St. Columba Hosted Retreats

St. Columba Retreat House hosts three Retreats per year: a Spring Retreat; a June Retreat and a Fall Retreat.

Fall Retreat 2007

 The Need to Spend Time in Retreat

It has been said recently that "we live in a world that is dangerously pressurized and changing at a rate that is 'life-taking' rather than 'life-giving,' no matter how it is packaged or what it promises." As Christians, the question we must ask ourselves is not, "How do I escape this world?" but, "How do I live a 'holy and blameless life' in the midst of this world?" It is especially difficult when schedules are full with duties and responsibilities.

Our Lord knew that in order to successfully live "in this world" but not, "of this world" we have to live in an intentional manner. Jesus often invited his disciples to come away to a quiet place to rest and to experience spiritual refreshment and renewal.

"And He said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.' For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat." (Mark 6:31 )

Just like the Apostles, we need time away with the Lord to pray, learn, and reflect. A weekend of silent retreat offers an opportunity to be aware of and respond to God's presence within you and around you.

• When was the last time you spent extended quiet time with Our Lord?
• Do you sometimes feel that your time alone with God, even though it is regular, is not enough?
• Does it seem that you just get started in your communication with the Lord when it is time to move into the activities of the day?
• Do you begin to trace a theme through Scripture or really enjoy a deep sense of peace in prayer and it's time to return to the rat race?
• Perhaps there is a question, a burden, or an issue that you need to discuss at length with your Heavenly Father. Or maybe you desire to enjoy a stretch of uninterrupted peace and quiet alone with the Lord.
• Do you need to take a time like this often to keep your priorities and perspective straight?

If so, I invite you to commit to making a silent retreat and experience a season of refreshment of the Lord.  Anyone who longs to draw near to God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is welcome—both men and women!

Fall Retreat Theme—Trinitarian Living

I will continue the exploration of the theme of Trinitarian Living that I began during the Friends of St. Columba Ingathering. Even though this is a continuation of the theme I explored this past summer, it will stand on its own as an exploration of the theme. I will examine three additional aspects of discipleship and how they are lived on the foundation of the mutual indwelling of God in the believer and the believer in God. Let me quote Fr. Thomas Hopko to give you some background to the theology and approach of Trinitarian Living:

"The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is not merely an 'article of faith' which men are called to 'believe.' It is not simply a dogma which the Church requires its good members to 'accept on faith.' Neither is the doctrine of the Holy Trinity the invention of scholars and academicians... The doctrine of the Holy Trinity arises from man's deepest experiences with God... The Christian life is the life of God accomplished in [individual disciples and the Church] by the Spirit of Christ. [We] can live as Christ has lived, doing the things that he did and becoming sons of God in Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, once more, the Christian life is a Trinitarian life. By the Holy Spirit given by God through Christ, [we] can share the life, the love, the truth, the freedom, the goodness, the holiness, the wisdom, the knowledge of God Himself... The saints of the Church are unanimous in their claim that Christian life is the participation in the life of the Blessed Trinity in the most genuine and realistic way... In the smallest aspects of everyday life Christians are called to live the life of God the Father, which is communicated to them by Christ, the Son of God, and made possible for them by the Holy Spirit who lives and acts within them."

Becoming a partaker of the life of God by grace is the pattern of the Christian life on a personal and corporate basis. We were created and redeemed to be the "icon of God." As a result, the disciple and the Church are the instrumentation through which God, by grace, not only reveals His character to the world but effectively offers and manifests new life in Himself to the world. I hope the weekend will be an encouraging challenge that will serve to refresh your sense of God's presence and fruitful working in the midst of your life on an everyday basis.

We hope you will decide to attend the Fall Retreat for the double blessing time in retreat and the exploration of this important theme.

—Fr. Thomas

(Meals are included in cost of Retreat)
Retreat begins with Evening Prayer
Friday, November 2, 6:00 p.m.
(First meal - Friday dinner at 7:00 p.m. )

Retreat ends
Sunday, November 4, after Liturgy
(Last meal is Sunday breakfast)

$147.00 per person for the weekend retreat
(Bring your own bed linens and towels)
$100.00 per person for those not staying in the retreat house
(Rooms and on a "first come, first serve" basis)

If you have special dietary needs, please include a note with your registration (in the "Comments" field).

Schedule your reservation by calling the St. Columba office at (415) 669-1039, or apply for your reservation through our Reservation Form. A $25 deposit is required after you receive confirmation of your reservation.