Each year we offer a wide variety of retreats. Some of these are annual events and others happen less often. Below is a list of many of those retreats for you to peruse. If you see something you’re interested in, or you have questions about something, please let us know (bethanyretreatcenter@gmail.com). We will respond with any update we might have concerning when a retreat will be offered and/or give a response to your inquiry.
The Path of Poetry as Spiritual Practice
Facilitator: Marjorie Maddox, Award Winning Author, Retreat Leader, & Poet
Winner of America Magazine’s 2019 Foley Poetry Prize and Professor of English and Creative Writing at Lock Haven University, Marjorie Maddox has published 13 collections of poetry—including Transplant, Transport, Transubstantiation (Yellowglen Prize); True, False, None of the Above (Illumination Book Award Medalist, Poiema Poetry Series); Local News from Someplace Else (Wipf & Stock); Perpendicular As I (Sandstone Book Award), Begin with a Question (Paraclete Press, March 2022), and Heart Speaks, Is Spoken For (Shanti Arts Publishing, March 2022), an ekphrastic collaboration with photographer Karen Elias—the short story collection What She Was Saying (Fomite); four children’s and YA books—includingInside Out: Poems on Writing and Reading Poems with Insider Exercises (Finalist Children’s Educational Category 2020 International Book Awards, Kelsay Books), A Crossing of Zebras: Animal Packs in Poetry; I’m Feeling Blue, Too! (a 2021 NCTE Notable Poetry Book), and Rules of the Game: Baseball Poems —Common Wealth: Contemporary Poets on Pennsylvania (PSU Press, co-editor); Presence: A Journal of Catholic Poetry (assistant editor); and 650 stories, essays, and poems in journals and anthologies. She gives readings and workshops around the world. For more information, please see www.marjoriemaddox.com
Welcoming Forgiveness Centering Prayer Retreat: An Extended Centering Prayer Retreat at Bethany
Facilitator: Mary Dwyer
This week long retreat will explore the dance between The Welcoming Prayer and The Forgiveness Prayer. There will be extended periods of Centering Prayer, Silence and Solitude.
Prior Centering Prayer experience is strongly recommended.
The Welcoming Prayer is a method of consenting to God’s presence and action in our physical and emotional reactions to events and situations in daily life. The purpose of the Welcoming Prayer is to deepen our relationship with God through consenting in the ordinary activities of our day – “consent-on-the-go.”
The Forgiveness Prayer is a way to open to God’s healing presence and action when you are hurt, wounded or offended. The Forgiveness Prayer is a prayer which God uses to teach us to forgive.
Mary received her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in economics and spent some time as a banker and college administrator. After a few years at Chrysalis House, she went back to school and became a licensed clinical social worker and practiced this vocation for the next 15 years, all while maintaining her commitment to the contemplative life. In 2008 she met her beloved Juan through the Living Flame program. She moved to Miami, FL in 2009 and they married. Juan recently retired and they moved back to Erie, PA in July, 2018. Mary is currently in private practice as an LCSW in the Erie area devoting her time between that profession, serving on multiple boards & committees and giving retreats & workshops.
“World Labyrinth Day (WLD) 2022 Experience Oneness: A Veriditas Facilitator Qualifying Workshop”
Facilitator: Carmel Stabley
One-day facilitator qualification workshop is held as part of a weekend retreat, and available only as part of the full retreat during the WLD weekend event.
Immerse yourself and explore the Labyrinth as a Spiritual practice during this weekend retreat. Experience it’s universality during World Labyrinth Day (WLD) on May 7, 2022. The opportunity to walk three different labyrinth designs, enjoy a candle light ritual, commence in group dynamics and private reflection is offered. Registration in the Big Connection 2.0 research project taking place on May 7th is encouraged. See details below. The suggested reading for the Veriditas Facilitator Qualifying Workshop is “Walking a Sacred Path” by Lauren Artress
You will learn the basics of this intimate spiritual practice and touch upon it’s vastness. This qualifying workshop introduces all that Veriditas has to offer you, and will equip you with a rich base of experience and reference for elevated training through Veriditas. Curated breakout sessions for the Qualifying registrants will be conducted in a small group setting by Carmel Stabley, Veriditas Advanced -Certified Facilitator, V.P. of Community for The Labyrinth Society (TLS). See separate World Labyrinth Day registration for housing and accommodations.
Expect to learn:
- What a Labyrinth facilitator does
- Veriditas Events Workshops and Resources
- How to Walk a Labyrinth
- Why walk a Labyrinth
- Work on and present a group project
Carmel Stabley is an Advanced-Certified Labyrinth Facilitator with training through Veriditas in Chartres, France, as well as labyrinth studies and pilgrimages in Sweden, Spain, Germany, and Iona. Carmel serves on the Board of Directors for The Labyrinth Society and has been a Chairperson since 2016, working in areas of community building and membership, while developing a global network of Regional Representatives. She is also a World Labyrinth Day Committee member.
World Labyrinth Day Walk
Join us at Bethany Retreat Center for a free World Labyrinth Day walk! The walk will take place at 1:00 PM.
Every year on the first Saturday in May thousands of people around the globe participate in World Labyrinth Day as a moving meditation for world peace and celebration of the labyrinth experience. Many “Walk as One at 1” local time to create a rolling wave of peaceful energy passing from one time zone to the next.
World Labyrinth Day is an international annual event founded by The Labyrinth Society (TLS) in 2009. World Labyrinth Day in Educational Settings was initiated by the Australian Labyrinth Network in 2019 in collaboration with TLS.
Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton: Traveling Your Road to Joy
December 3-5, 2021 (Friday-Sunday)
Presenter: Sr. Ruth Ann Madera, C.A.
Bridges to Contemplative Living leads participants on a journey toward personal spiritual transformation and a more contemplative and peace-filled life.
This retreat is designed for those with an established daily practice of centering prayer who wish to deepen the transforming love of God in the midst of silence and solitude.
The weekend will include centering prayer, conferences with contemplative dialogue, personal time, meals and Sunday liturgy.
Sr. Ruth Ann is a Spiritual Director and Retreat Director. She provides spiritual direction on an ongoing basis as well as spiritual companioning/direction during retreats at Bethany Retreat Center. Sr. Ruth Ann has her degree in Religious Studies from St. Francis University. She is also a graduate of Shalem’s Spiritual Guidance Program.
6 Day Centering Prayer Retreat
Presenter: Sr. Ruth Ann Madera
Rooted in the ancient Christian contemplative tradition, the goal of this form of Christian prayer is to foster a deeper intimacy with Christ through the silence and stillness of contemplative prayer.
This 6 Day Retreat will be an in-depth retreat for those experienced in Centering Prayer. The retreat will facilitate entrance into a more profound level of spiritual practice in an atmosphere of silence, solitude, and community with an opportunity to spend extended time in deep silence in community to encourage a more intimate union with God. An existing Centering Prayer practice is a prerequisite for attending this retreat.
Sr. Ruth Ann is a Spiritual Director and Retreat Director. She provides spiritual direction on an ongoing basis as well as spiritual companioning/direction during retreats at Bethany Retreat Center. Sr. Ruth Ann has her degree in Religious Studies from St. Francis University. She is also a graduate of Shalem’s Spiritual Guidance Program.
Icon Writing Workshop : St. Julian of Norwich
Presenter: Mary Kay Laplante
Come join us at Bethany Retreat Center and spend a week immersed in prayer while you paint an image of St. Julian of Norwich with accomplished iconographer and teacher, Mary Kay Laplante. Mary Kay will share her love of icons and the spirit-filled process by which they are created. And as we paint St. Julian’s image, we will contemplate and discuss her teachings which so profoundly resonate with our experiences today.
Icons remind us of our connection to Christ and the saints and are beautiful instruments of prayer and contemplation. Painting an icon is as much a contemplative form of prayer as an artistic discipline. People of all levels of artistic talent are invited into this contemplative process. Mary Kay will guide you and encourage you with step-by-step instructions and all necessary materials. The underlying theology of each step will also be emphasized.
The days will include class instruction and painting, personal prayer time, optional Centering Prayer, daily Mass and home-cooked meals provided by the Bethany staff. Please let us know prior to your arrival if you have any dietary needs.
“At the beginning of the 2020 workshop in which we painted (wrote) an icon of St. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, we learned that icons are the manifestations of our prayer, and that every icon is beautiful because of the prayer of the iconographer. These words really came alive for me as my icon developed from the chaos of its beginning, and the image of St. Paul began to emerge. Learning not only the process of crafting an icon, but also the history and spiritual meaning behind each step of the process, enhanced my understanding of how an icon can transform our lives in profound ways.
When we breathed on the clay material that formed the base of the icon’s halo so that the gold leaf we were applying would adhere, our instructor, Mary Kay, told us we were breathing our own “spirit” into the icon. Indeed, as the week progressed, so did my spiritual connection to St. Paul deepen and take shape. Although much hard work went into the creation of our icons, when I look at the image of St. Paul beaming down on me from the bookcase in my living room, I am reminded of the spiritually transforming experience of the entire workshop.” ~Malinda Bostick, 2020 Icon Workshop Participant
Lectio/Visio Divina Retreat
Presenter: Mary Kay Laplante and Elizabeth Graboski
Mary Kay Laplante, of Bethany Retreat Center, and Beth Graboski, of Contemplative Outreach, will
offer a workshop/retreat combining the ancient practices of Visio Divina and Lectio Divina. Visio
Divina (Divine Seeing) is a way of drawing closer to God through meditation on visual objects. It is an
intentional way of praying with images. Mary Kay will offer an informative lecture and practicum using
her beautifully hand-painted religious icons as images to be contemplated in this prayer form.
Beth Graboski will introduce you to the ancient practice of praying with Scripture known as Lectio
Divina (Divine Reading), one of the great treasures of the Christian tradition of prayer. Lectio Divina
reveals the four senses of Scripture-the literal, the allegorical, the moral/behavioral and the unitive in
a Spirit-led, transformative experience of relationship with the Divine. Come and let the Spirit speak to
your heart as you “see” and “hear” scripture revealed through these ancient prayer forms.
Elizabeth Graboski, is a longtime contemplative prayer practitioner, a Centering
Prayer facilitator and commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer and Lectio
Divina for Contemplative Outreach. She currently serves with Contemplative
Outreach Central Pennsylvania local chapter for the Spiritual Enrichment and
Formation for Facilitators of Centering Prayer Groups.
The Cloud of Unknowing
Centering Prayer Retreat
Presenter: Doug Laplante
October 25-30, 2021 (Monday – Saturday)
Join us for a deep contemplative journey into The Cloud of Unknowing. This 14th century work is the basis for the method and practice of Centering Prayer. During this 5-day retreat, with the writings of “The Cloud of Unknowing” as our guide, Doug Laplante will lead an exploration into 5 key elements of the spiritual journey: spiritual growth, humility, dealing with thoughts, intention, and unity. This retreat is designed for participants with a well-established Centering Prayer practice. Through a combination of prayer and contemplative dialogue we will delve deeply into the teachings of “The Cloud…” that have changed countless lives and lead directly to a deepening relationship with God.
