Day retreats begin at about 9:30 a.m. and conclude at about 3:45 p.m.
Unless otherwise indicated below, the cost of each program is $35.00 per person, which includes lunch. Please make checks payable to the Abbey of St. Walburga. To register, click here.
Space permitting, participants may also stay overnight. Private rooms, supper, and continental breakfast will be provided in the Abbey Retreat House for an additional fee. We can't guarantee overnight accommodations for walk-ins. Join the nuns for evening prayer and Mass.
Programs
Saturday, January 7, 2012:
Awakening the Mystic in Us
Leader: Fr. John Smith
Cost: $25 (Non-seasonal discount rate, includes lunch)
We are not potential mystics. We are mystics with potential. Every Christian is called to mysticism. A mystic is one who has experienced something. “It has always been the mystics who have revitalized the Church. Mysticism will flourish when enough people desire it.” (Evelyn Underhill).
9:30 AM (Registration) – 3:30 PM.
Fr. John Smith is the chaplain at the Abbey. He was a missionary in South America for 13 years and prior coming to the Abbey he served as a pastor in Canada. He is a spiritual director trained in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola and accompanies people in six and eight-day guided retreats.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
First Beatitude: Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
Leader: Fr. John Smith
Cost: $35 (includes lunch)
Jesus spoke to ordinary laypeople not of physical poverty but poverty of spirit. When we experience our own absolute helplessness and the overwhelming strength of Jesus, we are poor and blessed. We will pray with the great poem of John of the Cross:”One Dark Night.” His poem is ours.
The retreat will last from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Fr. John Smith is the chaplain at the Abbey. He was a missionary in South America for 13 years and prior coming to the Abbey he served as a pastor in Canada. He is a spiritual director trained in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola and accompanies people in six and eight-day guided retreats.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Apoptosis: Medical Term for the Process of Programmed Cell Death in Humans
Leader: Fr. John Smith
Cost: $35 (includes lunch)
Between 50 – 70 billion cells die each day in the average person! When some do not die they become cancerous. This is a perfect image that helps to understand the deeper meaning of the Paschal Mystery: the death and resurrection of Jesus. Of equal importance is to experience this in our own lives: How do I integrate and live the Paschal Mystery daily?
Fr. John Smith is the chaplain at the Abbey. He was a missionary in South America for 13 years and prior coming to the Abbey he served as a pastor in Canada. He is a spiritual director trained in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola and accompanies people in six and eight-day guided retreats.
June 30, 2012
Astraios: Spiritual Music
Director: Ruth Ann Ritchie
Cost: $35
A musical program including a morning session that introduces the musicians and will explore the creative processes of composers, performers and audiences. All Astraios concerts offer the opportunity to meet the performers and ask questions about the music, the instruments, or the musicians themselves.
Astraios is a national network of freelance musicians working to heighten every participant's enjoyment of the musical experience through our commitment to the development of the interaction between musicians and audience members. Through education, they seek to create actively engaged listeners who enhance performances, improving the musical experience for both audience and musicians. To learn more, visit www.astraiosmusic.com.
AFTERNOON NATURE HIKES
Come enjoy an afternoon of prayer and fellowship, good food and an energetic hike in our beautiful valley in the foothills.
Saturday, May 26 and September 22, 2012
Nature Hike
11:30 a.m. – about 3 p.m.
Cost: $25 adults; $10 children under 12
Pre- registration is required.
Leader: Sr. Maria-Josepha Hombrebueno, OSB
Come and spend an afternoon of hiking and reflection on our beautiful property to experience God’s marvelous gift of creation. During the hike, we will reflect on nature's bounty as we drink in God's beauty. Please wear comfortable hiking shoes, hat, pants, and bring water and a walking stick . Moderate hiking required on rocky, uphill terrain.
Sr. Maria Josepha entered our monastery in February 2003 and made her monastic profession in 2007. She is our community’s infirmarian and has a small carpentry practice.
REGISTRATION
May 24 – 27, 2012
Sing Wisely: Gregorian Chant Retreat
Leader: Sr. Hildegard Dubnick,OSB
Cost: $ 190
Are you intrigued by Gregorian Chant and curious to learn more about it? Are you drawn to chant, but a bit uncertain about how to sing it? Are you looking for a way to enliven your prayer life, personal or liturgical? The Benedictine Nuns of the Abbey of St. During this extended weekend retreat, we will explore the interrelationship of music, language, and prayer.
Topics covered in the course of the retreat will include the history of chant and its liturgical functions. You will become acquainted with Gregorian notation and with the principles of bringing the music to life.
Participants needn’t be experienced singers or musicians, although familiarity with modern music notation will be helpful. Retreatants are encouraged to attend liturgies with the nuns, where the chant – both Latin and English – can be experienced in its natural setting of liturgical prayer. There may also be an opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession).
Sister Hildegard Dubnick has been singing Gregorian Chant since she entered our Abbey in 1987. She has been the Abbey's main organist for thirteen years.
June 7 – 9, 2012
Collage Workshop: Scriptural-Based Collage Class
Leader: Melissa Strickler
Cost : $240
All participants will work on, and complete a collage that will represent a favorite or meaningful text from the Bible.
