Metro Detroit offers plenty of retreat options for those seeking solitude, spiritual direction or guided meditation

METRO DETROIT — Have a case of the spiritual cabin fever? Do you feel the need to reconnect with the Lord? Or maybe just a few days to step away from it all?

A retreat might be for you. Fortunately, Metro Detroit offers plenty of retreat options for Catholics who need to take time out of their lives to rediscover the gifts of the spiritual life.

Whether it’s a personal retreat where one can get lost in solitude with the Lord, or a place for fellowship and discussion, retreats can serve as a vital spiritual refresher for Catholics.

“Retreats are an opportunity to unplug and get away and be present with the Lord,” said Faith Offman of St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat Center, 23333 Schoolcraft, Detroit. “Retreats are when we can quiet down the outside world and quiet down our hearts. If you are feeling down, or life is getting hectic, schedule a weekend to get away from it all.”

The Passionist Fathers and staff at St. Paul specialize in individual or group retreats, from silent weekends with very little to no talking, or more directed retreats with lectures and guided mediations offered by spiritual directors on staff.

“We offer enough structure so people don’t feel lost, but enough time for you to do what you need to do,” Offman said. “Some folks just need to sleep for a while, they need a rest. It’s really your time with God. You are here with us, because God wants you to be with us. It’s really God who is touching you.”



Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, 1390 Quarton, Bloomfield Hills,  offers conference and group retreats for parishes, along with guided retreats for individuals.

“When I hear someone say they are thinking of doing a retreat, that desire was initiated by God,” said Rita Tinetti, development director at Manresa. “Even if there are things that get in the way — and there frequently are with people’s schedules — ignore those things and go with your gut.”

Manresa offers meals, snacks and lodging for those who are doing overnight retreats. A typically conference retreat begins on a Friday evening with dinner and extends through lunchtime on Sunday. An individual retreat has a more flexible schedule, but retreatants can meet with a spiritual director once a day.

“Individuals retreats tend to last around five to eight days and are more personalized, less structured,” Tinetti said. “We have five or six Jesuits on staff, so there is always a priest around if someone wants to go to confession.”

Manresa’s priests and lay spiritual directors are trained in Ignatian spiritual formation and can guide retreatants in a meditation. Mass is celebrated on the grounds at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday.

If a guided meditation or a larger group retreat over the course of several days isn’t your style, the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary offer one-day group retreats or individuals rooms for people to take a spiritual sabbatical for up to 30 days at River House, 805 W. Elm, Monroe.

“On personal retreats, people have the opportunity to do their own program, whether that means meeting with a spiritual director, having some personal quiet and reflection time with God, or praying in the garden or walking the nature labyrinth,” said Christie Smith of River House.

Located on the banks of the River Raisin, the River House offers a peaceful place for groups to meet for the day, or an individual who wants some alone time with God.

“We can accommodate up to eight people staying overnight,” Smith said. For individuals, “we can provide a spiritual director who works with where they are spiritually, and the sacraments are available on request.”

The IHM Sisters also offer weekend spiritual programs at the Visitation North Spirituality Center, 7227 Lahser, Bloomfield Hills, usually from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

“We have groups of about 15 to 25 people who come in to hear talks on different aspects of spirituality,” said Sr. Angela Cerna, IHM. “The program is usually offered by an IHM Sister or a Dominican Sister, but it can be a different person every week.”

Programs at Visitation North are already set on the center website from September to December.

“Sometimes, people don’t need a really expansive retreat, but a quiet weekend where they break up the routine,” Sr. Cerna said. “They can call here to schedule a slot and people can come and learn about their religion, about God.”

Dan LeBlanc, retreat coordinator at Queen of the Family Retreat Center, 751 W. Drahner, Oxford, said many people schedule retreats with the hopes of using the center’s luscious outdoor environment and wide-open spaces

to reconnect with God among His creation.