Neuroscience & Well Being: How Spirituality Affects our Health & DNA
Presenter: Anne Kertz Kernion
Our spiritual habits affect our physical and emotional health in a variety of ways. We’ll explore recent findings in neuroscience and positive psychology, showing how practices such as Mindfulness, Meditation, Gratitude, Compassion, and Community slow aging in our cells, keep our brains healthy and nimble, reduce stress, and bring more health and happiness into our lives. We will also look at other habits that support brain health and keep our telomeres, the end caps of our chromosomes, from prematurely fraying. This multimedia presentation aims to educate and entertain.
We will incorporate these spiritual practices into our days, along with discussion and activities, allowing us to share and experience some of their benefits. Time for personal reflection and quiet will be provided, as well.
Anne Kertz Kernion (BS in Environmental Engineering, Penn State; MA in Theology, Duquesne University, Certificate in Science of Happiness, UC Berkeley, graduate certificate in Positive Psychology, U. of Missouri) is the owner/ artist of Cards by Anne, an inspirational greeting card company founded in 1986. She is a frequent lecturer and retreat leader, presenting topics combining neuroscience, positive psychology, and spirituality to groups across the United States and Australia.
Male Spirituality in a Pandemic World – Men’s Retreat
Presenter: Tom Campbell
This gathering of men will occur, without question, in one of the most turbulent times that mankind has ever known. COVID 19 has caused suffering and death throughout the world. For close to a year, churches, businesses, schools, sports, and entertainment facilities were closed, and we were told to distance ourselves from each other. Families faced financial hardship and separation, and for many, working from home took on a new meaning.
COVID-19, however, is just one of a number of changes which have disrupted the way that we live. The Internet greatly expanded communications and offered opportunities for learning and doing business like never before. But many people feel that these technologies have also interfered with our personal relationships. This includes our relationships with each other as humans and our relationship with God.
In this men’s retreat, we will examine the role of man in today’s world. These include characteristics of a healthy relationship with God from the masculine perspective and man’s role in family, work, and community. We will reflect and share on the gifts that each of us have been given. We’ll gather as only men can do together helping each other through teaching, sharing, drumming, and ritual. We will examine the characteristics of our changed world and how, as men, we might prepare for the needs of our future years.
Men being with men in this spiritual context often opens up opportunities for self-growth, healing, and a deeper relationship with God. Men of all ages and all denominations are welcome. Men not affiliated with any church group are also welcome. Join us!
From Seeker to Sage: Journey to the Unknowable
The Spiritual Journey
Presenter: Susan Komis
“A common bonding takes place in all who are attracted to the transformative process. Such is the ultimate lineage of all spiritual lineages emerging in the various religious traditions. We are companions in the search, moved by common perspective and inspiration…” ~Fr. Thomas Keating
The “Spiritual Journey” is a metaphor for how our beliefs change and develop through life. In the beginning, we often
do not realize that we have entered upon a spiritual path as we begin to search for the hidden gnosis (sacred knowing) of mind, heart and soul that is emerging within us.
Some approach the Journey from intellectual or educational perspective; others may seek reconciliation or desire to know the existence of God. Some people simply want to become a better human being and ponder the meaning of life.
This retreat experience provides an opportunity to come together to explore and reflect upon the following:
- The various paths of life we have traveled.
- Stages of prayer related to faith development.
- Our personal spiritual journey; from Awakening, to Seeker, to Servant, to Sage.
- Realization that we have been led every step of the way by a loving, mysterious God.
Join us as we move through the different stages of spiritual growth from our awakening moments, through our seeking and gradual restructuring of consciousness. This retreat will include: Centering Prayer in community, presentation, interactive experience and small group process.
Susan Komis is a former Director of Chapter Programs & Services for the Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. organization. She began as a volunteer for the St. Louis, MO Chapter and later appointed as Coordinator for the region in 1994
through 1999. While employed by Contemplative Outreach, Susan served the spiritual network for 20 years as a faculty member, member of the Board of Directors and commissioned presenter. Her primary role supported the leadership of Contemplative Outreach chapters by developing and offering formations, retreats, spiritual enrichment and organizational support until she retired in 2016.
Susan continues to offer programs on contemplative spirituality and leads Intensive, Post-Intensive and themed Centering Prayer retreats. She is a certified Pastoral Minister and has served in adult faith development, spiritual direction and interspiritual dialogue.
Susan is married and the mother of 4 daughters. She currently resides in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri,
Centering Prayer 6 Day Retreat
Rooted in the ancient Christian contemplative tradition, the goal of this form of Christian prayer is to foster a deeper intimacy with Christ through the silence and stillness of contemplative prayer.
Intensive: An in-depth retreat for those experienced in Centering Prayer. The retreat will facilitate entrance into a more profound level of spiritual practice in an atmosphere of silence, solitude, and community.
Post-Intensive: An opportunity to spend extended time in deep silence in community to encourage a more intimate union with God. An Intensive Centering Prayer experience is a prerequisite of the Post-Intensive.
The Science & Soul of the Breath / Exploring Our Creativity, Nurturing Our Spirits
Anne Kertz Kernion will be returning to Bethany Retreat Center for a weekend retreat like no other. Over the course of the weekend she will be presenting 2 topics that we are sure you will find insightful & practical as well as nurturing to your soul and your faith journey.
