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Overnight Retreats (including individually guided retreats)
begin with Evensong at 5:00 pm on the first day. Please plan to
arrive by 4:00 pm if at all possible to have time to check into your room
and get settled. Retreats end after the noon meal on the last day
(approximately 1:30 pm). For retreats ending on Sunday, there is an option
to stay for the afternoon and join the Sisters for Evensong and our weekly
supper-with-conversation. All retreats have a limited number of
participants, usually 25.
REGISTRATION
See here »
CONTACT INFORMATION
St. John’s Convent
Guest House
233 Cummer Avenue
Toronto, ON M2M 2E8
Phone: 416-226-2201,
ext. 305
Fax: 416-226-2131
E-mail: guesthouse@ssjd.ca
Food for the Soul 2009-2010 is the listing and description of retreats and quiet days for the upcoming year.
Download (1.6 MB pdf) here »
RETREATS
St. John's Convent, Toronto
GUIDED RETREATS
Overnight and Guided retreats here » • Personally scheduled retreats here » • Customized Sabbatical Programs here »
QUIET SATURDAYS
here »
QUIET GARDENS
here »
REGISTRATION
here »
RETREATS
at BC House, Victoria details »
ARCHIVE
of recent retreat topics here »
Want to do it yourself?
DESIGN YOUR
OWN PROGRAM
Contact the Guest House for information on the following:
Personal retreats scheduled to suit your timetable, for a day, a week, or longer
Group retreats, quiet days, and workshops scheduled to suit your church or fellowship group (bring your own leader or ask for a Sister to lead)
Personal sabbatical time: come for a month or longer and enjoy the prayerful, peaceful environment of the Convent chapel, library, and gardens as well as comfortable accommodation and delicious meals.
Phone: 416-226-2201, ext. 305
Fax: 416-226-2131
E-mail: guesthouse@ssjd.ca
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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 »
 Individually Directed Retreat:
WEEKEND INDIVIDUALLY DIRECTED RETREAT March 19-21, 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:
EXODUS JOURNEY: A HOLY WEEK RETREAT March 31 - April 4, 2010
Beginning with a Christian adaptation of the Seder meal on Wednesday evening, and ending with the great festival of the Resurrection, share the fellowship, silence, and liturgies of Holy Week with the Sisters, and reflect on the way the mysteries of Jesus’ death and resurrection lead us on our own Exodus journey. Led by Srs. Elizabeth Ann and Constance Joanna. Both sisters have a special love ofr the liturgies of Holy Week and the Jewish origins of our celebrations
Begins at 4 pm Wednesday, ends 1:30 pm Sunday. Special Holy Week fee of $300, with a $50 deposit. See registration here »
 Special Event:
ASCENSION DAY SPECIAL WITH PHYLLIS TICKLE:
FOR SSJD CLERGY ASSOCIATES & FRIENDS
WHY IN THE WORLD PRAY THE DIVINE OFFICE?! May 13, 2010
You are invited to an afternoon of celebration and reflection. Join the sisters for a festal Eucharist at 12 noon, followed by dinner. At 2 pm, the well-known writer and speaker on the Divine Office, Phyllis Tickle, will reflect with clergy and sisters on how and why the tradition of praying the divine office developed among clergy and in religious communities. If you find that praying Morning and Evening Prayer does not always feed your soul, Phyllis’ unique and creative perspective will be refreshing and perhaps even life-changing. Her talk will be followed by time for discussion, and we will wrap up by 4:30 pm. Those who would like to stay for Evensong (5 pm) and supper (5:30 pm) are welcome to do so.
More about Phyllis Tickle at SSJD here »
There is no fee. This is a gift offered to clergy associated with SSJD, in thanksgiving for their ministry to and on behalf of the sisters. See registration here »
Guided Retreat:
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY: PHYLLIS TICKLE
21st CENTURY CHRISTIANITY AND 21st CENTURY CHRISTIANS May 14-16, 2010
Phyllis Tickle, widely-published and well-known retreat leader, will lead us in reflection on three key questions: What is happening to us? Why is it happening? Where are we going? The retreat will wrap up with a disccusion of how we go forward together as Christians in the emerging church of the 21st century.
- Begins at 4 pm Friday, ends 1:30 pm Sunday.
- Fee $250 residential, $150 commuters, deposit $50. See registration here »
- View/download the poster for the Phyllis Tickle events here »
More about Phyllis Tickle at SSJD here »
Special Event - Public Lecture
THE GREAT EMERGENCE: SPECIAL PUBLIC LECTURE WITH PHYLLIS TICKLE May 16, 2010
Phyllis will talk on “The Great Emergence: 21st Century Christianity – What’s Going on Here?” Come for a fasciniating evening with an engaging speaker who will challenge our understanding of how to be the Emerging Church in the 21st. century. The lecture will be followed by a reception and book-signing.
Begins at 7 pm. Tickets are $20 if purchased by May 10, and $30 at the door. See registration here »
More about Phyllis Tickle at SSJD here »
 QUIET GARDEN DAYS May 29, June 26, 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. The Eucharist 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]
 Quiet Saturdays:
GOD’S STORY AND OUR STORY June 5, 2010
Bishop Douglas Blackwell is known for his gift of story-telling and his passion for the Biblical story. In this Quiet Saturday, he will explore ways in which our personal stories intersect with God’s story and what that means for our lives.
Begins 9:30 am with gathering for coffee; ends at 3:30 pm. Standard fee for Quiet Saturdays. See registration here » View/download the poster for this retreat here » [295k pdf]
Individually Directed Retreat:
SUMMER DIRECTED RETREAT June 13-18
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 »
Special Event:
FOR WOMEN SEEKING DIRECTION IN THEIR LIVES
WOMEN AT A CROSSROADS June 29 - July 25, 2010
This four-week program, held each summer, is for women who are intentionally committed to seeking God's guidance in living out their baptismal call — in business or professional careers, in homemaking or lay careers in the church, in ordained ministry or life in a religious community, or in the many other ways in which we may serve God.
You may be called to share in this program if you are interested in:
- sharing in Christian community
- learning how to live a balanced life of prayer, service, study, rest and recreation
- engaging in classes and discussions about Christian life and vocation
- receiving personal guidance in deepening their prayer life
There is no fee for room and board, but participants contribute to the life of the community by sharing in the Sisters' work. A monetary contribution (tax deductible) may be made to the Sisterhood. See registration here »
Visit the crossroads webpage here »
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 practise. 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).
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.
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 »
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