Upcoming Retreats at St. John's Convent, Toronto

The Sisters welcome guests for rest, refreshment, retreat, and participation in the Community's prayer and liturgy. All are welcome.

Spend as much time as you like in a private retreat or simply enjoying some peace and quiet, fellowship, and the liturgies of the community. Cost is our normal per-day fee for the Guest House. If you would like to participate in a slightly more structured way, consider the following opportunities as well. See fees & registration here »

PHYLLIS TICKLE Recent Special Events, see here » Phyllis Tickle's Emergence Christianity bibliography here » [143k pdf]

QUIET GARDEN DAYS July 31, September 25, 2010

Inspired by the Quiet Garden Trust in England, this is a day to relax, renew, and rest in the beauty of God’s outdoors, as well as to enjoy the Sisters’ chapel and library. In case of rain, there is plenty of space indoors to wander, sit, dream, and pray. We begin with a brief time of prayer, and a Sister will offer suggestions on how to use the day. The rest of the morning is yours. TheEucharist is celebrated at noon, followed by dinner, and the afternoon is again free, with a brief gathering at 3 pm when we will have a closing time of prayer, and the option of sharing the fruits of the day.

Begins 9:30 am with gathering for coffee; ends at 3:30 pm. Standard fee for Quiet Garden Days. See registration here » View/download the poster for this retreat here » [506k pdf]

Individually Directed Retreat:
SUMMER DIRECTED RETREAT August 8-13, 2010

This is a 5-day individually directed retreat, open to all who would like to enjoy the peaceful spaciousness of the summer gardens and beautiful restfulness of the indoor spaces at St. John’s Convent. You will have an opportunity to be accompanied individually in your prayer as you respond to the Spirit of God within you. The retreat may be lengthened or shortened depending on availability of space and directors. Led by experienced spiritual directors.

Begins 4 pm Sunday; ends 1:30 pm Friday. Standard fee for Directed Retreats; special student rate applies. See registration here »

Quiet Saturdays:
TAKEN, BLESSED, BROKEN, GIVEN September 18, 2010

In the Eucharist, the ordinary gifts of bread and wine are taken, blessed, broken and given as extraordinary gifts for the world. This quiet day will explore how we, as ordinary people, are taken, blessed, broken and given by God as extraordinary gifts for the world. Led by the Rev. David Harrison, Associate of SSJD and Rector of St. Thomas, Brookin in the Diocese of Toronto. He is also an accomplished organist.

Begins 9:30 am with gathering for coffee; ends at 3:30 pm. Standard fee for Quiet Saturdays. See registration here »

Individually Directed Retreat:
WEEKEND RETREAT September 24-26, 2010

This is an opportunity to be accompanied individually as a way to deepen your prayer life, to explore particular issues or needs in your relationship with God, and to grow in sensitivity to the movements of the Spirit of God within you. Led by experienced spiritual directors.

Begins at 4 pm Friday, ends 1:30 pm Sunday. Standard weekend fee. See registration here »

Guided Retreat:
HOMECOMING: WITH HENRI NOUWEN AS GUIDE October 1-3, 2010

“Parental love is a limited reflection of an unlimited love . . . Partly for this reason all of us feel the desire to search beyond home for our belovedness, and we generally get caught in many of the cultural movements that exist around us. (Henri Nouwen, Home Tonight, Doubleday 2009). This “Homecoming” retreat promises to be a weekend exploring God's call to accept unconditional love and to come home to our true identity. Using the life and books of the late Henri Nouwen, Sr. Sue Mosteller, CSJ will deepen the themes of coming home to self, coming home to loved ones, and coming home to the One Who made us. Sue is a Sister of St. Joseph and a long-time member of the L’Arche Daybreak Community in Richmond Hill. Sue worked closely with Henri during his ten years at Daybreak and completed his last two books after his death.

Begins at 4 pm Friday, ends 1:30 pm Sunday. Standard weekend fee. See registration here »

Quiet Saturdays:
KNITTING TO GOD’S HEARTBEAT: A QUIET SATURDAY October 16, 2010

Knitters know that there is so much more than the finished project. There is the joy of creating each stitch and with the creation of each stitch you can feel the pull into silence. Mindful knitting can become the gateway to a contemplative practice. Come and discover with Sr. Amy, SSJD (who loves to spin and knit) how time spent with your handwork contributes to both the experience and expression of mindfulness. Bring a current project that you are working on and a skein of worsted weight yarn and needles. Participants should be comfortable with basic knitting skills (casting on, knit and purl stitch). To download the poster for this day, (pdf: 500k) click the pic!

Begins 9:30 am with gathering for coffee; ends at 3:30 pm. Standard fee for Quiet Saturdays. See registration here »

Individually Directed Retreat:
READING WEEK RETREAT October 24-29, 2010

This is a 5-day individually directed retreat, open to everyone but timed especially for Toronto School of Theology students. Enjoy a time of silence, rest in God, and an opportunity to be accompanied individually in your prayer as you respond to the Spirit of God within you. Those who cannot come for the whole week may arrange for a shorter retreat, depending on available space. Led by experienced spiritual directors.