Presenter: Anne Kertz Kernion
The Science and Soul of the Breath
“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.” ~Etty Hillesum
As we emerge from a very difficult year, we can all benefit from some retreat time to nurture our brains and bodies. On this weekend together, we will explore how the breath can help us live in the here and now, manage stress, increase our focus and concentration, and increase our well-being. We will begin by reviewing the word “breath” in several languages and religious traditions, then pivot to look at the latest in neuroscience research. I’ll share some fascinating new information, and we will experience a variety of breath exercises along the way. These practices can bring calm to our days, nurturing our brains, bodies, and spiritual lives on a daily basis.
Exploring Our Creativity, Nurturing Our Spirits:
Insights from Neuroscience, Positive Psychology and Spirituality
“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.” ~Dieter F. Uchtdorf
The disruptions, losses, and stresses of this past year have affected all of us in varying ways. We can help our spirits recover by pausing to explore our creativity, while fostering our cognitive health. The question is not “Are you creative?” but “How are you creative?” So we will explore various ways to amplify our creativity, adding slices of joy, energy, and peace to our days. One nurturing practice is observing the natural world with contemplative eyes, and the beauties of Bethany provide a delightful classroom. Another creative practice is deep listening and conversation, which can help us process the effects of the pandemic. We will also dabble in a variety of creative exercises (no experience or talent required!) to nourish us on our journeys. Current neuroscience and positive psychology research will be woven into this multimedia presentation.
Anne Kertz Kernion is a frequent lecturer and retreat leader, presenting topics that combine neuroscience, positive psychology, and spirituality to groups around the US and Australia. She holds a BS in Environmental Engineering from Penn State, an MA in Theology from Duquesne University, and graduate certificate in Positive Psychology from the University of Missouri. Anne is the owner/artist of Cards by Anne, an inspirational greeting card company founded in 1986 (cardsbyanne.com). For fourteen years, Anne taught “Cross-Cultural Understanding of Religious Meaning” at Carlow University, and courses ranging from Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Nutrition, to World Religions and Ethics at the community college level. Her second book, “Spiritual Practices for the Brain: Caring for Mind, Body and Soul,” was published by Loyola Press in October, 2020. A former Division 1 athlete, Anne teaches yoga and enjoys biking and hiking. She and her husband Jack have three grown children and six grandchildren.
7 Essentials of Well Being
Well Being as the Foundation for your Spiritual Life
Presenter: Elle Morgan
Elle Morgan, a certified yoga instructor is offering a four-day retreat to share the healthy lifestyle program she has developed called the 7 Essentials of Well Being This program supports all aspects of mind, body, and spirit on a daily basis while creating room for open heartedness and a portal for entering the mystery of the divine.
You will learn to see food as medicine and a real source of life force. You will learn how to incorporate more movement that you enjoy into your day. You will learn the techniques of breathwork and how it can expand your capacity to be strong, healthy, and happy. You will experience a renewed connection with nature through mindfulness, and a curiosity about your own special creativity which will enliven you.
Activities include: Campfire cooking for anti-inflammatory eating, Shin Rin Roku–mindfulness in nature, journaling, speed painting, gentle yoga, guided meditation, the role of non-violent communication and the emotions, readings and discussions from world wisdom traditions and the practice of lectio divina.
Elle Morgan is the Director of Summit Hill Transformation Center in Curwensville, PA, where she leads retreats for Health and Well Being and creates custom-designed experiences for campers in nature and art. She is a certified yoga instructor, a professor of Public Speaking at Penn State University and the author of The Elements of New Life Scripts–Sacred Theatre. She is also gaining traction as a go-to gourmet outdoor chef!
Opening to Our Pre-existing Union With God
Presenter: Keith Kristich
So many of us grow up with the message that God is the great, old Guy-in-the-Sky. This God loves the world, but is ultimately separate from it and separate from us.
But the great contemplatives say otherwise, that God is the Heart of our hearts and the very Center of our souls. From the contemplative perspective, the spiritual journey isn’t one in which we get closer to God, but rather about waking up to the reality that we are already one!
Join this weekend retreat as we explore Centering Prayer as a path of waking up to our pre-existing oneness with God. We are not ultimately separate from God, and we’ll explore the significance of opening to this reality through teaching, reflection, and centering prayer practice.
Keith Kristich is certified with the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups and Retreats, as well as, with Contemplative Outreach as a presenter of Centering Prayer.
Re-Entering Community Through Silence
CENTERING PRAYER RENEWAL RETREAT
Presenter: Mary Dwyer
Come away to Bethany Retreat Center for a deeper experience of Centering Prayer in community. We will have extended prayer times (3 to 4 hours per day) and input on deepening our Centering Prayer practice. The retreat will be in silence with time for personal reflection and renewal. An already established knowledge and practice of Centering Prayer is required. Soul Friending will also be available along with attending Mass and praying with the Sisters in Residence. Room accommodations and all meals are included during your stay. Please let us know of any dietary restrictions or special needs when you register.
Mary Dwyer is a long time student of Fr. Thomas Keating and has been practicing Centering Prayer since the 1980’s. In the early 1990’s she lived at Chrysalis House, a contemplative live-in community experiment blessed by Fr. Thomas. Her housemates included Mary Mrozowski, David Frenette and Cathy McCarthy. The community lived according to a rule of life and became an incubator of practice and programs in the early years of Contemplative Outreach’s growth. It was her experience at Chrysalis House that proved to her that a life of prayer, consent and practice is real, stable and deeply rewarding.
