Personally Directed Retreats

Take a step into God’s presence to pray, listen, reflect. Enter the silence. Personally Directed Retreats provide an environment to meet the spiritual and personal needs of the individual. This is a time to grow at one’s own pace and schedule with the guidance of a personal conference each day. Whether you are searching for a new way of knowing God that is real and personal, wanting to deepen and refresh your faith, or may be at a crossroad and seeking direction, come and listen to your hopes, your heart, and the word of God, as God comes to speak within you.

Come and Find Rest

We provide spiritual retreats and sacred space for prayer and discernment where people of all walks of life are encouraged to experience a deeper relationship with God.

Spiritual Exercise

Retreats include solitude, personal prayer guided by scripture, daily conference with spiritual director, Mass and morning prayer.

Examen

God is found in our experiences. During each retreat, the Examen is offered as a process to reflect on our daily experiences with God.

Silence

Often in our busy world we struggle to hear God’s voice. Silence deepens our spiritual life, and enables us to listen to the presence of God within ourselves.

Discernment

Retreatants deepen their relationship with God through their own freedom of choice, whether making a major life decision or finding a new perspective on a certain situation.

What is a Personally Directed Retreat?

Rooted in the Gospel and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Personally Directed Retreat has been a part of the Jesuit tradition at Milford for more than forty years. You will be praying in community with others, but on your own schedule, following the needs and hopes you have brought. Each retreatant will meet with a Spiritual Director who serves as a companion on their week-long journey listening, responding and supporting them throughout their retreat. The time away includes daily liturgy, and other activities designed to deepen one’s awareness, such as journaling, reading, working with art materials, listening to music, resting, or walking our 37-acre-grounds.

Register for an Upcoming Retreat

DATE	DIRECTORS
May 5 – 12, 2023 8-day retreat \| $840	Richard Bollman, SJ; Joyce Detzel, CDP; Anne Flanagan, SNDdeN; Marc Greenberg; Amy Hoover; Julie Murray; Fran Repka, RSM; Bob Thesing, SJ	Register Now
June 2 – 11, 2023 10-day retreat \| $1200	Barbara Bir, OSU; Richard Bollman, SJ; Mary Ann Hegner; Todd Long; Helen O’Brien, OSU	Register Now
July 10 – 15, 2023 6-day retreat \| $720	Richard Bollman, SJ; Marc Greenberg; Stacy Hennessy; Mary Ann Hegner; Dede Swinehart; Bob Thesing, SJ	Register Now
August 4 – 11, 2023 8-day retreat \| $840	Richard Bollman, SJ; Joan Deiters, SC; Todd Long; Antoinette Purcell, OSB; Donna Steffen, SC	Register Now
October 6 – 13, 2023 8-day retreat \| $840	Richard Bollman, SJ; Amy Hoover; Roger Johannigman; Todd Long; Julie Murray; Helen O’Brien, OSU; Donna Steffen, SC; Dede Swinehart; Wanda Wetli, CSJ	Register Now
December 1 – 8, 2023 8-day retreat \| $840	Richard Bollman, SJ; Anne Flanagan, SNDdeN; Stacy Hennessy; Paul Macke, SJ; Julie Murray; Helen O’Brien, OSU; Dan Roche; Dorothy Schuette, OSB	Register Now

Overlook of the Little Miami River...

FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers

What is the typical schedule?

Registration begins at 5:00pm on the first day followed by dinner at 6:00pm. You will meet your director at 7pm and orientation is at 7:30pm. The retreat ends with lunch at 11:45am on the last day.

What can I expect?

This is a 8-day silent retreat which will include daily individual spiritual direction. There will be designated time for Eucharist and Morning Prayer. There are some art materials, clay and pastels for your use. There is an exercise room on the grounds.

What Should I Bring?

Personal Spiritual resources (ie. Bible, journal, or reflective book)
Alarm clock
Toiletries (ie. toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, razor, shaving cream, brush or comb)
Appropriate clothes for your walk to and from the bathroom and shower room
Comfortable informal clothing(we recommend clothes that can be layered, especially during the cool months)
Comfortable shoes for walking our grounds
Gym shoes for our exercise room

What are Bedrooms like?

The bedrooms provide a sink, writing table and chair, small closet, and Bible. There are shared bathrooms and shower rooms.

What are meals like?

Meals at Jesuit Spiritual Center are served in our common dining rooms. Our kitchen staff takes great pride in providing nutritious meals.