Retreats
Aug 16th, 2006 by Br. Joshua
Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.
- Mark 6:31
The busy lives of college or university students - especially of those attending the city campuses in Pittsburgh - of themselves allow for but a little of the peace and quiet that we need to raise our eyes to life’s horizons, to see and evaluate the direction our lives have taken or should take. Jesus Himself required time away from His public work for quiet intimacy with His heavenly Father.
The Newman Center is very fortunate to have a roughly 90-acre farm in rustic Ligonier, PA where students may occasionally find that “lonely place” that God has prepared for an encounter with them. Woods, ponds, and streams, a spacious house and chapel, as well as conversations with other retreatants comprise a variety of places where God’s voice may be heard more clearly.
Since, however, the greatest obstacle to divine peace and quiet is often found within ourselves, the retreats that are made available contain some element of direction - instruction even - that the word of Christ in the retreat’s prayer and preaching may become the ordering principle of that desired peace, which can then carry on in the practice of Christian life. The direction is often arranged around a particular theme appropriate to the season or occasion; past themes have included devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, postures of prayer and worship, as well as Advent and Lent preparations.
For those interested in what makes a Newman Center retreat, the following is a loose schedule of the ordinary events:
- Leave Friday, 6:00pm in a van with 10 - 15 other students
- Stop for dinner on the way
- Arrive at Rednal ~ 8:30pm
- Saturday morning Mass - 9:00
- Breakfast ~ 10:00am
- Open space for meditation, reading, walks, one-to-one conversation/direction
- Lunch ~ 1:30pm
- Conference/movie ~ 2:30pm
- More open space
- Evening prayer and dinner 6:00pm
- Recreation
- Night prayer 9:30pm
- Breakfast and reading before 11:00am
- Sunday Mass at noon.
- Van ride back to the Newman Center, arrive ~ 2:30pm
Retreatants themselves bring, in addition to their own toiletries and clothes, bed sheets/or sleeping bag and pillowcase. Basic meals are provided, but any special provisions must be arranged in advance with the retreat master.
