Weekend Retreats
Upcoming Retreat Weekends for 2019/2020
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!
January 10-12, 2020: “In the World But Not of the World”
With Fr. Dennet Jung, OFM
We live in a cross-cultural and counter-cultural environment. No wonder we are burdened with stress and anxiety at times in our life. In John’s Gospel Jesus reminds us that we live in the world but are not of the world, a message that can comfort us and challenge us at the same time. Embracing the message of Jesus, the Gospel culture, is the way to peace, the truth that sets us free, and the life that leads to eternal bliss.
Fr. Dennet a Franciscan Priest, ordained in 1963, now living in Berkley, MI. Before coming to Michigan, he served as pastor, Novice director, and most recently as retreat director in the Franciscan Retreat Center in Easton, PA. Currently Fr. Dennet continues in the retreat ministry and assists parishes in the Detroit area.
Elaine Greenhow*: 248-542-9890
Sharon Sifton: 248-542-7004
Marilyn May: 248-547-06484
ONLY THE THIRD FLOOR ROOMS ARE AVAILABLE; please call Elaine for more information / to register…
January 24-26, 2020: “20/20…Seeing With A New Spiritual Vision”
With Nancy Clancy
The way we see God, ourselves, our world and our lives impacts every moment of our day. Sometimes our days seem blurry or our vision clouded and so, like the blind one of the Gospel, we cry out to Jesus, “Lord, that I may see.” Every now and then, our spiritual lenses need graceful readjustment so as to see wisely, that is with the eyes of God. These days will provide the opportunity to explore and be influenced by the wisdom of the saints and those spiritual writers who walk with us on the spiritual journey.
Nancy ministered within the Archdiocese of Detroit for thirty plus years, as Youth Minister, Director of Education and Family Ministry. Now officially retired, Nancy is part of the Extended Preaching Team at the Capuchin Retreat Center in Washington Township. She has a Masters degree in Theology and has specialized post degree work in prayer and spirituality.
Ellen Matczak*: 248-961-3617
Joanne Allen
Register online here! (credit card required)
OR Print and mail in the form for “20/20…Seeing With A New Spiritual Vision” here!
February 28 – March 1, 2020: “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.
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.
Barbara Johnson*: 248-844-0719
OR Print and mail in the form for “Sir, Give Me This Water” here!
March 6-8, 2020: “Beatitudes: Hope amidst the challenges of a World at Risk”
With Brother Al Mascia OFM
This retreat will consider the 8 themes of the Beatitudes as keys that can unlock the doors to a new way of living one’s faith even amidst the unpredictability of a world at risk.
Br. Al is a Franciscan Friar who for the past several years has been serving the poor and homeless in downtown Detroit. He is a professional singer-songwriter and his theological background includes a Master’s degree and a Doctorate from Chicago Schools of Theology.
Diane Smith*: 734-285-9124
Gennie Beaudrie: 313-841-0361
Vera Rodriguez: 313-949-9121
Kathy LeBoeuf 734-692-8827
Register online here! (credit card required)
OR Print and mail in the form for “Beatitudes: Hope amidst the challenges of a World at Risk” here!
March 13-15, 2020: “Women of Faith”
With Rev. Canon, A. Gerard Jordan, O. Praem.
Prayerfully reflecting on the spirituality of at least four women of faith, Mary Lange, Henriette DeLille, Julia Greeley, and Thea Bowman, the time in retreat will explore the question of my inheritance of spirituality; the relevant practical gifts that it has given me and what do I do with this gift.
Rev. Canon, A. Gerard, a native-born son of Louisiana, is a consecrated religious, a canon, and a priest of the Church with the Order of Canons Regular Premontre in Paoli, Pennsylvania. This former Marine; previous business owner, and father of his now adult children, is also a proud grandfather. He is presently serving in the Chicago Archdiocese and is assigned to promote Father Augustus Tolton’s Cause for canonization. He travels the United States as a revivalist, a mission preacher and a retreat master.
Tamara Dodson*: 313-510-0692
Dana Marshall-Ford*: 313-485-4830
Register online here! (credit card required)
OR Print and mail in the form for “Women of Faith” here!
March 27-29, 2020: “Lead Me Not Into TEMPTATION, I can FIND it MYSELF!”
With Fr. Jim Kean
Temptations have been here ever since the Garden Of Eden. Temptations will knock at your door, but don’t ask them to stay for dinner. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. When we resist temptation, we become more like Jesus.
Fr. Jim Kean, ordained as a diocesan priest in 1997, is currently the pastor of St. Damien of Molokai in Pontiac and was pastor at St. Alfred parish for seven years. St. Damien is a dynamic bi-lingual parish that operates out of two worship sites. Fr. Jim has conducted parish retreats as well as Days of Formation for Sacred Heart Major Seminary.
Dee Woolley*: 313-999-9386
Lauren Howling: 313-377-8602
Lia Maloney: 313-299-2992
Register online here! (credit card required)
OR Print and mail in the form for “Lead Me Not Into TEMPTATION…” here!
April 3-5, 2020: “For Years I have been Calling…but you are so Cold”
With Fr John Vandenakker CC
Reflections on the call to prayer, conversion, and peace in the messages of Our Lady of Medjugorje, with illustrations taken from Sacred Scripture, the lives of the saints, and personal testimony from Fr. John.
A great Lenten retreat!
Fr. John is a priest of the Companions of the Cross, whose chief charism of the community is Evangelization.
He currently serves as director of Graduate Pastoral Formation at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. He has led many retreats and spoken at many conferences over the years.
Please contact Lisa or Ann (below) for more information or to register; online registration is not available.
Lisa Stefoff*: 734-646-7322
Ann Weingartz: 586-322-1925
Juanita Lim: 248-548-7345
Download and print the flier for “For Years I have been Calling…” here!
