Welcome to Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center Catholic Retreats
Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center is a spiritual oasis for anyone looking to explore their relationship with the Almighty. We hold weekend or midweek retreats attended by individuals or friends featuring a fruitful blend of scheduled time to open time allowing retreatants to recharge mentally, spiritually and physically.
Four conference talks inspired by a relevant annual theme lead retreatants on an experience of discovery, rejuvenation and spiritual growth. Generous open periods between conference talks allows for reflection, prayer, spirited hikes on 60 acres of forest and prairie, or simply resting in your private room. Retreats also include guided prayer sessions, one on one spiritual direction, plus the opportunity for unhurried confession, holy hour and anointing. All meals cooked lovingly on site.
Franciscan Retreats are Catholic based and open to all spiritual seekers at any stage of their faith journey.
August 2021 – July 2022 Retreat Theme: Hope Rising: Revisioning Our Dream
Our August 2021 – July 2022 theme is Hope Rising: Revisioning Our Dream. This will be developed through the following conferences:
- Healing: Remembrance and Reconciliation
- Opening: Possibilities and Potentials
- Perceiving: Illumination and Insight
- Engaging: Encounter and Endurance
The retreat will explore healing in difficult times, opening ourselves to new possibilities, perceiving hope in our encounter with God and others, a hope that leads to a more vibrant and renewed faith. These will be presented in the context of Scripture, especially through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. We look forward to having you with us! 2021-22 Retreat Theme
What is it like to go on a Retreat?
Just what is it like to go on Catholic Retreats? If you haven’t had the pleasure to come out and experience it for yourself, we invite you to read the following article, describing what you can expect when you come and join us for one of our retreats. What is it like to
go on a Retreat… Would you like to know more? Click here to read about Who goes on Retreats… KMSP Channel 9 ‘Why attend a Retreat’ interview; MA Roscoe
Why attend a retreat?
Enjoy our 2 ½ minute video illustrating what people experience on multiday retreats and why they keep returning. Click to watch Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center video
Pandemic era procedures
Special Covid-19 Spiritual Resources Page
During this time of uncertainty amid the Covid 19 virus outbreak we hope these offerings from the retreat center Friars and staff add to your well-being. Click here…
Fr Jim Kent on the first two January Women’s Weekend retreats of this new year
Enjoy this video invitation as Fr. Jim Kent explains what you stand to benefit from these two early January Women’s Weekend Retreats.
Upcoming Retreats
January 21-23 Women’s Weekend Retreat
February 11-13 Married Couples Retreat
February 25-27 Women’s Weekend Retreat
Employment opportunity – Chef/Kitchen Manager
Free Spiritual Audio to Brighten Your Day
Enjoy Friars and Staff as they discourse on a variety of spiritual topics. Click to listen to Spiritual Audio from the Franciscan Retreat Center
Newsletters
It is hard to believe that it is time once again for our Annual Christmas Appeal. In this newsletter, Fr. Jim Kent reflects on the all of the wonderful updates of previous years and outlines the needs of the Retreat Center at this time. Inside, there are reflections on the Retreat Center’s year as a whole and the year ahead and on the upcoming ‘Holy Day’ Season. As always, Chef Judy shares a festive recipe. Click to view our Winter Newsletter
Father Howard’s Homilies for the Liturgical Week
Today’s Gospel tells the story or perhaps a parable of the Wedding Feast at Cana where Jesus performed his first public miracle, the turning of a large quantity of water into wine at a wedding feast. It is somewhat mysterious that none of the synoptic Gospels record this event. It is found only in John’s Gospel and it is the first of seven “signs” or “wondrous deeds” found in his Gospel that show Jesus’ Divine nature. The Gospel of John is built around these seven signs. For your information, they are: the wedding feast at Cana in chapter 2, the curing of the royal official’s son in chapter 4, the cure of the paralytic at the pool in chapter 5, the multiplication of the loaves and fishes in chapter 6, walking on the water of the Sea of Galilee in chapter 6, and raising Lazarus from the dead in chapter 11. Read Fr. Howard’s Homilies for this week
