Begin the new year by focusing on your path ahead and tuning into God’s voice. Our winter directed retreat consists of two days (3-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.
Aside from the introductory session and your spiritual direction meetings, you will be on your own to experience a weekend of personal reflection. Mass will be available on Sunday and Monday. Guided by Joy Aker, Amy Sorensen Kulesa, and Sr. Pat Mensing.
This is a silent retreat. Check-in begins at 4pm. There will be a brief welcome session at 5pm, followed by dinner at 6pm. The retreat begins after dinner at 7pm on Friday and concludes before lunch on Monday.
Please indicate your preference for a spiritual director in the “Special Needs” part of the online registration form.
To register for the 6-Night Directed Retreat option instead, please click here.
Joy Aker, MA is a spiritual director, labyrinth facilitator, and a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. She has a master’s degree in Spirituality from St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore. She was also trained in Ignatian spirituality and the Ignatian Exercises at Ignatius Jesuit Center in Guelph, Ontario. Her focus is on helping others to develop a holistic spirituality which looks to wholeness in body, mind, and spirit. Joy also has a great interest in assisting others as they deepen their relationship with God through individual spiritual direction and group retreats.
Amy Sorensen Kulesa, M.Div., MSW is a spiritual director, retreat leader and certified Introspective Breathwork™ facilitator. She earned a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Master of Social Work from Rutgers University. She is a graduate of Epiphany Academy of Formative Spirituality, Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute, and One Breath Institute. Immersed in both the Bon Secours and Franciscan charisms, Amy enjoys facilitating retreats in which participants have the opportunity to discern the narrative of their own lives within the larger story of God’s abundant healing, grace, and mercy.
Sr. Pat Mensing is a Sister of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia and holds a 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 taught in 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.