and eyes of Galileo, Darwin, Einstein, and the Big Bang, with discussions on Cosmology, Evolution, and Relativity. What do these sciences add to our understanding of God and the modern scientific, technological world in which we live?
MAY 2006
May 1-4 (Aug 14-17, Dec 4-7)
Facing Life After Fifty: Spiritually Embracing Your Own Wisdom Years
Frs. Anthony, Tom Francis, James, Br.. Mark
The autumn of years is the time when the greatest riches of life can unfold. Suggestions on how to nourish our inner lives, stirring our souls through challenges that make the most of this stage of life. The spiritual practices of praying, nurturing, to center and ground our lives, enabling Spirit to speak through silence and solitude.
May 12-14
Yoga for Christians, Part II
Fr. Tom Francis, Br. Chaminade, and Yoga Instructors Dayna Gelinas and Scott Hodgman
For those building on the prior retreat or already familiar with Yoga, this retreat will explore how the philosophy of Yoga can deepen the Christian’s understanding of spiritual practice in light of Christian mysticism.
May 26-28
Anger, Resentment and Forgiveness
Abbot Francis Michael and Fr. Anthony
Owning our anger and resentment, and discovering the power to forgive in Christ Jesus.
JUNE 2006
June 23-25 (Sep 22-24)
Thomas Merton for Today
Frs. Matt and James; and Victor Kramer
Thomas Merton has become an icon to modern spiritual seekers. He courageously dialogued with monks of other faiths and discoursed with them on being a monk and the pursuit of the spiritual life. This retreat will focus on how Merton’s prophetic voice speaks to post-modern humanity.
June 30-July 2 (Aug 4-6, Dec 8-10)
11th-Step Retreat
Br. Michael and Fr. Gerard
This retreat is open to all — not only people in 12-step recovery programs. The 11th step calls us to seek, through prayer and meditation, to improve our conscious contact with God, praying for knowledge of His will for us, and the power to carry it out. In this retreat, you will learn the ancient tools of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina. You will also be introduced to imaginative prayer as taught by St. Ignatius of Loyola.
JULY 2006
July 3-7 (Special mid-week retreat)
Rosary Retreat with Exposition on the Most Blessed Sacrament
Frs. Tom Francis, Gerard and Anthony and Linda Mitchell Lay-Cistercian
Here is a retreat for entering deeply into the contemplative dimension of the rosary, by praying all 20 decades daily with exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament. We will recite the rosary together twice and the other two times alone allowing you space to discover your own contemplative pace. The retreatants are invited also to pray the liturgy of hours seven times a day. Each day will include a conference focusing upon each of the four sets of mysteries of the rosary. The schedule includes abundant time for private reflection and for discovering the scripture behind the rosary, along with mediations on these mysteries by the Cistercian Fathers. You will have ample time for leisurely walks on the monastery grounds and for reflection upon your personal lives through optional journaling. Most especially this is a time of spiritual rejuvenation and intercession for our country.
July 7-9
St. Benedict’s Rule for Today, Tools of Good Works
Frs. Gerard and Anthony
These are the tools for the full Christian life. They begin with the basics in the commandments and works of mercy. Building on Christ as the cornerstone, these tools lay the foundations of Christian loving relationship within family, community and with all people. They challenge us to personal conversion and impart balance to all areas of our lives.
July 21-23
Vatican II on Interpreting Scripture
Fr. Tom Francis
Exploring Themes on Interpreting Scripture from Vatican II: We will go through the four short chapters of this vital and vitalizing document of Vatican II encouraging the laity to read and pray the Scriptures. It empowered the laity to read and appreciate the Scriptures on their own, and started in thousands of parishes’ study groups on the Bible.
