If you want to make a retreat, please complete this form
Types of Retreats
What is a Retreat?
A Retreat is usually a prolonged time (from a day of recollection to a month) set apart, in order to listen more deeply to one’s heart and to God. A retreat can be made with others in a group retreat, or by oneself in an individual, private retreat. One can have a retreat director who will act as a guide and companion in the retreat, or one can make it without a guide or director. There are retreats that can be made within the busyness of one’s life (“retreat in daily life”) but usually retreats are made in a time and place apart, to enable one to quiet down and truly listen to God.
WELCOME TO THE CENACLE
Private/Directed Retreats
This is for only one person, and is given by a Cenacle Sister who consults with the retreatant daily to offer guidance and whatever help is needed. It could be the complete Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius for 30 days or an adaptation for a shorter period. A Cenacle Sister plans the retreat with the individual according to personal desires, capacities and needs.
Guided / Thematic Retreats
An Adaptation of the Spiritual Exercises. Guidelines and suggestions for prayer are given to the group, with time for personal prayer and reflection. Retreatants may also be provided with opportunities for individual guidance and direction. (Click on this link to see list of Guided Retreat with specific themes: http://www.cenaclemission.com/2024-programmes---retreats.html)
19th Annotation Retreat
Also known as “the retreat in daily life”. Its name comes from No. 19 of the Introductory Notes of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. It speaks of how a person, wishing to grow in the spiritual life, can make the Spiritual Exercises outside of the 30 day live-in retreat, in the context of one’s daily life. A director accompanies the retreatant by guiding his/her prayer.
Why should I go on a retreat?
One goes on a retreat because one feels a desire to find meaning and direction in life, because one wants to quiet down and rest one’s mind and heart, because one senses that there is more to life than just doing, doing, doing, because one wants a more personal and deeper relationship with God, or simply because one seeks one’s true self, and one seeks God.
How should I go about it?
Simply fill out the request form as honestly as you can. These questions are asked so that the Cenacle can better “match” you with a Cenacle Sister who can be your guide or director in the retreat. Be assured that all information shared with the Cenacle is considered confidential.
As soon as the sister confirms your date, then you may proceed with booking your stay at the La Salle House, or at the retreat house you agreed with your director.
Do I need to pay?
You will need to pay for your board and lodging in the retreat house. This payment is done directly to the retreat office cashier, and does not include the stipend for your retreat guide. The work of retreats and spiritual direction is a ministry in the Church that has been entrusted by the Holy Spirit to the Cenacle Sisters, therefore the Sisters do not turn down any ministry request on the grounds of inability to give a stipend. So please let us know if this is a concern for you. However, if you have the means, the Sisters also support themselves through their work, it is also a matter of justice to give what one can rightly afford, for the ministry the Sisters give.