8-Day Spiritual Exercises for Priests

Dates

• July 18-28 | Register
  • Arrival: Late afternoon, Tuesday, July 18th.
  • Optional outing during the day on Wednesday, July 19.
  • Retreat begins after dinner at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, July 19.
  • Departure after breakfast the morning of Tuesday, July 28.
  • Cost: $975 per person (includes single bedroom, meals, retreat booklet & material.)
  • Please Note: This retreat will track with a Lay Men's Week-Long retreat.
  • Preacher: Fr. Peter Hopkins, LC

•  August 14-24, 2023  | Register
  • Arrival: Late afternoon, Monday, Aug 14.
  • Optional outing during the day on Tuesday, Aug 15.
  • Retreat begins after dinner at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, Aug 15.
  • Departure after breakfast the morning of Thursday, Aug 24.
  • Cost: $975 per person (includes single bedroom, meals, retreat booklet & material.)
  • Preacher: Fr. Peter Hopkins, LC

ABOUT THIS YEAR'S RETREAT

The Exercises will be based on the extensive writings of Pope Benedict XVI from his 3 volumes on Jesus of Nazareth, homilies, encyclical letters to many articles that deepen our reflection on the perennial themes of St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises.

We offer 5-day and 8-day silent retreats for priests based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

During a Directed Retreat, a conference is given in the morning summarizing the suggested meditation themes for the day according to the dynamics of the spiritual exercises.  In the afternoon a second conference is given on priestly spirituality.  A spiritual director is assigned to meet with the retreatant daily.  Together they explore the retreatant’s experience of the Holy Spirit guiding the retreatant. 

The Week-Long Spiritual Exercises are for those well familiar with mental prayer, silence and the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. This longer format permits more personal prayer time. With longer periods of silence, you are challenged to stretch your soul, thus engage in deeper intimacy with God. 

The preaching moments are meant to provide a general direction for the day, but not replace the retreatant's heart to heart dialogue with God.

With limited moments of preaching, when the general direction is given for the day, the retreatants are free to pray on their own. The retreat master and other spiritual directors are available for the daily colloquy to help the retreatants detect the movements of the Holy Spirit.

Retreat Director: Fr. Peter Hopkins, LC 

Fr. Peter was born in Syracuse, New York.  He studied Liberal Arts at Thomas Aquinas College in California before entering the Legionaries of Christ in 1977.   He completed his philosophical and theological studies in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the University of St. Thomas Aquinas.  Fr. Peter received his master’s degree in psychology from Divine Mercy University in 2016.  He has worked in Ireland and Mexico in the Catholic formation of youth and family. He was the founder and director of the Our Lady of Mt. Kisco Retreat & Family Center in New York.  Fr. Peter is currently the Program Director and Chaplain at Our Lady of Bethesda.  He was ordained by St. John Paul II along with his two younger brothers in St. Peter’s Basilica in 1991.  He also has a sister who is a Nashville Dominican.  

It's good to enjoy some recreation time before diving into the Spiritual Exercises! The retreat will begin after dinner the day of the optional optional.  

Retreatants may choose between:

• Option 1: Tour of the Bible Museum, John Paul II Museum and the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
• Option 2:  Hike along the C&O Canal and enjoy a barbeque lunch.