Mary received her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in economics and spent some time as a banker and college administrator. After a few years at Chrysalis House, she went back to school and became a licensed clinical social worker and practiced this vocation for the next 15 years, all while maintaining her commitment to the contemplative life. In 2008 she met her beloved Juan through the Living Flame program. She moved to Miami, FL in 2009 and they married. Juan recently retired and they moved back to Erie, PA in July, 2018. Mary is currently in private practice as an LCSW in the Erie area devoting her time between that profession, serving on multiple boards & committees and giving retreats & workshops.
Stations of the Cross
Good Friday Outdoor Service
The Stations of the Cross are a Christian devotion which commemorates the Passion and death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “Stations” comes from the Latin word that means to stand. “Of the Cross” refers to the events that surrounded Jesus’ crucifixion on a cross on Calvary. Each of the 14 stations represents an event which occurred during Jesus’ passion and death at Calvary on Good Friday.
Join us at Bethany Retreat Center on Good Friday to walk the Stations of the Cross as you prepare your heart and mind for the celebration of Easter Sunday. This will be an outdoor event where we will gather outside the Prayer Center then walk together to the Stations of the Cross. There will be prayer and reading at each station, culminating at the top of the hill with the Resurrection Cross. Groups will be limited to 10 people and COVID safety precautions will be followed at all times.
Formation for Contemplative Outreach Service
Including Presenter’s Training
Early 2022 Dates to be Announced
What is Formation for Contemplative Outreach Service?
The purpose of Formation for Contemplative Outreach Service, including Presenter’s Training, is to provide an intensive Christian community experience in order to better understand and grasp the essentials of the Centering Prayer method and thus be able to share it appropriately with others.
The theory is “Good practitioners make good presenters, facilitators, and administrative helpers.” Because the group spends four days focusing on the Centering Prayer practice itself, they better understand the essentials of Centering Prayer and the many nuances of the practice. This deeper understanding helps them to better recognize that contemplative service is service freely offered without expectation of return.
Contemplative Service is not tied to roles or only those willing to function in a specific way. Rather one sees a need and fills it. Contemplative Service is God in us serving God in others.
The schedule includes:
- One and a half hours of Centering Prayer daily
- Presentations by the staff of one conference of Session one of An Introduction to Centering Prayer each morning.
- Participants present portions of the same material to a small group in the afternoons.
- Discussion of Issue
Criteria for Register for: Formation for Contemplative Outreach Service
- Participated in “An Introduction to Centering Prayer”
- Established Centering Prayer practice – minimum of daily two twenty-minute periods ~ for three years.
- Participated in an 8- or 10-day Centering Prayer Intensive Retreat, either before attending Formation or within one year after attending Formation, and before becoming fully commissioned. If intensive retreats are not geographically available
- (or) Participated in a 5 or 7 day Centering Prayer Intensive Retreat (or) Participated in four weekend silent Centering Prayer Retreats over previous 3 years
- Studied Open Mind, Open Heart by Thomas Keating. Preferably has also read/studied Invitation to Love, Mystery of Christ, and/or Spiritual Journey materials by Thomas Keating (Tapes, CDs, DVDs or transcripts).
- Has been recommended by a Chapter Coordinator or Contact Person, or (in an underdeveloped chapter) by a commissioned presenter who is willing to mentor and recommend him/her for full commissioning after serving a minimum of one year as a presenter-in-training.
Advent Centering Prayer Weekend Retreat
Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton: Traveling Your Road to Joy
Being Re-scheduled due to COVID
Presenter: Sr. Ruth Ann Madera, C.A.
Bridges to Contemplative Living leads participants on a journey toward personal spiritual transformation and a more contemplative and peace-filled life.
This retreat is designed for those with an established daily practice of centering prayer who wish to deepen the transforming love of God in the midst of silence and solitude.
The weekend will include centering prayer, conferences with contemplative dialogue, personal time, meals and Sunday liturgy.
Sr. Ruth Ann is a Retreat Director and Spiritual Director. She does spiritual direction during retreats, as well as on an on-going basis. Sr. Ruth Ann has her degree in Religious Studies from St. Francis University. She is also a graduate of Shalem’s Spiritual Guidance Program.
Icon Writing Workshop : St. Paul the Apostle
Presenter: Mary Kay Laplante
Come join us at Bethany Retreat Center and spend a week immersed in prayer while you paint an image of St. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles with accomplished iconographer and teacher, Mary Kay Laplante. Mary Kay will share her love of icons and the spirit-filled process by which they are created. And as we paint Paul’s image, we will contemplate and discuss his teachings.
Icons remind us of our connection to Christ and the saints and are beautiful instruments of prayer and contemplation. Painting an icon is as much a contemplative form of prayer as an artistic discipline. People of all levels of artistic talent are invited into this contemplative process. Mary Kay will guide you and encourage you with step-by-step instructions and all necessary materials. The underlying theology of each step will also be emphasized.
The days will include class instruction and painting, personal prayer time, optional Centering Prayer, daily Mass and home-cooked meals provided by the Bethany staff. Please let us know prior to your arrival if you have any dietary needs.
Contemplative Attitudes Through the Practice of Centering Prayer
A Retreat Based on the work of David Frenette
Presenter: Doug Laplante
In the teachings of Jesus, there are prayers, and then there is prayer—the silent, loving communion with the divine, beyond words or ritual. With Father Thomas Keating’s book Open Mind, Open Heart, hundreds of thousands have discovered the transformative power of Centering Prayer as a form of Christian meditation. Now, with The Path of Centering Prayer, Keating’s senior student, friend, and adviser, David Frenette, reveals the profound depths of this practice, facilitating a deepening of intimacy with God.
