Take a God Vacation – Retreats at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit
Published April 29, 2020
Saint James gave us this oft quoted piece of wisdom. “Draw near to God and God will draw near to you.” James 4:8
One way to draw near to God is by going on retreat at Holy Spirit Monastery in Conyers Georgia. The act of traveling to the monastery to me, is a pilgrimage in itself. It begins with a prayer inviting God to come and be with me, “Let’s be together” I say in prayer to Him. I remember the first time I went there I felt I had seen it in a dream before. I felt like I was loved. It was the same feeling I would feel whenever I would go visit my grandparents growing up.
The retreat is one of the most highly recommended spiritual practices of the Catholic Church. Jesus himself went away from the crowds to pray and refresh is his soul. Priests are supposed to take an annual retreat and the bishops recommend this practice to everyone. Most Catholic dioceses around the world offer at least one annual retreat for their parishioners.
Here in the USA the Cistercian religious order offers two types of retreats at their various monasteries throughout the country. The guided retreat offers the experience of discussions on spiritual topics such as prayer or going through the grieving process that are led by the monks or associated laypersons. Private retreats provide the setting, books and church for you to go be alone with God.
Retreats at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers Georgia
Holy Spirit Monastery in Conyers offers both kinds of retreats all year round. When you arrive you are given a schedule of the guided retreat as well as the times of prayer in the church. You are given a key to your room in their dorm like retreat house. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are offered at specific times and if you miss those times you can make yourself a peanut butter and jelly and a cup of tea in the dining room. With the exception of the conferences, strict silence is observed in hallways and bedrooms. If you want to talk you can go outside into the beautiful wooded walkways, fields and lakeside. The sacrament of Confession is offered every day around 6:30pm.
Between conferences I encourage a visit to the amazing gift shop stocked with religious books, jewelry, statues and other works of art, food items. There is an enormous bonsai and garden store as well as a monastic museum complete with a theater for watching the documentary on how the monastery was built and came to be.
If you pray better while walking in nature there is a paved wooded trail that goes for miles and miles right through the monastery property and then all over the state of Georgia. But don’t miss your dinner time unless you really like peanut butter and jelly.
Refresh Your Soul with a Christian Retreat
I have been making an annual retreat here for about 20 plus years. I have always come home grateful for the experience and am always helped in some important way.
When a person is thirsty they go to a water source to get a drink. When our soul is thirsty we can go to pray and connect with Our Father. Retreat is one way to do this, a very beautiful and refreshing way.
There is a saying “When Mamma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” Going on a God vacation – retreat – makes this mamma happy. And I also love peanut butter and jelly.
Here is the retreat schedule at Holy Spirit Monastery: Click Here
Seek a Deeper Connection with God and Join Lay Cistercians of South Florida
Lay Cistercians of South Florida, is a community of lay people who seeks to have a deeper connection with God by living a life inspired by the monks and nuns through Lay Monasticism. Learn more about what is a Lay Cistercian on our website. Anyone who aspires to do the same as us, and is a confirmed Catholic is welcome to join us! We meet every second Saturday of the month at Emmanuel Catholic Church in Delray Beach, Florida.
This Content Has Been Reviewed For Accuracy
This content has undergone comprehensive fact-checking by our dedicated team of experts. Discover additional information about the rigorous editorial standards we adhere to on our website.
ADVERTISEMENT
About The Author
Nancy Heise is a devoted Catholic and a member of the Lay Cistercians of South Florida based in Delray Beach Florida. This private group is affiliated with the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers Georgia.
