Introducing... Encountering Christ Retreats

Benedictine Spirituality

You have most likely heard of Ignatian Spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises. Conception Abbey is now offering a series of retreats rooted in Benedictine Spirituality. These Benedictine Retreats focus on addressing the greatest hunger for today’s Catholics and are aptly named “Encountering Christ” retreats. These retreats aim to help the retreatant encounter Jesus Christ in prayer and experience the peace that He alone offers.

A Benedictine Retreat

Our Benedictine Retreats draw from more than 1500 years of wisdom in the Benedictine tradition and are rooted in the principles outlined by St. Benedict in his Holy Rule.

The Structure of the Retreat

Just as a monk orders his day around the Work of God, our Encountering Christ Benedictine retreats have a specific format and structure. On these retreats you can expect:

•  Silence and a technology “fast”       
• Four conferences given by a monk, intended to
     lead the retreatant to encounter Christ
• Participation in the Divine Office and Mass with
     the monastic community
• Specific times for personal prayer and
     lectio divina
• Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the Sacrament of Reconciliation

These retreats will be led by Fr. Paul Sheller, OSB
Seminary Director of Spiritual Formation & Abbey Vocation Director

A Message from Fr. Paul

The Abbey Guest Center extends hospitality to various retreat groups and individuals throughout the year. In keeping with our Benedictine tradition, Conception Abbey’s Guest Center offers our guests the gift of peace through prayer, silence, and a beautiful and rural location. Our mission is to lead men and women closer to Jesus Christ and share the wisdom and spirituality of the Benedictine way of life. I’m convinced that Benedictine spirituality has much to offer our world today. The Benedictine way of life is not drastically different from ordinary Christian life, but is rather a specific, intentional way of living out the Gospel message and responding to the invitation to follow Jesus. I invite you to attend one of our Encountering Christ silent retreats where you will rediscover the power of the liturgy, the Sacraments, silence, and prayer with Sacred Scripture.