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Intensive Silent Centering Prayer Retreat

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Up to 10 in group
Date
November 10 - 15, 2024

Retreat Highlights

  • Before attending the retreat, you should have an established daily practice of Centering Prayer with two 20-minute periods of prayer a day for at least six months to one year.

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

This retreat, called an “Intensive Retreat” by Contemplative Outreach, provides an opportunity to deepen your established Centering Prayer practice in an atmosphere of silence and community, away from the busyness of daily life, and to allow your mind, body and spirit to surrender to God’s presence and action within. It has an educational component to immerse you both in the practice of Centering Prayer and, increasingly, in the conceptual background of the spiritual practice.

Each day there will be about three and a half hours of Centering Prayer, ranging from 20 to 30-minute periods of prayer, some back-to-back with a contemplative walk in between. In addition, participants will view videos from the Thomas Keating “Spiritual Journey” video series. Except for opening and closing times, silence will be observed throughout the retreat, including at meals. Participants can choose to remain in silence after the videos or participate in a short sharing session on the teaching.

 

A more detailed note will be sent to registrants before the retreat with suggestions for deepening interior silence.

 

Getting Here

Location icon St. Placid Priory

Directions

Traveling north from Portland, on I-5:
Take Exit 109
Turn left onto Martin Way at end of exit
Stay in the far right lane
Turn right at second light onto
College Street NE
Turn right at St. Placid sign
(second possible right turn)

Traveling south from Seattle, on I-5:
Take Exit 109
Turn right onto Martin Way at end of exit
Stay in the far right lane
Turn right at the light onto
College Street NE
Turn right at St. Placid sign
(second possible right turn)

Accommodation

We have ten retreat bedrooms, most of which are equipped with two twin beds. The rooms may be shared if you are coming with a friend or partner, but generally there is just one person per room. Our building is set back among the trees so the rooms stay fairly cool. There is heat in each room for the colder nights. Each room has a sink, mirror, chair, desk, and small closet area. Towels and linens are provided, but please bring your own toiletries. Bathrooms are shared and showers are available. Retreatants are welcome to join the Sisters for Mass, Praise, and meals. There is wi-fi available in the Priory Library from 8:30am-8:00pm everyday. The Priory Store is also open on Fridays and Saturdays. Plenty of walking trails wind around the Priory's property and are open to retreatants. Spiritual Direction is available upon request at an additional charge.

Includes Program, Meals & Lodging. A deposit of $100.00 upon registration will secure a place in the retreat. $50.00 is refundable if you cancel before the balance due date of October 28th. Partial scholarships are available.

Venue & Amenities

Venue & Amenities
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent
The Priory Spirituality Center is an ecumenical Christian ministry that encourages those of all faiths to discern the voice of God in their lives and in the world. A ministry of St. Placid Priory we reflect Benedictine values: peace, hospitality, community, learning and prayerful discernment.

We offer a peaceful and contemplative setting for personal reflection. We encourage and challenge people to know the presence of God in their lives through classes, workshops, retreats and individual spir

Meals

Menu Types

On-your-own breakfast: Center Kitchen. Eggs, milk, bread, cereal, fruit provided. Your own food welcome, may be cooked in Kitchen. Lunch/Dinner served, main dish+salad bar. Sun coffee hour after Mass

What's Included

  • As a Benedictine women’s monastery, the Priory offers the opportunity to join the sisters in the liturgy of the hours.

What's Not Included

  • You can request spiritual direction for an additional fee.

Customer Reviews

4.86 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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Perfect Place to Contemplate God
Dear St. Placid Priory, I just wanted to thank you again for allowing me to stay at the St. Placid Visitor Center while I attended a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd formation training in Olympia. Janice and Val were so welcoming and made me feel right at home. The minute I stepped onto the Priory property, I could feel the quiet, contemplative spirit of the Sisters. The Priory is beautiful and the Visitor Center was just as beautiful. My room was lovely, with handmade quilts on each bed and a cozy rocking chair. My bed was very comfortable and I loved that I had my own sink and mirror right in my room. My room also had a desk which I used every night to do my homework. As the week went on, I met other retreatants who were also so kind and generous. I was allowed to use the community kitchen which had a full oven, microwave and refrigerator so I was able to make my own lunches and dinner each day. Though, I didn't have an opportunity to eat with the Sisters because my classes ended too late, I did hear from other retreatants how delicious the food is at St. Placid. I would definitely recommend staying at St. Placid if you are looking for a calm, quiet, contemplative atmosphere. It was exactly what I had hoped for. Thank you, Sisters for your loving embrace of me and my CGS course. I will always remember you in my prayers. Mary Pat Heelan, Worcester, MA

5.0
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First Visit
This was my first visit to St Placid Priory and I found the experience a wonderful retreat. It gave me a chance to get some much needed respite. The sisters were very kind, the rooms very nice, and the food was delicious and the grounds are also very nice . I would recommend it to anyone wanted some quiet time.

5.0
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Zentangle class
I thoroughly enjoyed the zentangle class with Sister Monica. She is very clear and supportive in her teaching. I really look forward to her class!

5.0
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superb
a welcoming place for solace, silence and restoration. thank you to the nuns and volunteers making this possible.

5.0
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Just what I needed.
I am an introvert who really needs her alone time. I need to know that I can spend a day or 2 alone with God, to better know Him and myself. Staying at St. Placid Priory Spirituality Center gave me that opportunity. They thought of everything to make sure retreatants have all they need to have a comfortable stay. The room was perfect for me. The grounds are beautiful and the quiet was a gift. The people who gave me a tour were very friendly and made me feel very welcomed. I would definitely stay there again and highly recommend.

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