Retreats provide women religious with way to fortify link to God

Sister Jean Francis Whalen, CSJ, has been making annual retreats for the past 62 years because they help her to renew and refresh her relationship with God.

She prefers to make her retreat in a setting that is different from her everyday environment.

"When I am on retreat, I can concentrate on my relationship with God and God's relationship with me," she explained, "so I want it to be away from the community that I live and work with the rest of the year."

Being with God

For the retired teacher, going on retreat means to "be with God," and she finds her spiritual renewal at Genesis, a retreat center in Westfield, Mass., operated by the Sisters of Providence.

The center offers options, such as preached and directed retreats. Sister Jean prefers the latter because she is free to "pray, meditate and be silent throughout most of the day, as one chooses," with time set aside for talking with the retreat director.

One of the things that draws her back to Genesis year after year is the Compassionate Walk, a path that takes the retreatant on a nature walk through hills, forested land and gardens.

Rainbow dance

Sister Jean has had many memorable experiences while on retreat, but one recent experience stands out in her mind.

"One morning, I was out walking early," she recalled. "The dew was still on the grass. I paused for a moment and noticed each individual blade of grass at my feet. All of a sudden, the sun's rays hit the dew, and all these beautiful little rainbows were dancing at my feet, as if God had given them specially to me.

"It is experiences just like that one that are so meaningful when you are on a retreat."

Gift to be away

Sister Nola Brunner, CSJ, vicar for religious for the Diocese of Albany, has tried many styles of retreats. She feels it is a luxury to be able to take a week off with no responsibilities and refresh her relationship with God.

"I consider it a special gift that we [women religious] are privileged to enjoy," she said. "I am a lover of nature and will go where I can be close to water, either the ocean or a lake. That is where I can reconnect with God in a different way."

She thinks that going on retreat helps renew and refresh a person's relationship with God and their work -- and for religious women, their life in a community setting.

"Whatever you do, you're going to do it better after a retreat," she said.

Keeping quiet

While retreat styles can vary, Sister Nola said that most are silent, meaning that there is minimal or no discussion among participants.

According to Sister Jean, most women religious prefer it that way. "I would always prefer a silent retreat because that is where your relationship with God is renewed," she explained. "That is the necessary component for a successful retreat where prayer, meditation, contemplation or simply thinking and reflecting come in."

Sister Nola added: "The yearly retreat is a blessed time. I wish everyone could have the opportunity that is given to us. It is a chance to reconnect with God, to look at oneself, and to come away strengthened in body, mind and spirit."

Said Sister Jean: "I take the thoughts and reflections I have made back with me to my daily work and routine. I try to keep these alive throughout the year."

(Brother Renatus Foldenauer, CSC, assistant superior at St. Joseph's Retreat Center in Valatie, has been directing retreats for priests, religious and laity for 16 years. "People today really are hungry for a relationship with God," he said. "Whether that person is a religious sister, priest, brother or a lay Catholic, we all seem to crave the spiritual renewal that a retreat can provide.")

(1/15/04)