A Shape of a Life: Aging Gracefully

From being welcomed by Lorraine, to the excellent meals and the grounding of the rhythm of services, I found my time at St Placid Priory to be exceptional. I've had the privilege to attend a number of retreat centres over the years and I can say that at St. Placid's I was immediately comfortable with the Sisters. The Priory stands out as a treasured experience in my life. The accommodations are comfortable with everything one needs, the grounds are beautiful, the forest comforting and the wildlife inspiring. What a remarkable group of professed women who demonstrated the value of community and fidelity to it. My favourite memory - our Soul Circle brought our biographies for the rooms we were in (I was in Heloise) to our evening prayer and we shared and reflected on the lives of these faithful women on whose shoulders we stand. Being with a community of women, immersing ourselves in the stories of the faithful women of the past, attending communion service where for the first time in my life a woman stood at the altar to lead the prayer - it was all so healing and inspiring - for continuing my journey as a woman of faith in the Church community.

On Saturday, July 20, Sr. Anna-Camille treated a group of us to a deep dive into the ancient prayer form of lectio divina. The first thing I noticed about Sister's approach to the subject was her quiet format for the day. We eased into our subject slowly and were therefore able to begin to immerse ourselves in prayer without the distractions that sometimes meet us in our daily lives. We talked about different ways to pray lectio by ourselves, which is the ancient and ongoing way monastics pray.

We really were immersed in prayer all day long, and the atmosphere in the room was deeply satisfying and reverent. We prayed through various pieces of scripture, noticing how the words, when deeply felt, made astonishing impressions on us.

It was a relaxing, quiet day of prayer that was both refreshing and restful. My daily lectio practice has been enhanced by our day of quiet, but powerful prayer.

I appreciated the small group experience and practice of lectio divina together. The shared insights were very helpful and I came away with a desire to include this ancient prayer form into my daily routine. I also was glad to get ideas on books and authors who have written on the subject. I have already purchased a couple of new Bibles!

St. Placid's is a lovely, peaceful spot for a personal retreat, and the sisters and staff are incredibly welcoming to EVERYONE regardless of religion, race, etc. The first time I came to St. Placid's, I was an atheist simply needing a break during a difficult time, and the sisters welcomed me with open arms.

This time around, I got to watch a doe and her two young bucks (twin children) grazing by the guesthouse... Such a peaceful experience. The grounds have peacefully winding paths through the forest for short hikes - though they're a little overgrown in places - along with an ADA accessible gravel road that skirts the forest's edge.

There is a library with a really nice variety of fiction and nonfiction in the Priory, including new fiction releases, and a chapel where guests are welcome to sing with the sisters during times of praise (even if you aren't religious). If you're on the fence, please come here. It is truly a place of peace.

St. Placid Priory offers a complete retreat experience — silence, kindness, and hospitality that nourish the soul. The reception is warm and welcoming, setting the tone for a stay marked by peace and clarity. Beyond the quiet spaces for prayer and reflection, the center provides thoughtful amenities: a well‑curated gift shop for meaningful keepsakes, a library filled with spiritual resources, and dining that is simple yet satisfying. Together, these elements create a holistic environment where everything you need for rest, renewal, and spiritual growth is present in one place.