July 24-27 (Special mid-week retreat)
Intensive Centering Prayer Retreat
Francis Fr. Gerard and Jocelyn Lyons
This retreat will provide the time and place for deeply entering into God in the center of our hearts through four to five hours of centering prayer each day. Each daily presentation will consist of a simple reflection upon centering prayer as well as a forum for sharing with others on the deep experiences and problems that occur during intensive centering. Spiritual Direction will be made readily available Retreatants are urged to see a spiritual director each day. They will also be paired off with another retreatant for daily sharing on their centering prayer experiences, since it is important to sort out what happens on such a powerful time of prayer. Retreatants will have the opportunity to pray all seven of the hours of the liturgy. The schedule allows ample time for leisurely walks and praying with the scriptures. Most of all this is a time of soaking in God’s love—and thereby praying with and for all people and all creation.
July 28-30
Young Spanish People Retreat (14-18) Retiro Juvenil Espiritual Contemplativo
Fr. Roberto Orellano
“El que reflexiona y medita en los hechos tendra exito.” Proverbios 16:20 Tendras tiempo para meditar y contemplar en un ambiente de tranquilidad que te llevara a tener un encuentro personal con Dios.
July 31-August 3 (Nov 17-19)
Praying with the Scriptures
Frs. Gerard, Tom Francis, Anthony; and Br. Michael
This retreat offers an introduction to Lectio Divina, the prayerful slow reading of the Word. This reading flows into meditation that gives rise to contemplation by the Spirit of God pouring into your heart and mind. You will learn very simple techniques taught by the Cistercians that will assist you in moving beyond Scripture study to allow the Word of God to empower you.
AUGUST 2006
August 4-6
11th-Step Retreat
Br. Michael and Fr. Gerard
(see description: June 30)
August 7-10
Vocation Discernment Retreat
Br. Michael
(see description: March 17)
August 11-13
The Riches of the Rosary
Frs. Anthony and Gerard
The Rosary as a Type of Contemplative Prayer Centered on Christ: The Rosary, precisely because it starts with Mary’s own experience, is an exquisitely contemplative prayer. Without this contemplative dimension, it would lose its meaning. As Pope Paul VI clearly pointed out: “Without contemplation, the Rosary is a body without a soul.” In this retreat, we will discover the depth of the mysteries through the eyes of the Cistercian Fathers and Pope John Paul II. In ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE, the Pope tells us, “To look upon the face of Christ, to recognize its mystery amid the daily events and the sufferings of his human life, and then to grasp the divine splendor definitively revealed in the Risen Lord, seated in glory at the right hand of the Father.”
August 14-17
Facing Life After 50: Spiritually Embracing Your Own Wisdom Years
Frs. Anthony, Tom Francis, James
(see description: May 1)
August 25-27
Young Adult Retreat (18-35)
Fr. Roberto
Discovering God alive in each moment: During this retreat, we will be sharing with you some of our monastic practices, whose purpose is to open hearts and minds to inner transformation by the Spirit of the Risen Christ.
SEPTEMBER 2006
September 8-10
Prayer and the Image of God
Abbot Francis Michael and Fr. Anthony
Discovering and exploring our images of God and how they affect our prayer.
September 15-17
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
Dr. Dewey Weiss Kramer
Meditation with Abbess Hildegard of Bingen, Benedictine Visionary: Exploring her words, illuminations, and music as guides on our way toward God, with special focus on the Benedictine charism, incarnation, the workings of the Holy Spirit, and the Blessed Virgin.
September 22-24
Thomas Merton for Today
Frs. Matt and James; and Victor Kramer
(see description: June 23)
OCTOBER 2006
October 29-October 1
Centering Prayer Retreat
Frs. Tom Francis, Gerard, and Bros. Elias and Michael
(see description: January 13)
October 6-8
Conversion
Fr. James
Our lives are involved with an ongoing call to conversion. Conversion is a becoming of one’s true self in and through Christ. This retreat will offer some ways to better be oneself, which is to be more at home with our self and with each other.