The retreat will focus on the contemplative attitudes, as reflected upon in David’s essential book. It will also include silence and Centering Prayer.
Contemplative attitudes, the fruits of contemplative prayer, are revealed in daily life and we will explore how to foster them. Such qualities as simplicity, gentleness, letting go, resting in God, embracing, and finally integrating one’s experience of prayer into one’s daily life, are paired with David’s Guided Meditations.
Virtual Confirmation Retreat
Baptized to Be God’s Witnesses as Priest, Prophet and King
Presenter: Sr. Suzanne Thibault
This retreat entails 5 Zoom Sessions with process material for candidate and sponsor to work on together before next Zoom Session. It will provide an opportunity to explore the connection of Baptism and Confirmation, as well as the topic of growing in the Catholic Faith beyond Confirmation.
Sr. Suzanne lives at Bethany Retreat Center. She has been directing retreats for youth, kindergarten to college age since 1987, 33 years. Using education, process activities and reflection techniques, Sr. Suzanne has the ability to bring the faith journey alive and make it relevant to today. Due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, Sr. Suzanne is offering virtual retreats by integrating Zoom Sessions with process and reflection materials between sessions.
Participants receive a Certificate of Completion when the retreat is over.
For more information contact Sr. Suzanne at bethanyyouthcenter@gmail.com
The Language of the Soul
Discovering your Inner Self with Archetypes & Essential Oils
Come to Bethany and discover who you truly are by leaning about your personal archetypes. Archetypes are the language of the soul, and in this workshop, you will discover the four primary archetypes in your wheel of origin that make you the person you are. By the end of the retreat on Saturday, you will leave with practical tips for engaging your own archetypal survival patterns to nurture and comfort yourself and others. You also will leave with an essential oil blend to use in prayer, meditation and working with your archetypes to achieve balance and peace in your life. Come for a potentially life-changing experience.
Barb Kurkas Lee is a registered Aromatherapist and Certified Archetypal Consultant. She offers in-depth education on personal archetypes and essential oils which lead to deeper, more meaningful relationships and understanding of self and others.
Introduction to Centering Prayer
Fostering Intimacy with God Through Silence & Stillness
Presenters: Nancy Cord-Baran, Sr Ruth Ann Madera & Sr Suzanne Thibault
Sourced from the depths of Christian contemplative tradition, Centering Prayer has emerged as a life-changing prayer practice for those who embrace it. Centering Prayer is a receptive method of Christian silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer; prayer in which we experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. Its purpose is to foster a deeper intimacy with Christ through the silence and stillness of contemplative prayer.
Join us to learn the method or to renew your practice of this ancient form of silent prayer.
Native Drumming Retreat ~ A Unique Drumming Experience
Presenter: Tom Campbell
Our Drums will echo again at Bethany! Our drumming retreat will include lunch, group drumming, storytelling, ritual, ceremony, prayer and an experience of Native American culture. If you attended previously, there is always something new and if you haven’t experienced the power of group drumming, join us for this daylong retreat.
Drumming connects you to a deeper part of yourself and the Great Spirit – God.
No experience necessary
Drums will be provided OR bring your own.
Tom Campbell has led the last six drumming retreats at Bethany; close to 50 people attended each of the last two years! He has been leading retreats for 35 years, and he has been drumming over 30 years; leading drumming workshops/retreats in homes, churches, community centers and businesses. Tom has studied Native American spirituality for 30 years. Its Creator-centered approach to life with a reverence toward the Earth and all creatures on it, resonates with his Catholic upbringing.
World Labyrinth Day – Annual Event on the first Saturday in May
Each year on the first Saturday in May, thousands of people around the world participate in this moving meditation for world peace. The intention of World Labyrinth Day is to bring people from all over the planet together in celebration of labyrinths as a symbol, tool, passion and practice of spiritual growth. The labyrinth is a reflective exercise as you use each step to quiet your mind and your spirit.
Spend the day on the sacred grounds of Bethany Retreat Center learning about and walking the outdoor labyrinth as well as visiting other stations of prayer & reflection, while focusing on the theme of world peace, healing and restoration. This one day retreat will be led by Carmel Stabley, an Advanced Certified Labyrinth Facilitator.
Carmel Stabley is an Advanced-Certified Labyrinth Facilitator with training through Veriditas in Chartres, France, as well as labyrinth studies and pilgrimages in Sweden, Spain, Germany, and Iona. Carmel hosts monthly walks and seminars throughout PA and the surrounding area where she creates labyrinth experiences and provides teaching on the history, sacred geometry and mental, physical and spiritual benefits of the walking meditation practice. She is the originator of the Labyrinth Connection of Susquehanna Valley, a group of walkers with a newsletter and Facebook page by the same name which connects walkers to events. She is also a certified Contemplative Leader and the Regional Representatives Chairperson for the Labyrinth Society.
A graduate of Faith School of Theology in Charleston, Maine (now Faith Bible College International), Carmel holds a bachelor’s degree in Theological Studies with a minor in Pastoral Theology Cum Laude. She also serves at the Hempfield United Methodist Church on Stony Battery Road in Lancaster, PA as a Retreat Planner, Spiritual Formation Leader and Steward of the Prayer Chapel. Through silence and solitude her personal Centering Prayer and labyrinth practice have guided her to service in these and other areas such as Prayer Companioning.
Exploring the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Practice
Facilitator: Carmel Stabley
Join us at Bethany Retreat Center’s outdoor labyrinth as Carmel Stabley leads us in this 4000-year old practice of reflective labyrinth walking. Come away with an understanding of the Classic and Medieval labyrinth patterns and brief history; personalize your walk with intentions, and deepen your experience through a process called Key Word Journaling. Nurture your inner self and explore the many reasons for and benefits of walking this ancient path. No previous experience needed. All faith traditions welcome.
