What is a Silent Retreat like?

Are you feeling drawn to a Silent Retreat but curious about the setup of the weekend?

One previous retreatant said, “I chose a silent retreat because I have been struggling with significant spiritual and ministry burnout. The retreat gave me a chance to just be with God and allow him to fill me rather than trying to do it on my own.”

Our silent retreat is based off of Ignatian principles from St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises.  The retreatant for a silent retreat weekend comes on Friday night and begins with a series of talks that help to acclimate them to praying relationally with scripture.  The talks include what relational prayer is, tools that help the retreatant to engage in relational prayer, Ignatian meditation and contemplation, and how to structure a holy hour and journal. Scripture is given to the retreatants to pray and on the conclusion of optional night prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, silence begins.

Over the course of the weekend, the retreatant will make seven holy hours with different scripture passages for each one.  Meals are also eaten in silence. 

Visitors have told us they didn’t find it difficult to be quiet.

“Being quiet is easy, to be truly present and let go of the temptation of the outside is the harder but most rewarding part,” said one guest.

Others were not intimidated by the silent retreat because Father Huemmer and the staff were welcoming, calming and inviting from the moment they walked through the doors.

Our silent retreats are limited to 10 participants to allow each retreatant a scheduled time for spiritual direction to discuss the ways that the Lord is moving them in the scriptures with which they pray.  There is also an evening formal holy hour with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament plus Benediction.

During the day there is time for Mass and optional times to pray Morning, Daytime, Evening and Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. 

“I enjoyed the structure and focus of the retreat while also having the freedom to progress at my own pace and depth,” said a retreat participant.

Another added, “There was just enough structure to get me started and give me direction but also enough flexibility to allow me to focus on what I felt called to.” 

Many retreatants enjoy being outdoors in the sacred space of St. Joseph’s as a way to connect with the Lord in the beauty of nature, visiting the grottos and shrines, or praying the Stations of the Cross.  What makes the retreat special is the times of silence and the personal way in which the retreatant encounters the Lord in the scriptures.
 
The retreat ends on Sunday afternoon with Mass and a time of sharing. 

Afterward, I felt blessed and graced by God, said one guest. “I think the best part of the retreat is participating in reconciliation after having spent so much time in silence--it is really a beautiful experience.” 

Another said, “I felt refreshed and renewed. I felt like I had learned some things to help me pray with the Bible on a daily basis. I was inspired also by Father Huemmer’s love of the Psalms.” 

And a recent guest said, “For me, the best part was setting aside all my day-to-day responsibilities and just focusing on Jesus and my relationship with Him. And I learned that if I could set aside time for the retreat, I could definitely set aside time each day to spend with Jesus in scripture and in prayer.”

Want to know more? Check out another article from The Catholic Moment-- Silent Retreats: Opportunity to Grow in Ignatian Spirituality