Personally Directed Retreats

Step into God’s presence through prayer, reflection, and silence. Rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Personally Directed Retreats have been a cherished part of the Jesuit tradition at Milford for more than forty years. These retreats offer a flexible, prayerful environment designed to meet the unique spiritual needs of each individual. While praying in community with others, retreatants follow their own schedule and spiritual journey, meeting daily with a trained Spiritual Director who serves as a companion in discerning God’s presence and invitations. Whether you are seeking a deeper relationship with God, looking to renew your faith, navigating a crossroads in life, or simply longing for time to listen more attentively to your heart and to God’s voice, this retreat provides the space and support to do so. Along with daily liturgy, retreatants are encouraged to pray and reflect through journaling, reading, artistic expression, walks on our 37-acre grounds, rest, and other practices that foster deeper awareness of God’s loving presence.

Register for an Upcoming Retreat

DATE	DIRECTORS
July 31-August 7, 2026 7-night retreat \| $910	Stacy Hennessy, Sr. Donna Steffen, SC; Fr. Jeff Putthoff, SJ; Mary Ann Hegner; Lori Hamilton; Fr. Del Staigers; Amy Hoover	Register
October 2-9, 2026 7-night retreat \| $910	Fr. Paul Panaretos, SJ; Sr. Donna Steffen, SC; Fr. Al DeGiacomo; Fr. Paul Panaretos, SJ; Julie Murray; Sr. Fran Repka, RSM; Sr. Kathleen Hine, SND; Sr. Joyce Diltz, PHJC	Register
December 6-11, 2026 5-night retreat \| $650	Fr. Paul Macke, SJ; Fr. Al DeGiacomo; Dan Roche; Sr. Dorothy Schuette, OSB; Julie Murray; Todd Long; Chuck Kohl	Register
February 19 – 22, 2027 3-night retreat \| $390	Fr. Paul Panaretos, SJ; Liz Tassone; Roger Johannigman; Sr. Barbara Leonard, OSF; Chuck Kohl; Cissy Eyre; Stacy Hennessy	Coming Soon
June 18 – 25, 2027 7-night retreat \| $910	Stacy Hennessy; Sr. Donna Steffen, SC; Fr.Al DeGiacomo; Fr. Bob Thesing, SJ; Fr. Paul Panaretos, SJ; Lori Hamilton	Coming Soon
August 6 – 13, 2027 7-night retreat \| $910	Amy Hoover; Marc Greenburg; Fr.Al DeGiacomo; Linda Young; Sr. Donna Steffen, SC	Coming Soon
October 1 – 8, 2027 7-night retreat \| $910	Fr. Paul Macke, SJ; Julie Murray; Mary Ann Hegner; Todd Long; Fr. Michael Graham, SJ; Sr. Dorothy Schuette, OSB	Coming Soon
December 3 – 8, 2027 5-night retreat \| $650	Fr. Paul Panaretos, SJ; Julie Murray; Fran Repka, RSM; Sr. Dorothy Schuette, OSB; Fr. Paul Macke, SJ; Fr. Bob Thesing, SJ; Todd Long	Coming Soon

“Never having been on a retreat, I was concerned that with so much ‘free’ time I would grow bored. Far from it! I found the time to read, pray, write, and walk etc. quite fulfilling. And time to rest!”

“The contemplative nature of the JSC is wonderful. Beautiful grounds, the silence and peace all enhanced the retreat.”

“I never knew that being ‘still’ was a form of prayer. Thank you for teaching this. I realized that God was not away from me. He was waiting for me.”

“The silence of the grounds and whole area helped me to focus on my retreat and the respect of the staff for our silence. Thank you. I love coming here and will be back, hopefully with my two friends.”

“Nature is stunning here. The Little Miami is a delightful gift!”

Spiritual Exercises

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 can struggle to attend to God. Retreat silence deepens our spiritual life and enables us to notice the movements of grace in each moment.

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.

FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers

What can I expect?

On a Personally Directed Retreat, you can expect a silent experience. Each day, you may attend mass and meet with a trained spiritual director. There will also be opportunities for Adoration, Reconciliation, Morning Prayer, and a professional massage. Retreatants have access to a wide variety of art supplies throughout, and may explore our beautiful grounds, including an outdoor Stations of the Cross, a Labyrinth, a Rosary garden, the Little Miami River, and more.

What is the typical schedule?

Day of Arrival:
Arrival – 4:30pm
Check-in – 5:00pm
Dinner – 6:00pm

Typical Day:
Breakfast – 8:15am
Lunch – 12:30pm
Mass – 5:00pm
Dinner – 6:00pm

Spiritual Direction is scheduled sometime throughout the day by the retreatant and their director.

*Retreat schedule is subject to change.

What Should I Bring?

Personal Spiritual resources (i.e., Bible, Journal, or reflection materials)
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Deodorant
Lotion/moisturizer
Eye mask and/or earplugs
Shower shoes
Bathrobe
Slippers
Sweater or jacket
Extra pillow and/or throw blanket
Medications
Special shampoo or soap

What are Bedrooms like?

Each bedroom has a sink, writing table, chair, small closet, and a bible.

What are Restroom | Shower rooms like?

There are three communal wash rooms in the retreat house. Each wash rooms has private bathrooms, shower stalls, and dressing rooms.

What are meals like?

Meals at Jesuit Spiritual Center are served in our beautiful common dining rooms. Our kitchen staff takes great pride in providing nutritious meals. We can accommodate most special dietary needs you may have, with prior notification.