This day will include conferences, time to walk the labyrinth, lunch and quiet time.
“Perhaps there is a pattern set up in heaven for one who desires to see it. Having seen it, to find it in himself” ~ PLATO
Carmel Stabley is an Advanced-Certified Labyrinth Facilitator with training through Veriditas in Chartres, France, as well as labyrinth studies and pilgrimages in Sweden, Spain, Germany, and Iona. Carmel hosts monthly walks and seminars throughout PA and the surrounding area where she creates labyrinth experiences and provides teaching on the history, sacred geometry and mental, physical and spiritual benefits of the walking meditation practice. She is the originator of the Labyrinth Connection of Susquehanna Valley, a group of walkers with a newsletter and Facebook page by the same name which connects walkers to events. She is also a certified Contemplative Leader, and the Regional Representatives Chairperson for the Labyrinth Society.
A graduate of Faith School of Theology in Charleston, Maine (now Faith Bible College International), Carmel holds a bachelor’s degree in Theological Studies with a minor in Pastoral Theology Cum Laude. She also serves at the Hempfield United Methodist Church on Stony Battery Road in Lancaster, PA as a Retreat Planner, Spiritual Formation Leader and Steward of the Prayer Chapel. Through silence and solitude her personal Centering Prayer and labyrinth practice have guided her to service in these and other areas such as Prayer Companioning.
What Others Experienced:
“I experience insight and development of helpful ideas. Made me feel extremely grateful.”
“The energy of the day was fantastic.”
“A renewed sense of trust in the universe to provide and take care of me, calm and peace.”
Personal Days of Renewal
You are invited to take a day or days of personal retreat to focus on your “self care”. How am I taking care of myself spiritually, physically, and emotionally? Bethany Retreat Center is offering days of renewal for those who want to come for a day, overnight, or a few days to join the Sisters for prayer and daily Mass, walk the grounds, opportunity for reconciliation, and home-cooked meals.
7-Day Intensive Contemplative Prayer Retreat
Facilitators: Sr. Rita Panciera, Sr. Ruth Ann Madera, & Fr. Philip Billotte
Bethany Retreat Center is providing an in-depth retreat for those with experience with Centering Prayer who wish to enter into a more profound level of spiritual practice. The retreat enables the participants to deepen their contemplative journey in the contemporary world. Integration of contemplation and activity are cultivated in the silence, solitude, community support and guidance in the time at Bethany.
Requirements for Making the Intensive Retreat:
Contemplative Outreach, under whose auspices these retreats are given, require that those who participate in the Intensive Retreat be regular practitioners of Centering.
Limited Scholarship Available
Also available during this week is a 7-Day Post Intensive Retreat, the purpose of which is to assist the participants in entering into a more intimate silence in a nurturing, supportive environment that combines both solitude and community. The Post Intensive is a next step into a profound silence and stillness in order to facilitate a more intimate union with God.
Requirements for Making the Post-Intensive Retreat
- Be regular practitioners of Centering Prayer
- Have made a 5 day or longer Intensive Retreat prior to making the Post-Intensive Retreat
(Massage Therapist available – not included in the cost.)
Sr. Therese Dush Memorial Mass & Dinner
Please save the date: We will celebrate a commemorative Mass and meal at Bethany Retreat Center. We hope you can join us to commemorate the anniversary of Sr. Therese’s passing into eternal and everlasting life.
11th Step Retreat
Presenters: Nancy Cord-Baran, Carolyn Yankovitz & Michael Gidlewski
11th Step – “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”
This retreat is for people who participate in any 12-Step Recovery program to introduce or expand and deepen the experience of Contemplative Prayer as part of a daily 11th Step practice ourselves, in silence, saying nothing, asking for nothing, just being and allowing our Higher Power to be with us.
The retreat will offer an environment of solitude and silence in community with time for reflection, fellowship, and a 12-Step Meeting. For those new to Contemplative Prayer, the retreat is an Introductory Workshop on Centering Prayer in the context of 12-Step recovery. For participants who have been with us before, there is an optional Track II program and an extra retreat day and night, beginning Thursday.
Please let us know of your interest in Track II and/or the extra day when you register.
Retreat staff have been active in 12-Step programs for many years. They have completed the Formation for Contemplative Service process of Contemplative Outreach as well as the Formation Training for Presenting and Leading Retreats for Contemplative Prayer and the 12-Steps. Brochures available.
Welcoming Prayer Retreat
Presenter: Sr. Rita Panciera, RSM
The Welcoming Prayer is a method of consenting to God’s presence and action in the events and situations in daily life. It provides a method of being aware of our physical and emotional reactions and a method of dealing with them prayerfully in the midst of daily life.
The Welcoming Prayer helps to dismantle the emotional programs of the false-self system and to heal the wounds of a lifetime by addressing them where they are stored – in the body. It contributes to the process of transformation in Christ initiated in Contemplative Prayer.
The time together will be both retreat and workshop, with opportunity for silence and Centering Prayer in community. Also, participants will be introduced to the actual method of the Welcoming Prayer and provided with opportunities to practice. Discussions will include the human condition and the false-self system as the conceptual background of the Welcoming Prayer practice. There will be time for focusing, working with what is happening in our bodies and practicing the prayer.
Sr. Rita Panciera, RSM is a Sister of Mercy and Director of the House of Prayer in Erie, PA. She has been an experienced practitioner of Centering Prayer for many years and has facilitated many Centering Prayer retreats and programs, both at Bethany Retreat Center and elsewhere.
