Top Rated iconTop Rated

Fall P.A.U.S.E. retreat: Christian Contemplative Prayer, Well-Being, and Embodiment

Location icon
500 College Street Northeast, Olympia, WA, USA
Date
November 7 - 8, 2025

Retreat Highlights

  • Winter P.A.U.S.E. Retreat Highlights
  • • Deepen Your Understanding of Spiritual Formation
  • • Recognize the Manifestation of Spiritual Formation
  • • Explore Christian Contemplative Prayer
  • • Experience God in Nature

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

Fall P.A.U.S.E. retreat:
Christian Contemplative Prayer, Well-being, and Embodiment
About our 4 seasonal P.A.U.S.E. retreats
(P.A.U.S.E.—­Prayer and Understanding Silent Experiences)

We warmly invite you to our 4 seasons of P.A.U.S.E. retreats—sacred opportunities to appreciate the seasons, rest, reflect, and nurture your connection with God. These retreats center on Christian contemplative prayer, offering space for spiritual formation, soul care, holistic healing, and deepening faith. Guided by the words of Psalm 46:10, “...Be still, and know that I am God...,” our seasonal P.A.U.S.E. retreats explore unique aspects of spiritual growth and renewal.

While quiet moments of prayer are at the heart of our retreat, we also embrace times of fellowship, learning, and holistic nourishment—a rejuvenating pause amidst life’s busyness.

Fall P.A.U.S.E. Retreat Highlights

Our retreat, Christian Contemplative Prayer, Well-being, and Embodiment offers time to:

Deepening Contemplative Prayer

Explore the transformative power of Christian contemplative prayer and its deep connection to holistic well-being—body, mind, and spirit.

Cultivating Stillness in God’s Presence

Opportunities to be still and present in God’s presence, enriching your relationship with Him (Psalm 46:10).

A Sacred Pause from Life’s Busyness

Pause from the demands of daily life to reconnect with inner peace and stillness. (Ecclesiastes 4:6).

Experience God’s Presence in Nature

Enjoy a shortened Forest Therapy walk, combining Christian contemplative prayer with time spent in nature, experiencing God's presence in the beauty around you (Romans 1:20).

(Note: You may sign up for full-length Forest Therapy walks on up-coming dates at  St. Placid Priory.)

We invite you to join us this fall as we seek to grow in our understanding of Christian contemplative prayer, embrace precious times of quiet, and rest in God’s presence.
~Be blessed and strengthened in the stillness of God’s presence~
(Isaiah 30:15a; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NIV) Read More

Getting Here

Location icon St. Placid Priory, 500 College Street Northeast, Olympia, WA, USA

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) Read More

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.

Single Occupancy, 1 person Read More
Double occupancy, shared room Read More
Commuter, presentations, and meals Read More
Commuter, only presentation Read More

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 Read More

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 Read More

Customer Reviews

4.86 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
Verified logo
Cinema Divina – Reality with a capital “R”
St. Placid Priory creates a range of retreats, online and on local, to serve a wide variety of retreat-goers. The recent "Reality with a capital "R" was a joyful gathering of those committed to action through times fraught with uncertainty. It was an invitation to see life and community through the lens of Reality. Especially appreciated the Evelyn Underhill comment on Reality being perceived through taking time to Read, Reflect, Respond, and Rest. Read More

5.0
Verified logo
Every time.
I have been to multiple events at St. Placid, including this most recent "Cinema Divina" with M. Freeman, and am consistently amazed at the depth and timeliness of what I experience.

This priory is a place of learning and welcome that always makes me glad I have attended whatever I have been fortunate to be invited to.

It's a beautiful haven in a world that can be very conflicted.

Thank you, Sisters. You are a gift Read More

5.0
Verified logo
St Placid Priory offers beauty, peace, and warm hospitality
Our group retreat this February was everything we could have wished. The welcoming Spirituality Center housed the seven of us in peace, with space and time for inner reflection, journaling, long walks, and meeting from time to time as a group. The food was delicious too!

I have been going on retreats at St. Placid since 1995. Highest recommendation. Read More

5.0
Verified logo
The Sacred Art of the Line
A creative activity which was nurturing to the soul. Read More

5.0
Verified logo
Weekend Silent Centering Prayer Retreat: Sitting with the Desert Fathers and Mothers at St. Placid Priory
My accomodations were excellent. The welcome was warm and inviting. I felt part of the community immediately. The gentle guidance of Sister Anna Camille in our centering prayer was what I enjoyed the most. The retreat met my expectations. It was lovely. I felt the peace entering the priory and the quiet. I found growth in the practice of prayer and there was a space for me grow in the Spirit. The only thing I would change is clarifying the participation in the chanting and the singing during mass. I heard about the retreat at the Priory through our Centering Prayer group in our church - Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Kirkland. Read More

Similar retreats