Retreat Recommendations?

[SNJM]

Dear Phatmass Community,

I haven't been on here for a while. I just looked at my profile and was surprised to see it has almost been a year! During this past year, I have had a few medical issues (none too serious - thank God) and have been teaching. I have been given the opportunity to use my summer "vacation" this year to go on a retreat. I started looking around and got completely overwhelmed! One of the volunteers here (the same lady who originally introduced me to this group) suggested I post here and see if anybody has any recommendations.

Here are the rules:

It has to be somewhere Catholic.
I am a woman, so I am very open to a community that offers retreats - but I am already connected to a community, so it wouldn't be for "vocations."
I am not particularly artistic but am very open to manual labor and/or other kinds of work (I see a lot of Benedictine communities offer "work retreats).
I love animals (the same as above).
I have to stay in the country (otherwise, believe you me, I would find a great retreat in Italy or France!).

Some of the reasons for this opportunity is for me to further develop my spiritual life (but I wouldn't necessarily need to be involved in the retreat center's spiritual direction - if it was offered, nor would I have to be involved in "group activities) and the other reason is that - while I am well - I have had a difficult year. It would be wonderful if I could find a place that would offer silence, peace, privacy, good Liturgy and daily prayer and would allow me to rest (without judgment).

I work and live in Los Angeles, so I am in California. It can be anywhere in the country, but I obviously can't go to a resort or something really extravagant (if they have extravagant retreats) so I do have to be mindful of the cost. Since my work is at the parish level, I have been to a lot of retreat places in California, either for my educational purposes or with kids. I wouldn't mind going to another place.

Thanks in advance for your help. In ending, I will list some retreat centers that have been suggested to me - I haven't been to ANY of these places and have only gotten through St. Walburga's and St. Gertrude's. Maybe some of you have some ideas and/or experiences:

St. Walburga's (CO)
St. Gertrude's (IDAHO)
St. Scholastica's (MA)
Our Lady of the Rock (WA)
Regina Laudis (CT)
Carmelites (Eldridge, IOWA)
St. Michael's on the Mount (WA)
Queen of Angels (MI)
St. Placid Monastery (WA)

Thanks again!

[Lil Red]

there's a good place in California. i'll ask my priest friend and get back to you.

[Lil Red]

it's The Carmelite Sisters in Alhambra

here's the link direct to their retreats page:
http://sacredheartretreathouse.com/retreats/index.asp

[Lil Red]

[quote name='SNJM' timestamp='1302305570' post='2226980']
St. Michael's on the Mount (WA)
[/quote]
i think this one is not in communion with the Pope? in fact, i'm pretty positive that they are not.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='SNJM' timestamp='1302305570' post='2226980']St. Placid Monastery (WA)[/quote]
did you want the order of EPSS?

[cmaD2006]

Hi SNJM:

Its two weeks since I came back from a 8 day retreat in Ann Arbor with Fr. Dennis Brown, OMV. It was an 8 day silent Ignatian retreat (based 100% on the Spiritual Exercises). I *highly* recommend it. They have a number of 8 day retreat periods scheduled, and some that haven't been defined yet as women/men (so first one to sign up sets if it is for women or men).

The number of retreatants are just a handful -- and the atmosphere was of silence. It was great. I'm seriously considering the 30 day retreat at this point after the experience I had.

Website for the retreat house: [url="http://www.eucharist..._residence.html"][color="#b4453b"]http://www.eucharist..._residence.html[/color][/url]

Feel free to pm me.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='cmariadiaz' timestamp='1302308797' post='2226991']
Hi SNJM:

Its two weeks since I came back from a 8 day retreat in Ann Arbor with Fr. Dennis Brown, OMV. It was an 8 day silent Ignatian retreat (based 100% on the Spiritual Exercises). I *highly* recommend it. They have a number of 8 day retreat periods scheduled, and some that haven't been defined yet as women/men (so first one to sign up sets if it is for women or men).

The number of retreatants are just a handful -- and the atmosphere was of silence. It was great. I'm seriously considering the 30 day retreat at this point after the experience I had.

Website for the retreat house: [url="http://www.eucharist..._residence.html"][color="#b4453b"]http://www.eucharist..._residence.html[/color][/url]

Feel free to pm me.
[/quote]
i would love this....but the website is incorrect.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='cmariadiaz' timestamp='1302308797' post='2226991']
Website for the retreat house: [url="http://www.eucharist..._residence.html"][color="#b4453b"]http://www.eucharist..._residence.html[/color][/url]

Feel free to pm me.
[/quote]
is this it?
http://www.eucharisticlife.org/retreat_offerings.html

[cmaD2006]

[quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1302309308' post='2226994']
is this it?
[url="http://www.eucharisticlife.org/retreat_offerings.html"]http://www.eucharist..._offerings.html[/url]
[/quote]


Yeah that's it. The link must have changed (or it was a copy/paste thing).

I guess I'm going to sound like Ms. Promoter, but I am careful about my retreat recommendations. This one -- I was so shocked at how it went (in a good way). I've done 8 day retreats (3 of them) at Eastern Point/Gonzaga. I did another 8 day retreat at St. Stephen's Priory (which is closed now). I did another 8 day retreat with Lumen Dei in spanish (that was preached). I did two 4-day retreats with IVE (again preached).

Now -- I liked the 4 day retreats with IVE.

But this one with Fr. Dennis -- the retreat was 100% based on the exercises. Following St. Ignatius' pattern of prayer -- between 3-5 meditations daily. Specific meditations were assigned.

The other 8 day retreats (other than the preached ones) that I did was not that specific. They were good -- but the spiritual exercises are special. And when done authentically they are really fruitful.

[the_rev]

I'd recommend the Community of St. John in Princeville Illinois, but they have things happening all throughout the US this summer. Some of their events are geared toward more younger adults but they do have a 30 day long program this summer. they have a new program called Ecclesia where one can earn undergraduate or graduate level credit in theology and philosophy. Here's a link: http://soaringforwisdom.com/?p=811

[TeresaBenedicta]

[quote name='the_rev' timestamp='1302404877' post='2227187']
I'd recommend the Community of St. John in Princeville Illinois, but they have things happening all throughout the US this summer. Some of their events are geared toward more younger adults but they do have a 30 day long program this summer. they have a new program called Ecclesia where one can earn undergraduate or graduate level credit in theology and philosophy. Here's a link: http://soaringforwisdom.com/?p=811
[/quote]

Wow! That looks [i]excellent[/i]! I'd [i]love[/i] to do that! I hope someone does-- looks great!