Weekend Retreats
Upcoming Retreat Weekends for 2018
St. Mary’s Retreat House offers eleven weekend retreats for women each year. See our retreat listings below to find a retreat with a director or theme that invites you to come and enrich your spiritual life.
Cost for a scheduled weekend (Friday evening – Sunday after the noon meal) is $160 and includes lodging, meals and program. A non-refundable deposit of $40 is required.
Check-in is Friday, 5 to 7pm, with the retreat beginning at 8pm.
Please contact either the coordinator or team member listed below the description of a retreat for more information and/or before registering online/printing and mailing form – space may be limited!!
Life Directions
September 28-30, November 16-18 & December 7-9, 2018
Since 1974, the Focus Life retreat process has been at the “heart” of Life Directions in its work with young adults “at risk;” ages 18-35. It encapsulates the Vision of Life Directions; “Peers inspiring peers through forgiving.”.
The retreat process provides young adults and adults who care about them, the opportunity to look into their own lives and into the lives of those who are different than themselves.
Sister Rosalie Esquerra, O.P.: 1-888-552-0540
Rachel’s Vineyard
English: September 14-16, 2018
Spanish: September 21-23, 2018
These weekends are a beautiful opportunity for any person who has struggled with the emotional or spiritual pain of abortion. Come experience the mercy and compassion of God and release repressed feelings of anger, shame, guilt and grief.
The weekend is a lot of work but yields a fruitful harvest for all who are willing to labor there. ALL are welcome who have been affected by abortion…
English: 248-494-6363
Spanish: 248-444-7378
October 5-7, 2018: “Answering and Acting On Challenging Biblical Questions”
An Interdenominational Retreat with Mary Selzer
For years, people have turned to the Bible for answers. But, what happens when we look to the Bible for questions? This retreat will be an exploration into four specific questions found in scripture: “Do you see anything?” “Where did it fall?” “Where have you come from and where are you going?” “How many loaves do you have?” Everyone will leave the retreat with fresh insights into scripture and new challenges to spiritually blossom.
Mary Selzer is an ordained minister, award-winning author and certified professional coach. Mary’s sense of humor and story-telling skills have given her the unique ability to find and teach practical applications from scripture. Mary has authored two volumes of “Questions That Grow”, A 13-week experience of answering and acting on Bible questions that challenge.
Patricia Lee*: 313-685-2245
October 12-14, 2018: “Planting Prayer, Harvesting Love” with Jeanie Murphy O’Connor
Please join us as we explore and experience the many ways we can approach and be approached by God in intimate ways, leading us to experience God’s ever available and deep love for us.
Jeanie received her Doctor of Ministry degree from Ecumenical Theological Seminary and has worked in several church settings as a youth and young adult minister, planning and facilitating multiple retreat experiences and is a Certified-Eligible Chaplain for St. John Providence Health System.
Her return to St. Mary’s Retreat House to facilitate this retreat is significant – she hasn’t visited since her first ever retreat as a sophomore in high school in the 1980’s.
Lois Zuccarini*: 810-278-6035
Mary Fran Liberty-Caza: 810-300-4725
Pam Haisenleder: 586-291-7045
October 12-14, 2018: “Planting Prayer, Harvesting Love” Retreat: print and mail in form coming soon!
OR click here to register online!
The Cursillo Weekend Experience
Women’s Cursillo: Oct. 18-21, 2018
Men’s Cursillo: Nov. 29-Dec. 2, 2018
Spanish for “short course”, is an experience unique to each person. Christ, through the Cursillo and through His grace, touches the person who is open to a personal relationship with Him.
Those who experience the Cursillo Movement know it enables the essential realities of the Christian to come to life in the uniqueness, originality and creativity of each person.
Tony D’Amico*: 248-703-4312
Ann Sliney*: 248-703-8402
November 2-4, 2018: “Living in Light” with Janene Ternes
Together we will explore the Source of our hope, using movement, music, Scripture, guided meditation, Lectio Divina, and journaling. Be inspired by Janene’s story of moving from darkness to light through God’s faithfulness. Leave refreshed and hopeful. Basic movements will be taught which can be done by anyone, regardless of age, experience or physical limitation.
Janene is a spiritual director, having received her training through the Ignatian Spiritual Direction Program from Manresa Jesuit Retreat House. She is currently a supervisor for the program there, as well as a retreat director and companion for the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. Janene founded Prayer in Motion, LLC for people to grow in their relationship with God. Since then she has developed and facilitated retreats throughout the Midwest utilizing different forms of prayer.
Lynne Tykoski*: 810-343-2933
Karen Carvalho: 734-812-3827
Natalie Moll: 248-505-7933
Colleen M. Sharp: 248-743-0857
November 2-4, 2018: “Living in Light” Retreat: print and mail in form coming soon!
OR click here to register online!
November 9-11, 2018: “Living From The Soul” A Silent Retreat with Fr. Cornelius Okeke
When we live from the soul, we live from our truest self, where we learn to listen to God and do God’s will. The Ego must give way for the soul to radiate its intrinsic connectedness to God. Put in another way, it means living in obedience to God rather than to the Ego and the world.
Fr. Cornelius is presently ministering in Ecorse in the Archdiocese of Detroit where he is known for his captivating preaching. His past experience includes teaching in a diocesan seminary and preaching retreats in Nigeria. He has a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the Gregorian University in Rome and is the author of five books and is involved in the training of formators for the African Continent.
