Silent retreats – go within

As Lent unfolds, many Catholics embrace the opportunity to deepen their spiritual journeys, with silent retreats often playing a significant role during this sacred season. Seeking to understand more about these transformative experiences, Catholic News reporter Kaelanne Jordan reached out to several retreat centres that offer such spiritual opportunities.

The Emmaus Retreat Centre, nestled in the tranquility of Torrecilla Gardens, Arima, provides a space for individuals to step away from the busyness of life and seek renewal, prayer, rest, and an encounter with the Divine.

Sr Patrice Simmons SJC, a key figure at the Retreat Centre, describes it as a place “far from the madding crowd,” offering an environment where individuals can reconnect with their faith, recharge, and become more effective in their respective ministries and lives.

For many, the Emmaus Centre’s offerings, particularly during Lent, are an integral part of spiritual growth. Whether it’s a Silent Directed Retreat or a retreat focused on specific aspects of personal development, each experience is designed to meet participants where they are in their spiritual journeys.

Sr Patrice emphasised that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to retreats, as every individual is “unique and are at various stages of growth and development.”

“For example, if I’m thinking of marriage and hoping to meet someone, I might attend many of the Choice retreats that serve the needs of young adults…. If I want to deepen my relationship with God, I may come on my own or attend the Silent Directed Retreats that are offered,” Sr Patrice said.

She noted that common struggles faced by retreatants often stem from internal conflicts, such as the difficulty of forgiveness or letting go of past hurts.

“Persons find it difficult to forgive or to let go of an incident that would have taken place many, many years ago. The corollary to that is sometimes, they feel that their sin is so bad that God cannot forgive them.”

She encouraged retreatants to trust in God’s mercy, offering comforting passages from Scripture which affirm God’s forgiveness and love. “And we leave the Holy Spirit, to continue what He started, when He first convicted them to come,” Sr Patrice said.

She shared feedback to The Catholic News from a participant from St Lucia, Emma Bernard-Joseph, who has been attending retreats at the Centre for “a number of years”. She recalled the first time she arrived at the Centre she felt “a deep sense of peace.”

“My favourite spots are the gardens and the Adoration Chapel where I always feel close to God. In addition, the spiritual direction I receive from the spiritual directors assist in my spiritual growth,” Bernard-Joseph said.

She added that Easter is her favourite season of the year, so she uses the Lenten season to “prepare spiritually for it.”

For those attending the Silent Directed Retreat from April 8 to 12, Sr Patrice highlights two important elements: silence and direction. The retreat’s atmosphere is one of complete silence, except for daily one-on-one meetings with a spiritual director.

And those considering a retreat, Sr Patrice’s advice is simple yet profound: “Come with a childlike spirit, i.e. with an open heart and mind, because our God is a God of surprises, and He is extremely good at dismantling the ‘perfect plans’ that we simply want Him to approve.”

Meanwhile, the work of the Foundation for Human Development is rooted in contemplation. The silent retreats, along with all the other work of the Foundation, are intended to address the human condition, “to soften the cover that blocks the image of God within us in whose likeness we have been created,” said one of the Foundation’s facilitators/spiritual guides, Steve Williams.

The facilitators/spiritual guides for their retreats were all trained by Sr Paul d’Ornellas SJC, Foundress of the Foundation, who died in 2016.

Williams explained that the Foundation does silent retreats throughout the year “with no special attention to the Lenten period.” Retreats are conducted in the St Joseph of Cluny holiday house in Rampanalgas, Toco.

“All our retreats are ‘silent,’ but each has a different theme. On retreat there are no goals or objectives. No criteria to meet, no work to be done. The Holy Spirit does all the work,” Williams said.

He said the silent retreat is when persons attempt to engage the inner journey as they attempt to discover who they truly are and who God is for them.

There are three contemplative practices in each of the Foundations’ Silent Retreats: Centering Prayer, Contemplative Walking and Lectio Divina.

In addition, the silent retreat has guided teachings by the facilitator/spiritual guide.

A recent participant, Nigel, at one of the Foundation’s silent retreats had this to say: “My experience was of total surrender to God’s will. It was one that I have never felt before.”

Most participants, Williams said, express gratitude for this period of silence in their lives.

The Foundation also organises three experiences of Walking with God for the year, the Lenten period being one of them. The Walk takes place in Ortinola, Maracas, St Joseph. It is a silent walk with a duration of about two hours.