It seems an impossibility - making a spiritual retreat in the midst of continuing one's daily life. Can it be done? Oh yes; a resounding YES!

It doesn't take much. You have a busy life. You don't need more to do - but, you want a bit more of prayer, and you want a bit more of God! Here is a method:

The busy student on retreat is asked for a small commitment: 1. promise yourself to pray daily for five consecutive days, a half hour each day; 2. meet each day with a spiritual director/guide with whom you will share your prayer experience as s/he guides you. It all begins with a Monday night meeting ending with dinner. It ends with a Friday evening dinner and closing prayer.

How does it work? The method of the Busy Student's Retreat is for the retreat guide to present to the retreatant suggested material for a prayer period. It may come from scripture or another source. The retreatant is asked to spend quiet time reading and reflecting on the material. If one is moved by the reflection, s/he might find it results in conversation with God, or with oneself, or both. Easy! Some people find it helpful to write down some of their thoughts/reflections. Whatever the result of the prayer period - it is yours to puzzle over, ponder, enjoy.

Meeting with the guide. Beginning with the first meeting, the retreat guide (also called a "retreat director") provides the retreatant with material based on a set of themes which are designed to provide a "spiritual journey." The retreatant meets each day with the guide and describes the directions and movements s/he has experienced on the "journey." The guide reflects with the retreatant how God has been active on the journey and offers suggestions for further "exploration" along with offering material for the retreatant's next prayer period.

Our next Busy Student's Retreat will take place during the Fall semester in 2009.

The spiritual director's for the Fall 2008 retreat were Fr. Russ Roide, SJ, Fr. John Chandler, SJ, George Collins, SJ, John Mark, SJ, and Lynn Graybeal.

Applications for this retreat may be picked up at the Newman Center.
For more information, call 988-6222.