October 12-15
Franciscan Spirituality Retreat
Fr. Oscar Castaneda
An Introduction to Franciscan Spirituality for Everyone with an Emphasis on the Gospel Life and the Virtues: Members of the Third Order Secular are encouraged to attend.
October 20-22
Spirituality for Judges and Lawyers
Fr. Tom Francis and Joe Giarrusso, Jr., JD
This retreat is designed for the lawyer and judge to reflect on a spirituality for the legal profession. It addresses a spirituality of Imperfection and "letting go" which lead to spirituality of Competency. A spirituality of Competency involves Five "C's" -- Character, Candor, Civility, Communication and Community. All of these lead to a spirit of Heart and Gratitude.
October 27-29
Spirituality of Imperfection
Abbot Francis Michael and Br. Michael
The spirituality of imperfection speaks to those who seek meaning in the absurd, peace within the chaos, light within the darkness, joy within the suffering—without denying the reality and even the necessity of absurdity, chaos, darkness and suffering. This is not a spirituality for the saints or the gods, but for people who suffer from what the philosopher-psychologist William James called “torn-to-pieces-hood”. We have all known that experience. To be human is to feel at times divided, fractured, and pulled in a dozen directions... and to yearn for serenity, for some healing of our “torn-to-pieces-hood”.
NOVEMBER 2006
November 3-5
Vocation Discernment Retreat
Br. Michael
(see description: March 17)
November 13-17 (Special mid-week retreat)
Intensive Centering Prayer Retreat
Francis Fr. Gerard and Jocelyn Lyons
This retreat will provide the time and place for deeply entering into God in the center of our hearts through four to five hours of centering prayer each day. Each daily presentation will consist of a simple reflection upon centering prayer as well as a forum for sharing with others on the deep experiences and problems that occur during intensive centering. Spiritual Direction will be made readily available Retreatants are urged to see a spiritual director each day. They will also be paired off with another retreatant for daily sharing on their centering prayer experiences, since it is important to sort out what happens on such a powerful time of prayer. Retreatants will have the opportunity to pray all seven of the hours of the liturgy. The schedule allows ample time for leisurely walks and praying with the scriptures. Most of all this is a time of soaking in God’s love—and thereby praying with and for all people and all creation.
November 17-19
Praying with the Scriptures
Frs. Gerard, Tom Francis, Anthony; and Br. Michael
(see description: July 31)
November 24-26
Monastic Desert Fathers for Modern Christians
Abbot Francis Michael and Fr. Tom Francis
Lessons on learning how to love from the Desert Father and Mothers.
DECEMBER 2006
December 1-3
Yoga and Contemplation, Part III
Fr. Tom Francis, Br. Chaminade, and Yoga Instructors Dayna Gelinas and Scott Hodgman
For those experienced in yoga this will be an in-depth exploration into the philosophy and practice of yoga and Christian mysticism, and where they converge in the life of the Christian.
December 4-7
Facing Life After 50: Spiritually Embracing Your Own Wisdom Years
Frs. Anthony, Tom Francis and James
(see description: May 1)
December 8-10
11th Step Retreat
Br. Michael and Fr. Gerard
(see description: June 30)
December 15-17
Isaiah, the Prophet of Great Expectations
Frs. Tom Francis and Gerard
Isaiah the prophet spoke out boldly in times of great discouragement, a message filled with hope. His words are a light shining in the darkness of the postmodern world. “Comfort, give comfort to my people says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem”(Is 40: 1-2). “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine... Fear not, I am with you: from the east I will bring back your descendants, from the west I will gather you” (Is 43:1b, 5) Then he calls us to action. This retreat treats on the contemplative response based on the book of Prophet Isaiah.
If you have further questions please call 770-760-0959 10:10 AM to 12 Noon and 2:10 PM- 4 on weekdays and 2:10 PM to 3 on weekends, e-mail us at retreat@trappist.net |
Home | News | History | Vocations |Retreats | Bookstore | Bonsai | Paintout