retreat recommendations?

[daveybe]

Part of the requirement for my pastoral year assignment is a 6-8 day retreat. I get to pick the location, and the seminary pays for all but transportation. Oh, and it has to be a directed retreat (i.e., individual, but with a daily meeting with a retreat director)

So i thought i'd pick the collective brain of my Vocation Prayer Budz. If you could take a retreat anywhere in the USA, where would it be?
(sorry, i know there's lotsa peeps here who are not from the USA, but my travel budget is limited. )

Two things i'm looking for are:
(1) orthodoxy!
(2) a good director with some hardcore spirituality. You know, somebody you just look at and [i]feel[/i] the transcendant connection they have.

Thanx Ev'body!
D.Be

[drewmeister2]

Monasteries are usually wonderful to go to, and very orthodox! Not all of them have a retreat place, but I know one in particular that does. E-mail me, or talk to me on AIM, and I can tell you more!

[urbo42]

1. Where do you live?
2. How far are you willing to travel?

[daveybe]

Hi Urbo, and welcome :wave:

[quote name='urbo42' date='Nov 24 2004, 01:03 PM']1. Where do you live?[/quote]
I'm in the diocese of Buffalo, NY.

[quote]2. How far are you willing to travel?[/quote]
Willing to go just about anywhere in the US. Lotsa good dealz on airfare these days.

Thanks!

[friarMatt]

My community (the conventual franciscans, think St. Francis HS in Athol Springs or Corpus Christi Church in East Buffalo) has the National Shrine of St. Maximillian Kolbe, also called Marytown. It is about 40 minutes outside of Chicago. They have perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, they pray most of the office in common and other devotations and I am sure there is a friar who could meet with you for for direction.

www.marytown.com

just a thought!

in Christ and Mary,
fr. Matt

[popestpiusx]

The Benedictines at Cleer Creek Monastery:

[url="http://www.clearcreekmonks.org/"]http://www.clearcreekmonks.org/[/url]

[popestpiusx]

Also the FSSP has a retreat each year at the Seminary in Lincoln, but I can't find any info on it.

[urbo42]

Sorry for not replying to my earlier post, i have been gone for thanksgiving break and so forth. There is a retreat center opening in rural South Dakota that would be fitting for a retreat that you are looking for. If you have any questions please e-mail me at ajurban@stthomas.edu

[daveybe]

Many thanks to all for your great recommendations. I've been checking them all out and now have a tough decision to make As Augustine said, we always choose from a multiplicity of goods.

I won't need to let the seminary know my plans for another week or two, so last minute suggestions are still welcome.

God bless y'all for your charitable help,
D.Be

[daugher-of-Mary]

The [url="http://sisterservants.com/"]Sister Servants[/url] have a beautiful retreat house. I'm sure they would welcome you, and the MFVAs are 5 minutes away if you need to find a spiritual director.

[jgirl]

I second Daughter of Mary. Casa Maria is pretty cool. The Sisters make it even better. Plus, they have Fr. Lambert as their chaplain. He's a Dominican priest and an all around brilliant, but humble man of God.

[rbtobeck]

one of the best retreats i went on wasn't an average retreat. 3 Life teen groups headed out to the countryside and stayed 2 days out there. We didn't have any set plans and let God guide us. We worshipped God blindfolded (great for beginers). It was one of the best weekends of my life so far. Just go out to the peace and quite and do what God tells you to do. There was only to or 3 guitars and thats it. Contact Bob if you have any questions.

[rachael]

[quote name='rbtobeck' date='Dec 2 2004, 08:29 PM'] one of the best retreats i went on wasn't an average retreat. 3 Life teen groups headed out to the countryside and stayed 2 days out there. We didn't have any set plans and let God guide us. We worshipped God blindfolded (great for beginers). It was one of the best weekends of my life so far. Just go out to the peace and quite and do what God tells you to do. There was only to or 3 guitars and thats it. Contact Bob if you have any questions. [/quote]
that sounds so cool!

[rbtobeck]

yea it was an awesome weekend. If it wasn't for that weekend, I probably wouldnt be on the site right now. If you want me to give you some information on what we did specifictly, give me an instant message on AIM at "rbtobeck"

peace

[the_rev]

Would EWTN be an option?

There are also a few retreat centers here in the great state of Wisconsin....

[daveybe]

Wisconsin? Pleez, do tell!

[Theologian in Training]

If you are from Buffalo, NY, have you checked out the hermitages at Mount St. Francis in Maine, NY? It is run by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. A very austere and simple breed of Franciscan.

I make my retreats there whenever I get the chance.

You cannot get any more orthodox than them, and if you want strong spiritual directors they are definitely the ones to go to.

You would live in a cabin in the woods, by yourself. There is no running water or heat. You need to fetch the water from a nearby fountain and use the woodburning stove for heat. You have an oven, micorwave and refrigerator, and need to cook and prepare your own meals.

It is one of the most beautiful places I have been, and there is a strong spiritual sense about the place.

You might want to check it out

[url="http://www.marymediatrix.com/information/maine.shtml"]http://www.marymediatrix.com/information/maine.shtml[/url]

God Bless

[the_rev]

[quote name='daveybe' date='Dec 13 2004, 12:08 AM'] Wisconsin? Pleez, do tell! [/quote]
Well, Wisconsin has the direction of spiritualluality at St. Norbert College in DePere, let me pull a link off the web for you... You would be allowed to meet with someone there, etc.

We also have this other place in Denmark which is run by a Dominican nun, thought I don't like her... She doesn't pray the rosary, because she doesn't feel it helps her, she prayed so long for one thing, and it never worked, so she threw away the beads, and started praying a different way. I frown upon this retreat facility.

There are a few others.... like the site of the marian apparation of Robinsonville, and many more.

[the_rev]

[quote]Well, Wisconsin has the direction of spiritualluality at St. Norbert College in DePere, let me pull a link off the web for you... You would be allowed to meet with someone there, etc.[/quote]

Ok, here is the link, that I was looking for... I have been on one of these once, it is truly a great expereince.


[url="http://www.norbertines.org/center/norbcenter.html"]http://www.norbertines.org/center/norbcenter.html[/url]

Peace of Christ,

Eddie

[the_rev]

[quote]"The Norbertine Center for Spirituality, sharing in the Spirit and mission of Jesus Christ and the ministry of the Norbertine Community of De Pere, WI, USA, offers to people of all faiths a sacred space and opportunities for spiritual growth and renewal."
The Center offers:
• Experienced staff to do work-shops and spiritual direction
• Communal Morning and Evening Prayer
• Daily Mass with the Norbertine Community
• 55 private furnished bedrooms
• Five meeting rooms
• Prayer spaces
• Beautiful cloister garden for reflection
• Home-cooked meals
• Bookstore with gifts
• Non-smoking environment
[/quote]

They also have a labryinthe, and much more... I truly recommend this.