The Society of Saint John the Evangelist

Take a Retreat With Us

Sue EavesDuring the retreat, I saw and heard real healing taking place in the opening hearts of those who had had some bad experiences with religion and folks who had had more than they could bear of suffering. I remember looking round the room at one point and thinking that these were deeply thirsty people taking a very long and refreshing drink, making sure they did not spill a drop (me too!).

 

—The Rev. Sue Eaves
St. Thomas', Richmond, VA

 


Taking time away from the demands of everyday life, to be quiet, to pray, to worship, to read, rest, and relax, allows us to refocus our lives on what is most important to us. Some people come on retreat at moments of transition, when they feel the need for particular discernment. Others come on retreat simply to refresh and renew their spirit. Our relationship with God, like all relationships, needs attention and care to grow. Times of retreat allow us to turn our whole selves to the love of God, to listen and be attentive to the voice of God. Many people experience retreats as times when God seems particularly near.

 

Types of Retreats


We offer three different types of retreats at the Monastery Guesthouse and at Emery House. Please explore these retreats below.

Program Retreats at the Monastery Spring 2013

  • March 1-3, 2013 - First Time in Silent Retreat - FULL

 

Program Retreats at Emery House Spring 2013

 

To book a retreat, at either the Monastery Guesthouse or at Emery House, please contact the Guesthouse Manager/Receptionist by e-mail at guesthouse@ssje.org or by telephone at (617) 876-3037 extension 10.

Individual Self-Guided Retreats

Guests on an individual self-guided retreat visit us for a time of private reflection and prayer in silence, and have opportunity to join the Brothers in the house’s regular round of worship, silence, and meals.

Most weekdays and some weekends are available for individual self-guided retreats.

Please note: These retreats are unstructured and do not include individual meetings with a brother.

Suggested fees for an Individual Self-Guided Retreat
$100.00 per person per night
$50.00 for full-time students
Reservations are confirmed upon receipt of a non-refundable deposit equal to 50% of your total fee.

About Suggested Fees
As we always strive to make retreat time available to all who seek it, the suggested fees can be reduced by the Guest Brother in cases of financial hardship. However, the suggested rates cover only a small portion of the actual expense of making our retreat facilities available and so must be subsidized by the SSJE. We therefore encourage and are grateful for the generosity of those who are able to make donations beyond the suggested rate.

Individual Companioned Retreats

Guests on an individual companioned retreat visit us for a time of reflection and prayer in silence and to meet with a brother for some time of individual spiritual direction. They also have opportunity to join the Brothers in the house’s regular round of worship, silence, and meals.

Most weekdays and some weekends are available for individual companioned retreats.

Please note: For these retreats spiritual direction must be requested in advance and is subject to availability of a brother for the time of the retreat.

Suggested fees for a Companioned Retreat
$125.00 per person per night
$65.00 for full-time students
Reservations are confirmed upon receipt of a non-refundable deposit equal to 50% of your total fee.

About Suggested Fees
As we always strive to make retreat time available to all who seek it, the suggested fees can be reduced by the Guest Brother in cases of financial hardship. However, the suggested rates cover only a small portion of the actual expense of making our retreat facilities available and so must be subsidized by the SSJE. We therefore encourage and are grateful for the generosity of those who are able to make donations beyond the suggested rate.

Program Retreats for Individuals

Monastery Retreats:

First Time in Silent Retreat

If you haven’t yet come on retreat with us because it’s new or daunting, this weekend is for you. Br. Luke Ditewig will gently usher you into the experience of silence and solitude, offering instructions and thoughtful meditations along the way, and suggesting ways you might experiment with prayer between sessions. The Brothers will welcome you to join them in worship and at meals.

Retreat leader: Luke Ditewig SSJE

December 14-16, 2012 (Friday to Sunday)
March 1-3, 2013 (Friday to Sunday)

 

Emery House Retreats

 

-FULL email for waitlist-January 18-20 For God Alone My Soul in Silence Waits (Friday to Sunday)

Amidst the tyranny of distractions and demands on our attention, Jesus comes knocking at the door of our soul. This weekend retreat will include teaching on quieting the heart, and on stillness and listening in prayer.

Retreat leader: Curtis Almquist SSJE

-FULL email for waitlist-January 22-26, 2013 Come Unto Me, All You Who Are Weary - Clergy Renewal Week

This retreat is to help ordained ministers find replenishment for what has been spent and encouragement for the future. The schedule will be very spacious, with time to rest, ponder, pray, savor your life, and reclaim the vocation to which Jesus has called you. *Note the retreat program ends on Saturday afternoon, following the midday meal; retreatants are welcome to stay until Sunday afternoon, if their calendar permits.

Retreat leaders: Curtis Almquist SSJE and James Koester SSJE

-FULL email for waitlist-February 14-17, 2013 (Thursday to Sunday) Contentment: Freedom Found within Limitation

Contentment is a spiritual grace, saying “yes” to what is. What is now is sufficient. Contentment is the channeling of the desire downwards – plumbing the depths – rather than outwards, endlessly surfing for more. Jesus tells us, “I am with you always.” We will explore what is enough.

Retreat leader: Curtis Almquist SSJE

-FULL email for waitlist-March 8-10, 2013 (Friday to Sunday) Welcome Dear Feast of Lent

George Herbert, the great Seventeenth Century Anglican poet begins his poem Lent: Ash Wednesday with these evocative words. As we begin our Lenten journey we will use this poem as a touchstone to see how Lent can be for us a feast for the soul.

Retreat leader: James Koester SSJE

-FULL email for waitlist-May 24-26, 2013 (Friday to Sunday) One Foot in Eden

Scripture is full of images of gardens. This weekend retreat at Emery House will offer times to ponder the image of the garden from Eden to Gethsemane to the Garden of the Tomb as well as times to work in the gardens around Emery House in order to discover the “inner language” of gardens. This retreat is intended both for people who love to garden, as well as people who don’t have the time or the space to garden.

Retreat leader: James Koester SSJE

Program Retreats for Groups

Program retreats are offered for individuals, or for various types of groups (parish, seminarians, clergy, vestries, etc.).

In addition to joining the Brothers in the house’s regular round of worship, silence, and meals, guests attends a series of addresses or meditations on a retreat theme, offered by the brother who is the retreat director. Time is set apart to encourage prayer, reflection, and recreation. Customarily, all on the retreat will observe silence.

Group program retreats are usually conducted from Thursday or Friday evening through Sunday noontime. Occasionally a group can book a longer retreat, beginning on Tuesday evening.

Please note: During these retreats individual spiritual direction is normally not available.

Suggested fees for a Group Program Retreat
$125.00 per person per night
$65.00 for full-time students
Reservations are confirmed upon receipt of a non-refundable deposit equal to 50% of your total fee.

About Suggested Fees
As we always strive to make retreat time available to all who seek it, the suggested fees can be reduced by the Guest Brother in cases of financial hardship. However, the suggested rates cover only a small portion of the actual expense of making our retreat facilities available and so must be subsidized by the SSJE. We therefore encourage and are grateful for the generosity of those who are able to make donations beyond the suggested rate.

To book a retreat, at either the Monastery Guesthouse or at Emery House, please contact the Guesthouse Manager/Receptionist by e-mail at guesthouse@ssje.org or by telephone at (617) 876-3037 extension 10.

 

 


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SSJE is a monastic community of The Episcopal Church
Brother, Give Us A Word is a daily devotion
The Society of Saint John the Evangelist is an independent, 501(c) (3) non-profit tax exempt U.S. corporation.
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