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Retreat center invites people to be still a while "In a world that is constantly in motion, it is difficult to be still." That's why, each month from September through June, the Dominican Spiritual Life Center in Niskayuna offers weekend retreats for Catholics in the Albany Diocese. The quotation comes from the center's website. Part of their extensive retreat program includes nine weekends for women that follow the theme, "Be Still and Know That I Am God," a phrase taken from Psalm 46. Each retreat is led by a different director who brings his or her own unique charism to the weekend. For women "Our Center sponsors about ten theme weekends each year in addition to our women's retreats," Sister Bernice Carroll, CSJ, told The Evangelist. The native of the Albany Diocese recently joined the staff of the center. The women's retreats, titled "Woman to Woman," offer "a variety of activities for women that include prayer, conferences, worship, song, meals, sharing and 'alone time,'" she said. There are also retreats for men only, and for men and women together. Step aside Sister Bernice explained that the retreats are designed to assist people in quieting themselves enough to realize that there is more to who they are than the side they reveal to family, friends and co-workers. "The weekend is a time for women to pursue the words of the psalm: to go inside oneself and tap her spiritual side," she said. The retreats begin on Friday evening with gathering, prayer, a short orientation, time to meet each other and settle in. On Saturday, two conferences are scheduled. Later, there is time for an optional short session with the staff or for "alone time." "We have found that the time a retreat participant spends alone is very important and necessary to the discernment process of the retreat," Sister Bernice noted. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available Saturday evening; on Sunday morning, there is group prayer, breakfast and the final conference. The weekend concludes with a 1:30 p.m. liturgy. (For reservations, call 393-4169 or visit www.dominican-spiritual-life-center.com. The next women's retreat is Feb. 28-March 2. The leader will be Rev. Richard McNally of Wareham, Mass. He is a priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.) |