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Retreat houses offer a feeling of peace
archived from: 2010-07-26
by: Patricia Bartos

Most retreat centers are operated by religious communities

People sense a feeling of peace as they enter the grounds of the Martina Spiritual Renewal Center in West View.

“The first thing they say is that they never knew we were here. And the second is that it’s like driving into another world,” said Sister Donna Smith, co-director of the center, located on the motherhouse grounds of the Holy Spirit sisters.

And the peaceful setting “lets them leave everything in God’s hands while they get away for a while.”

Retreatants also appreciate the heartfelt welcome, she said. “People need that — in a way being embraced by the space, where time seems to slow down.”

Even workers at the center share the feeling. One visiting worker told her, “Sister, there’s no place else in my life where I find such peace.”

The appeal of silence, prayer and nature continue to attract many to retreat houses throughout the area.

Most are operated by religious communities and located on their spacious, tree-lined grounds. A complete list of retreat houses locally accompanies this story.

Like the other retreat centers, Martina hosts both parish and ecumenical groups seeking spiritual renewal. The center offers retreats, days of reflection and also welcomes individuals for private spiritual direction and retreats.

The sisters also offer a chapel, dining rooms, overnight accommodations, a gym and their garden, outdoor Stations of the Cross and suburban grounds for meditation and exercise.

People continue to seek opportunities for spiritual enrichment, at times without knowing why.

“They want to experience God in the joys, struggles, anxieties and mysteries of their own lives, in all of the experiences of their daily lives,” said Sister Marguerite Kropinak, director of the St. Joseph Spirituality Center in Baden.

“Many seek a deeper experience of Jesus and a better understanding of Scripture,” she said, and by joining in prayer, retreats and spiritual direction “they can deepen all relationships, not only with God, but also with self, others and all of creation.”

The St. Joseph order has a long tradition of providing spiritual direction. The local sisters particularly emphasize Ignatian spirituality and also take retreats and classes on-site to parishes.

Staff members provide “companioning” for those following the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola.

Ignatian spirituality focuses on “finding God in all things,” Sister Marguerite said, recognizing the action of God in all circumstances of a person’s life, helping people to experience God in a way that can lead to deeper relationships with God and others.

Also, the order’s Sister Catherine Higgins coordinates the Jesuit Collaborative in Pittsburgh, offering Ignatian spirituality programs in parishes.

Through “sharing the mission,” the sisters offer outreach to parishes and neighborhoods, presenting 125 programs to some 3,800 people through parish evenings of reflection, renewal, sacramental, Advent and Lenten programs, Scripture classes, pastoral council and RCIA retreats.

At Kearns Spirituality Center in McCandless Township, the Divine Providence sisters offer a wide variety of programs.

The sisters are beginning a series of four daytime retreats, during school hours, for mothers. They host a “high Irish tea” each year to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, offer meditation programs on their full-size outdoor labyrinth and host a Lectio Divina series “of excellent quality” on the last Sunday of each month, according to Sister Joan Coultas, program director.

“Prayer is woven through every presentation,” she said, including the book discussion group she hosts. “Things happen here as much informally as formally.”

The sisters can host conferences for up to 150 people, with overnight accommodations for 59 people.

For smaller groups, or individuals, the order offers retreats and spiritual direction at nearby Providence Villa.

“We regard ourselves as Catholic, reaching out to the inter-faith community,” she said of the center’s programming.

“We’re seeing something that parallels what’s happening on a national level,” she said, noting that some feel more comfortable in a less formal, mixed environment that in a traditional parish setting.

“They are definitely looking for prayer and some are looking for new approaches,” she said. Each winter they jointly host a light-up night with adjacent La Roche College and UPMC Passavant featuring choirs, Santa Claus, choral selections and fireworks.

The order keeps in contact with other area retreat centers through twice-yearly meetings, hosted by rotating retreat houses.

“We really like to do things collaboratively,” she said.

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