On an individually directed retreat, the retreatant meets with their spiritual director once a day. The rest of the time is spent relaxing, reading, thinking, and praying. Each retreat focuses on the way God is active in the individual’s life, and each retreat follows a uniquely personal path. The retreat director is prepared with a wealth of suggestions from Scripture, poetry, music and other spiritual resources.
Retreats and spiritual direction have the transformative power to reshape lives and provide the freedom to respond to God’s invitation to come closer. You will have this week of quiet and peace for personal reflection at our Center and around our beautiful grounds. Mass will also be offered each day of your stay.
This is a silent retreat. Check-in begins at 4pm and the retreat will begin with an orientation session at 5pm. Silence will begin after dinner. If you have a preference for your spiritual director, please click on the ‘special needs’ section of your registration form below and enter their name. More directors will be added soon.
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.
Jean Marie Holup, SS.C.M., a Sister of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, has previously ministered as the Director of St. Cyril Spiritual Center in Danville, PA , for the past 20 years. Before that time Jean was on staff at Bon Secours Spiritual Center in Marriottsville, MD from 1996 -1999. She is the proud recipient of a master’s degree in Christian Spirituality in 1995 from Creighton University, Omaha, NE, and did her practicum at the Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth in Wernersville, PA. Jean has the privilege of being a spiritual director involved in retreat work on the East Coast, in several Mid-Western States, and in Nova Scotia, Canada. She has been giving retreats at Mercy Center in CT, and Gonzaga Eastern Point Jesuit retreat house in Gloucester, MA. An experienced spiritual director, she has witnessed the profound insights discovered through the working of the Holy Spirit during each person’s spiritual journey. Jean is currently the Director of Formation for her Congregation. She enjoys singing, dream work, creating sacred life patterns with collage, and taking walks in nature.
Sister Pat Mensing is a Sister of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia and holds an master’s degree in Theology from St. Michael’s College in Colchester, VT, and a Certificate in Ignatian Spiritual Direction and Directed Retreats from Creighton University. She has taught in both elementary and secondary levels before serving in parish ministry in the fields of social justice and outreach in metro DC. Sr. Pat now lives in the Philadelphia area and works full time in spirituality ministry. She gives directed retreats, the 19th Annotation, days and evenings of reflection to parishes and schools, and offers individual spiritual direction both in-person and virtual formats.
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@gmail.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.