On the first night the students will work on their interpretation of the scripture text they have chosen. Then they will do their basic design on canvas. Friday and Saturday they will work on collaging, and also will incorporate some painting into the piece of art. Participants will use papers, magazines, letters, found objects, etc.., to create the pieces of art. Students are encouraged to bring a few items, (example: letters, notes, stamps, etc..) to make their piece more personal. All other supplies will be provided.
Come and take part in this class of self-expression.
Melissa Strickler an artist and iconographer, will be the instructor of the class. Melissa creates her art at Sacred Wind Studio, close to her home nestled next to the Wind River mountains in Lander, Wyoming. Melissa Strickler, has had a passion for art since childhood. She has pursued art at Casper College in Casper, Wyoming, Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas, Glassell School of Art in Houston, Texas, and has studied with master iconographers from both Greece, and Russia. Melissa taught art at St. Margaret’s Catholic School in Riverton, Wyoming. She owned and operated a photography studio with emphasis on black and white portraits, while living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
June 15 – 17, 2012
Mosaics as Meditation
Leader: Kathy Thaden.
Cost: Cost $230 (includes room and board for 2 nights, as well as mosaic supplies;
a $50 deposit is required to secure your space)
Come explore modern mosaics in a contemplative setting as you enter into a quiet space to listen and respond to God while arranging glass, found objects and other materials into a mosaic. The weekend will consist of four workshop sessions - beginners as well as experienced mosaicists will benefit from this time of intentionally focusing on the creative process. The retreat will include reflection, prayer, music and silence as well as hands-on instruction and demonstrations.
Instructor Kathy Thaden’s award-winning mosaics have been exhibited across the US and in Canada. Kathy describes working in mosaic as “a transforming process. The glass is broken, shaped, fit together and made whole again.” www.thadenmosaics.com
June 21 – 24, 2012
Weaving, Labyrinth and Contemplative Exploration Workshop
Leader: Aneesha Parrone of Arpana Aneesha Studio, llc
Assistant: Sue Wood, Art Therapist
Cost: $250; accommodations included
Join us for two and a half days of quiet conversation, art making and contemplation in the restful atmosphere and natural beauty of northern Colorado at the Abbey of St. Walburga. Rejuvenate, relax and pray while creating your own personal tapestry for sacred spaces.
Explore the transformative power of labyrinths and weaving within a contemplative experience. We will create a woven background and display a personal labyrinth on it as we explore our creativity through contemplation. This workshop is designed to deepen your relationship with God and support your own transformational process. No weaving experience necessary.
What to bring: 3 skeins of different colored yarn to share ( any weight), article of clothing to cut into strips, things you may want to use for embellishment (charms, gems, stones, shells, beads), your favorite quote, your smiling, playfully creative heart and spirit.
Materials we will provide: frame looms for weaving, warp yarn, scissors, paint, paper, colored pencils, craft wire, additional labyrinth and weaving resource handouts, soothing music, sacred space accompanied by our smiling playful hearts and spirits.
If you have questions, feel free to email Aneesha at aneeshaparrone@yahoo.com with St. Walburga Abbey in the subject box.
Aneesha Parrone has been a weaver/fiber artist since 1977. Writing has been a faithful companion on her artistic journey. She studied weaving at Barton College, Penland School of Crafts, Haystacks School of Crafts and implemented graduate work in fibers and writing at Goddard College. In addition, in 1979 she served as apprentice to North Carolina master weaver, Jane Weir. Exhibiting throughout the state and nationally, her work expresses an exceptional style of tapestry weaving. Her weavings are the result of meditation and integration of ideas. She says, "I reflect on expressions of the heart, meditations, literature, nature, music, memories, even conversations. Therefore, each work of art is unique.
July 27-29, 2012
Meditative Painting with Water Colors
Leader: Karen Castranova
Details TBA
September 27-30
Cultivating the Garden of the Heart
Leader: Sue Wood
Details TBA
WEEK LONG RETREAT
August 26- September 2, 2012
Icon Workshop
Leader: Melissa Strickler
Limit to 10 people, More details TBA
Melissa Strickler an artist and iconographer, will be the instructor of the class. Melissa creates her art at Sacred Wind Studio, close to her home nestled next to the Wind River mountains in Lander, Wyoming. Melissa Strickler, has had a passion for art since childhood. She has pursued art at Casper College in Casper, Wyoming, Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas, Glassell School of Art in Houston, Texas, and has studied with master iconographers from both Greece, and Russia. Melissa taught art at St. Margaret’s Catholic School in Riverton, Wyoming. She owned and operated a photography studio with emphasis on black and white portraits, while living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Our retreats are open to interested men and women of all denominations. The programs include presentations, times for quiet prayer and reflection, and opportunities to join with nuns for the Eucharist and the Divine Office.
All retreatants generally have private rooms. The bathrooms are shared.
Weekend Retreats begin with registration on Friday afternoon, 3-4 p.m. in the Abbey Retreat House. The first session will be held after the 6:05 p.m. supper. Unless otherwise indicated, the retreat ends on Sunday, after breakfast (available until about 10:00 am).
REGISTRATION