Begins 4 pm Sunday; ends 1:30 pm Friday. Standard fee for Directed Retreats; special student rate applies. See registration here »

Guided Retreat:
SACRED ART JOURNEY October 29-31, 2010

Sacred art is a prayer of awareness in which the visual image communicates more deeply than words. In this retreat we will explore our ways in which our outer journeys reflect our inner journeys, through forms of art from the mundane (painting sneakers) to the transcendent (drawing mandalas and mandorlas). As we “play” with art, we “pray” our longing for God and move more deeply into experiencing God’s longing for us. You do not need to be "artistic" to pray with art; you only need to be willing to experiment and have fun. Led by Sisters of SSJD. To download the poster for this day, (pdf: 500k) click the pic!

Begins 4 pm Friday, ends 1:30 pm Sunday. Standard weekend fee, with an additional fee of $10 for art supplies. All participants should bring a pair of plain white sneakers. See registration here »

Quiet Saturdays:
THE PSALMS SPEAKING “FOR US” November 6, 2010

University of Chicago theologian, the Rev. Martin Marty, once said this about the psalms' unique role in biblical literature: "The Bible speaks to us, but the psalms speak for us." Expressing almost every human emotion imaginable, the psalms convey the honest – and sometimes shocking – sentiments of the human soul's encounter with God. As such, they have ever been a rich source for prayer when our individual spiritual "wells" are running dry. This day of prayer and learning will encourage participants to engage the psalms in new and life-giving ways, while providing plenty of time for silence and reflection. The leader will be the Rev. Claudine Carlson, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Richmond Hill. She has taught courses in spiritual formation at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary and offered several workshops on the relationship between psychological type and spirituality.

Begins 9:30 am with gathering for coffee; ends at 3:30 pm. Standard fee for Quiet Saturdays. See registration here »

Guided Retreat:
PRAYING WITH JULIAN OF NORWICH November 19-21, 2010

Julian was an anchoress and visionary of the 14th Century, a contemporary of Chaucer, who withdrew from society in order to devote herself completely to prayer and contemplation. She lived in a small room attached to the outside wall of St. Julian's Church in Norwich, England. Although she lived the secluded life of a hermit, her counsel was sought by many people. Come and learn something of Julian's great love for God and her deep spirituality. Led by Sr. Elizabeth, SSJD, Novitiate Director, Assistant to the Rev. Mother, and a long-time fan of Dame Julian.

Begins at 4 pm Friday, ends 1:30 pm Sunday. Standard weekend fee. See registration here »

Quiet Saturdays:
THE TENDER COMPASSION OF OUR GOD:
ADVENT QUIET DAY FOR ASSOCIATES AND FRIENDS December 4, 2010

The Song of Zechariah (the Benedictus) expresses beautifully "The Tender Compassion of our God." Advent is a time to reflect on the ways God reaches out to us in the coming of Jesus, as we cope with the confusion and chaos of our world and our church. Led by Archbishop Fred Hiltz, an Associate of SSJD and Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada.

Begins 9:30 am with gathering for coffee; ends at 3:30 pm. Standard fee for Quiet Saturdays. See registration here »

Individually Directed Retreat:
WEEKEND RETREAT December 10-12, 2010

This is an opportunity to be accompanied individually as a way to deepen your prayer life, to explore particular issues or needs in your relationship with God, and to grow in sensitivity to the movements of the Spirit of God within you. Led by experienced spiritual directors.

Begins at 4 pm Friday, ends 1:30 pm Sunday. Standard weekend fee. See registration here »

Special Event:
CHRISTMAS SEASON OPPORTUNITIES December 22, 2010 - January 7, 2011

Come any time during the Christmas / New Year / Epiphany season, and spend as much time as you like in a private retreat or simply enjoying some peace and quiet, fellowship, and the liturgies of the season. Cost is our normal per-day fee for the Guest House. If you would like to participate in a slightly more structured way, consider the following Christmas and New Year’s opportunities as well. See registration here »

Guided Retreat:
CHRISTMAS RETREAT December 23-26, 2010

Celebrate Christmas with the Sisters, enjoying the pre-Christmas and Christmas liturgies, with time for both quiet reflection and festive celebration. Sisters of SSJD will lead participants in a period of daily reflection, with opportunity to express their creativity in decorating the Guest House as well as joining in the singing and celebrations of Christmas.

Begins 4 pm Thursday, ends 1:30 pm Sunday. Special holiday rate of $210 for this three-day retreat. See registration here »

Guided Retreat:
CELEBRATING THE PAST, VISIONING THE NEW December 31, 2010 - January 1, 2011

Tired of New Year’s Eve parties? Consider spending 28 hours (or more if you wish) at the Convent, celebrating the New Year in liturgy, enjoyment of festive food, and fellowship. Sisters of SSJD will guide participants in reflecting on the blessings and challenges of the year past, and envisioning God’s invitation to each in the new year.

Begins 9 am Thursday, ends 1:30 pm Friday. Fee is $100 with a $35 deposit. See registration here »