Brochures available.
“The Seven Mansions of the Interior Castle”
5-Day Contemplative Prayer Retreat
Presenter: Susan Komis
Come away for a special Retreat offering sacred space and time to explore the Seven Mansions of Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle. Teresa is a one of Christianity’s great mystics and teachers. The Interior Castle is her final work and one of the most profound literary works on contemplation and experiential mysticism.
Prayer stood at the center of Teresa’s teaching. Her fidelity to prayer was a means of deepening her intimate relationship with God. She considered a life of prayer in terms of love.
Together we will reflect on the light of Teresa’s timeless insights into the human soul, its journey towards God, and how Teresa’s teaching is relevant to our personal contemporary spiritual journey today.
This retreat includes presentations, small group process with periods of Centering Prayer, reflection, silence, and daily Mass.
Susan Komis is the former Director of Chapter Programs & Services of Contemplative Outreach and continues to serve Contemplative Outreach as a commissioned presenter and retreat director. She is Pastoral Minister and has been active in adult faith development, spiritual direction and interspiritual dialogue. Susan previously worked in Human Resources for two corporations.
The Interior Castle is one of her favorite topics in the contemplative dimension. Susan has offered this retreat throughout the United States and Canada. She resides in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, is married and the mother of adult children and grandchildren.
Suggested reading for this is “The Interior Castle” – some retreatants found reading the book was most helpful after attending the retreat. It will be available in our bookstore as well.
The Voice of the Heart – The Practical Magic of Public Speaking
Presenter: Elle Morgan
Elle Morgan, Public Speaking teacher at Penn State University and a certified Yoga instructor will guide you through the mind, body, spirit approach to public speaking.
During this retreat you will learn that you have everything you need to be a great public speaker. It’s a spiritual practice. You must learn to trust! Trust your body, voice, and your unique message. You will learn how to connect with the deeper part of yourself, and at the same time practice methods of expression through storytelling and pantomime. Finally, you will share a short message from the heart with your fellow retreatants at the end of the weekend.
Elle Morgan is the Director of Summit Hill Transformation Center in Curwensville, PA, where she leads retreats for Health and Well Being and creates custom-designed experiences for campers in nature and art. She is a certified yoga instructor, a professor of Public Speaking at Penn State University and the author of The Elements of New Life Scripts–Sacred Theatre. She is also gaining traction as a go-to gourmet outdoor chef!
Neuroscience & Well Being:
How Spirituality Affects our Health & DNA
Presenter: Ann Kertz Kernion
Our spiritual habits affect our physical and emotional health in a variety of ways. We’ll explore recent findings in neuroscience and positive psychology, showing how practices such as Mindfulness, Meditation, Gratitude, Compassion, and Community slow aging in our cells, keep our brains healthy and nimble, reduce stress, and bring more health and happiness into our lives. We will also look at other habits that support brain health and keep our telomeres, the end caps of our chromosomes, from prematurely fraying. This multimedia presentation aims to educate and entertain.
We will incorporate these spiritual practices into our days, along with discussion and activities, allowing us to share and experience some of their benefits. Time for personal reflection and quiet will be provided, as well.
Anne Kertz Kernion (BS in Environmental Engineering, Penn State; MA in Theology, Duquesne University, Certificate in Science of Happiness, UC Berkeley, currently a graduate student in Positive Psychology, U. of Missouri) is the owner/artist of Cards by Anne, an inspirational greeting card company founded in 1986. Her book, “A Year of Spiritual Companionship” was published by SkyLight Paths in 2016. Anne’s cards are available online (cardsbyanne.com) and in hundreds of stores. For 14 years, Anne taught “Cross-Cultural Understanding of Religious Meaning” at Carlow University. For seven years, she was also an adjunct professor at CCAC, teaching courses ranging from Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Nutrition, to World Religions and Ethics. Currently, Anne is a frequent lecturer and retreat leader, presenting topics that combine neuroscience and spirituality to groups around the country. Anne is married to Jack and they have 3 grown children and 6 grandchildren.
Mother of Jesus, Mother of Us All
Presenters: Sr. Ruth Ann Madera, C.A. & Monica Nachman
You are invited to spend a day praying with Mary who leads up to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. A wonderful gift for Moms; bring your mother, daughter, sister, or a friend. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Creation, Spirituality and Art Series
Facilitator: Sr. Tina Geiger
Impressions / Expressions of the Sacred
The Spirit of God has filled the universe with possibilities and therefore, from the very heart of things, something new can always emerge: “Nature is nothing other than a certain kind of art, namely God’s art, impressed upon things….” Pope Francis, Laudato Si #80
As we seek with intentional awareness God’s Presence in our created world through mediums of collage, clay, and watercolor, we will find ourselves hidden with Christ in God! (Col 3:3)
The spiritual approach to creating art does not focus upon producing an outcome/product but rather is about the Sacred forming and reforming our inner selves and our awareness of such growth through deep reflection on the art making process. No art experience necessary… bring an open heart!
Sr. Tina Geiger, RSM, Co-Director of Catholic Rural Ministry- Oil City Deanery, enjoys the contemplative process of art making. She is a trained spiritual director. Having acquired both a MA degree in Religious Education, and a minor in studio art, S. Tina has facilitated art and spirituality retreats for over two decades. She has taught and guided many in the ecological virtues –praise, gratitude, care, justice, work, simplicity, and humility– reflected in Pope Francis’ letter: Laudato Si – Care of Our Common Home