Jeanne Crowl*: 810-278-0659
Linda Janiszewski: 810-765-5034
November 9-11, 2018: “Living From The Soul” Retreat: print and mail in form coming soon!
OR click here to register online!
January 11-13, 2019: “Images of Mary” with Fr. Tom Slowinski
Next to Jesus himself Mary holds a most prominent role in the life of the church. Far too often, though, her humanity has been minimized to a point that deprives us of fully appreciating her “yes” to God. Simeon rightly predicted that her role would pierce her heart “so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 3: 36). When life pierces our heart a void is created. Mary, model of faith, witnesses a response that fills the emptiness and transforms hole-ness into wholeness. Through scripture, art, music, and our own experiences we will reflect upon how we can weave her story into our own. A special emphasis will be given to her seven sorrows.
Fr. Tom has taught at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake. He is known for his outstanding homilies and is presently ministering in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Elaine Greenhow*: 248-542-9890
Sharon Sifton: 248-542-7004
Marilyn May: 248-547-0648
January 11-13, 2019: “Images of Mary” Retreat: print and mail in form coming soon!
OR click here to register online!
January 25-27, 2019: “Parables of Our Lives” with Nancy Mason Bordley
Just as Jesus used powerful parables to teach, the stories of our journey have the power to strengthen our own developing faith. Join us as we take a closer look at some of the stories that Jesus told and discover how those stories have influenced our own life stories.
Nancy has ministered professionally in the areas of Religious Education and Adult Education, Worship, and Music for over 35 years. She is a spiritual director and facilitates retreats. Her education background includes a Doctor of Ministry, a M.A. in Pastoral Studies, and a B.A. in Religious Education.
Ellen Matczak*: 947-570-1423
Joanne Allen: 248-6528550
January 25-27, 2019: “Parables of Our Lives” Retreat: print and mail in form coming soon!
OR click here to register online!
March 1-3, 2019: “When You Feel Like You Are Drowning In Life Don’t Worry
– Your Lifeguard Walks On Water!”with Fr. Cornelius Okeke
We all struggle in life. It’s part of our journey. Some people struggle more than others. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations we don’t know how we got there, or maybe we just don’t want to take responsibility for our actions. Maybe the situation was so painful (loss of a loved one, divorce, abortion, adultery, feeling unloved, sickness, abused), we buried it deep down inside us that we can no longer function. When we find ourselves in that deep dark place within our lives remember your LIFEGUARD WALKS ON WATER!
See Nov. 9-11 retreat description for Fr. Okeke’s bio.
Dee Woolley*: 313-999-9386
Lauren Howling: 313-377-8602
Lia Maloney: 313-299-2992
March 1-3, 2019: “…Your Lifeguard Walks On Water” Retreat: print and mail in form coming soon!
OR click here to register online!
March 8-10, 2019: “Sir, Give Me This Water” with Fr. Tom Slowinski
Like the Samaritan woman at the well, life leaves us isolated, rejected, and thirsting for purpose, meaning, and relationship. All of humanity shares a longing for belonging. Like the woman at the well, shunned and seemingly alone (John 4:15) we yearn to have our thirst quenched. Ironically, it is only when we hear Jesus ask us for a drink that we realize our own potential and that he is really offering us the satisfaction of our deepest desires through these cravings. Come away for a weekend to immerse yourself within you so as to plunge back into life renewed, refreshed, and reconciled.
See Jan. 11-13 retreat description for Fr. Tom’s bio.
Barbara Johnson*: 248-844-0719
March 8-10, 2019: “Sir, Give Me This Water” Retreat: print and mail in form coming soon!
OR click here to register online!
March 15-17, 2019: “I Will Not Die An Unlived Life: Reclaiming Purpose and Passion”
with Sr. Janet Schaeffler, OP
Is life passing us by . . .for a variety of reasons? Are we living it to the fullest? Do we know who we are, Whose we are? What invites you to be passionate about living your unique life avidly, eagerly, joyously, fervently?
Sr. Janet a Dominican Sister of Adrian, MI is former Director of Adult Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of Detroit and is a columnist for the Michigan Catholic and Catechist Magazine. Her expertise in the areas of faith formation, prayer, and spirituality has reached women and men across the region and the country.
Diane Smith*: 734-285-9124
Gennie Beaudrie: 313-841-0361
Vera Rodriguez: 313-949-9121
Kathy LeBoeuf 734-692-8827
March 15-17, 2019: “I Will Not Die An Unlived Life…” Retreat: print and mail in form coming soon!
OR click here to register online!
Our scheduled retreat dates for rest of the 2019 season; some topics and directors TBA:
March 22-24, 2019
TBA
Tamara Dodson*: 313-510-0692
Dana Marshall*: 313-485-4830
March 22-24, 2019: “TBA” Retreat: print and mail in form coming soon!
OR click here to register online!
April 12-14, 2019
“Wisdom From The East: Praying with Icons” with Fr. Peter Fennessy SJ
Ann Weingartz*: 586-322-1925
Please contact Ann before printing and mailing form below – space IS limited!!!
April 12-14, 2019 Retreat: “Wisdom From The East” print and mail in form coming soon!
Please call Ann Weingartz at the number above for the link for online registration!
