Our August directed retreat consists of five whole days (6-night stay) of spiritual direction. Retreatants will meet with a spiritual director daily (or less if you desire) to reflect on God’s Presence and movement in your life as revealed in prayer, the events and relationships in your life and the response to God that is being made. The spiritual director may make suggestions (prayer forms, Scripture, reading materials, etc…) to support and deepen your awareness of and response to God. You will have this week of quiet and peace for personal reflection at our Center and around our beautiful grounds. Mass will be offered daily. Check-in begins at 3pm on Sunday and the the retreat will begin after dinner.
This is a silent retreat with spiritual directors Sr. Ann Belmonte, Joanne Cahoon, Fr. Phil Cover and Fr. Michael Schleupner. Please indicate your preference for a spiritual direction below in the ‘special needs’ section of the online registration or contact the Welcome Center at 410-442-3120.
Sr. Ann Belmonte is a Dominican Sister of Hope and former elementary school teacher who has ministered for the past 33 years as a Pastoral Associate in West Virginia and Virginia. She now uses her gifts as a spiritual director and a leader of Days of Reflection and study. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from Mount St. Mary’s College, a master’s degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Hunter College and also a master’s degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University. Her ongoing formation includes workshops in spirituality, sacred scripture, hospice care, caregiving and issues of justice and peace.
Joanne Cahoon, D. Min. holds a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies, master’s degree in Religion/Pastoral Ministry, graduate certificates in spiritual direction and in spirituality studies, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where her specialization was spirituality and practical theology. Along the way, Joanne has also taught in elementary, secondary, undergraduate and graduate school settings. She has also served as youth ministry, high school campus ministry, consultant, writer, national trainer, diocesan staff member, staff member of a graduate school, spiritual director, facilitator of retreats and professional coach. Joanne has welcomed and worked with many individuals and groups, serving them as they listen for God’s invitations in their personal and corporate lives. She finds it a privilege to be involved in spiritual and human formation; bringing deep listening, presence, creativity and a commitment to her own ongoing formation to her work.
Fr. Phillip Cover is an experienced retreat leader, spiritual director, pilgrimage leader and author. He previously served as the Assistant Executive Director in the Department of Religious Education for the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) in Washington, DC. He also served as an adjunct staff member for the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. He is co-author of Journey with Purpose, Through Exile into the Heart of God and The Inner Work of Lent.
Father Michael Schleupner was ordained in 1972 and has been a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore for 46 years. Most recently, he served as the pastor of Saint Margaret Parish in Bel Air, Maryland for 10 years. Father retired from that pastorate and from full-time ministry in 2016. Since then, he is ministering in various ways, including: assisting at parishes on weekends, offering spiritual direction in a parish setting and at the Caritas Counseling Center in Towson, directing retreats, and composing a weekly electronic spiritual message called Inbox Inspirations (fathermikeinbox@nullgmail.com). Father Schleupner’s Sunday homilies are also available (www.fathermikeschleupner.blogspot.com). His weekend Mass schedule is on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FatherMikeSchleupner). Father has masters degrees in Theology and in Church Administration and a Licentiate Degree in Canon Law. He has also done studies in spirituality, spiritual direction, and in secularism.