Lent 2024 - BLOG

3/1 Blog: Retreats

Abby Henderson March 1, 2024

Filling a Spiritual Hunger with Retreats

A reflection by OLIH parishioner Kari Seivert:

Longing for peace? Need to step away from the busyness of life? Do you find God in nature? Are you desiring to deepen your personal relationship with God? Then YOU need a spiritual retreat.

I attend Cloisters on the Platte retreat each year, a retreat center in Gretna, Nebraska (near Omaha). The retreat center offers 3-day silent retreats based on the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola.

Cloisters is located on 931 acres of beautiful outdoor landscape, including ponds and numerous wooded walking paths. An indoor solarium and chapel add to the peaceful scene.

You are assigned a private room in a log cabin style lodge - I call it a 5-star dining and lodging experience with the amenities of peace, prayer and quiet time to build your relationship with God. No matter your style, there is somewhere on site for you to refresh your mind, body and spirit.

A Cloisters retreat is a great transition from a CEW experience without committing to a full 7+ day retreat. In this setting you are silent, but the weekend is structured. You will attend short conferences, led by the retreat director throughout the day. Ample time is given for quiet reflection and prayer.

In addition, there are prayer services, masses, group meals and opportunities for reconciliation and spiritual direction. A walking path with life size sculptures is available for a realistic Stations of the Cross experience. You feel the peace of silence, but you’re not alone on this retreat.

A full 7+day silent retreat is another great option. There you spend 23/24 hours a day in silence pondering on scripture and spending time in self-reflection and prayer. A daily meeting with a spiritual director helps facilitate your experience.

For now, for me, Cloisters is a yearly’ must do’ activity. I hope to someday treat myself to a weeklong retreat. Retreats feed me spiritually and create a focused time and place to connect with God on a deeper and more personal level then I can achieve at home.

Retreats feed my soul where listening to podcasts, attending bible/book studies and faith sharing groups feed my knowledge and fellowship needs. They all have a purpose in my lifetime faith journey.

Give yourself a treat and unplug from day-to-day life and spend time with God. I personally recommend attending a spiritual retreat. I find it is in the silence that God reaches my soul.

Let the Silence Transform You.

Retreat Opportunities

Christian Experience Weekends (CEW) Our Lady’s Immaculate Church (OLIH) Ankeny, IA