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34 Week Retreat in Everyday Life
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34 Week Retreat in Everyday Life
Tuesday evenings beginning
Tuesday, September 13, 2022 through to September, May 9, 2023
from 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM.
WHAT IS THE “34 WEEK RETREAT IN EVERYDAY LIFE?”This powerful retreat is an adaptation of the life-transforming Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. Traditionally given over a period of thirty days, St. Ignatius also made provision for people to follow the exercises at home by extending the spiritual practices of each day over the period of a week. In recent years, the On-Line Ministries Department of Creighton University has made the Retreat in Every Day Life available to the public, and has translated it into all the major languages of the world. Although a person can begin the 34-week retreat at any time during the year, when we begin the third week of September, the various spiritual exercises correspond wonderfully to the liturgical life of the Church, and to the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.
WHO IS THIS RETREAT FOR?This 34 week retreat is for priests, deacons, religious and lay people; for young adults, married or single people, blue collar and white collar workers, business people, housewives and home makers, retired people and senior citizens, and for anyone anywhere who is experiencing a deeper desire for intimacy with God, but who does not have the time or the resources to participate in the traditional 30 day retreat.
HOW DOES THE RETREAT IN EVERYDAY LIFE WORK?This retreat is designed for people to make individually as they go about everyday life. Retreatants commit themselves to a specific period of prayer each day. The prayer material for each week, available on-line or in book form and offers a general orientation for the week, how to get started, some practical and specific suggestions for daily prayer periods, a “photo meditation,” and a sample “conversation” with God to stimulate one’s own thoughts and imagination.
In addition to this material, for the last several years, the St. Anthony Retreat Team has met with retreatants once each week via Zoom to provide a “tool box” of foundational prayer skills, helpful materials and practical prayer tips for each week. The team also helps participants process their prayer experiences, answer questions, respond to challenges and difficulties; and provide ongoing encouragement, support and direction. Each weekly zoom session, except for chat room conversations, are also taped for those unable to attend the weekly zoom session.
WHAT BENEFITS CAN I EXPECT TO RECEIVE FROM THE RETREAT?This retreat has been a life-transforming experience for many people. Among the benefits of the retreat that people have reported are:
- Learning how to pray, developing skills for prayer, and the discipline necessary to make prayer a habit of the heart;
- Getting in touch with my deepest hopes and dreams, longings, feelings and desires;
- Discovering the concrete, direct and personal movement of God in my life;
- Growing in awareness of what stands as an obstacle to my relationship with God;
- Coming to a deep, personal, and intimate knowledge of Jesus, and the desire to share in his mission;
- Finding inspiration and strength to trust God, and to live out of the resources that come from God;
- Coming to a greater acceptance of my past, finding healing for the wounds and hurts of life, and being able to move forward with real hope and greater freedom;
- Developing a greater sensitivity to the needs of others, and growing in compassion and empathy toward those around me;
- Finding the necessary clarity to make an important decision in life;
- Finding my center and getting my life grounded;
It is God who always gives the retreat, and whatever benefits you will receive will be God’s gifts to you.
WHAT RESOURCES WILL I NEED?You will need Access to the Internet via PC, I-Phone, Tablet, etc.; a Workbook “Retreat in the real World” that comes with registration, or weekly resource printouts from the Online Ministry Website of Creighton University; a Bible; a Journal that you will want to keep and add to as your spiritual journey continues to grow; and we also suggest a Binder in which to keep copies of the weekly prayer tips, retreat materials, etc. that are sent to you each week.
HOW MUCH DOES THE RETREAT COST?We ask for a donation of $75 to cover the cost of the book & printed materials, and personnel throughout the 34-week retreat. However, scholarship funds are readily available upon request, and the retreat is open to anyone regardless of ability to pay.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?For more information or to register, you can:
- Register online, using the form below, or
- call us at (559) 561-4595
N.B. Because the retreat is a cumulative process and each week builds on what has come before, registration for this year’s online retreat closes after October 11, 2022.