“We do a whole assortment of retreats, silent retreats, confirmation retreats, middle-school day retreats and high school Kairos retreats, as well as marriage retreats,” LeBlanc said. “We have 73 individual rooms and two bunk houses, a large dining room that seats more than 100 and a formal dining room that seats around 30.”



Queen of the Family’s grounds include 40 acres with a lake and the historical Buhl Mansion. Usually, the center is booked during the academic year for high school and middle school retreats, but during the summer months, couples and individuals might have better luck scheduling a stay.

“During the summer months, it tends to be slower and availability is much more open for short-term notice,” LeBlanc said. Queen of the Family primarily focuses on group retreats, but “we have a full-time staff and kitchen that prepares all the meals.”

LeBlanc said Queen of the Family’s facilities  are all open for retreatants, including its two chapels, a large conference room, meeting rooms, indoor basketball court and a sand volleyball court. While Mass can be celebrated on the grounds, groups are asked schedule their own priest.

A stone's throw away from Queen of the Family is the St. Mary's Retreat House, in operation since 1960 on the grounds of an estate the Dominican Sisters purchases in 1948, where a renovated born provided housing for a church and a place for retreats for teenage girls.

Today, St. Mary's Retreat House, a ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, sits on 40 acres and offers weekend retreats for women from September to April, day retreats for men and women. The retreat house offers 11 weekend retreats for women each year, three "Life Directions" retreats for "at risk" young people, and two Rachel's Voineyard retreats for women struggling with the emotional and spiritual pain of abortion.

St. Mary's Retreat Center offers other various weekend retreats on topics throughout the year and morning retreats. The center provides a New American Bible, towels and washcloths, bar soup, extra blankets and pillow for its lodgings which accommodate up to 60 retreatants.


If you need more “one-on-one” time with God, the Capuchin Retreat Center, 62460 Mt. Vernon, Washington Township, offers private and directed retreats, along with silent weekends and day programs.

“Usually people call to make a reservation and they come for five days and roam around the grounds, pray, talk to one of the Capuchins if they feel inclined,” said Linda Andrews, Capuchin Retreat Center administrator.

For directed retreats, retreatants have the opportunity to meet with a spiritual director, usually once a day. For both retreat opportunities, retreatants receive three meals at the center and snacks throughout the day. All rooms have a private bathroom for overnight stays.

“The sooner someone calls ahead to make a reservation, the better,” Andrews said, adding that fall is the most popular season. “During the week they tend to book up fast. We have private rooms for 47 people; however, some rooms have twin beds for double occupancy.”

Mass is offered Monday through Sunday at 8 a.m. with confessions available right after Mass.

On July 15, the center will celebrate its 50th anniversary with an open house from 1-5 p.m. and a free picnic to which the public is invited. Retired Bishop Thomas Gumbleton will offer a blessing and rededication of the center’s cornerstone.

“If you are even just a little interested in a retreat, give us a call,” Andrews said. “Sometimes, people have a feeling they want to go on a retreat, but they don’t know what they want. That’s why we’re here, to guide them on their journey as they look to encounter God. Everyone’s retreat experience is going to be different, so call, reserve a time, and get ready to have an encounter.”

 

Local Catholic retreat centers

Everyone has different needs and means when it comes to scheduling a retreat. Call these centers to learn more:

Capuchin Retreat Center, 62460 Mt. Vernon Road, Washington Twp., (248) 651-4826

Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, 1390 Quarton Road, Bloomfield Hills, (248) 644-4933

Queen of the Family Retreat Center, 751 W. Drahner Road, Oxford, (248) 628-5560

River House – IHM Spirituality Center, 805 W. Elm Ave., Monroe, (734) 240-5494

St. Mary's Retreat House, 775 W. Drahner Rd., Oxford, (248) 628-3894

St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat Center, 23333 Schoolcraft, Detroit, (313) 535-9563

Subiaco Retreat House, 2711 Drahner Road, Oxford, (248) 62-2249

Visitation North Spirituality Center, 7227 Lahser Road, Bloomfield Hills, (248) 433-0950