2008 Retreat Descriptions

Reservation Form

“Come and See”
A Week in “The School of the Lord’s Service”
Presented by the Pecos Community
Call for More Information

Esther de Waal, in her acclaimed book, SEEKING GOD, The Way of St. Benedict, describes Benedictine Spirituality as being grounded in the idea that God’s presence is everywhere, and that it is our job to seek it out both in the material and spiritual realms of our daily life.  We invite all men and women who feel drawn to a deeper experience of the presence of God to  “Come and See”.  Experience the richness of Benedictine Spirituality by living, praying, and working with the monks and sisters of Pecos Benedictine Monastery.
This retreat is all about seeking God alone- together.  A daily vow of conversion – “Today I will begin again” was Benedict’s foremost vow.   Experience firsthand what it means; to begin again, to live by the Rule and the Gospel, and to work and pray in unity.  Each day will revolve around the Liturgy of the Hours or the “Divine Office”.   Discover if God is calling you into “The School of the Lord’s Service”.   “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts (Ps 94:8) and join us in Seeking God Alone – Together.

“The Messages of Medjugorje”
Msgr. Joe James
Price; Single $180/ Double $320

Spanish Retreat - Family Life in Trying Times
Fr. Coleman
Call for More Information

Oblate Retreat
Br. Aidan
Donations Requested

Don’t miss this special opportunity to connect or re-connect with other Oblates of Pecos.  We will catch up from the past year, get to know each other a little more, learn about our spiritual walk in life, and enter deeper into the Rule of Benedict.  Learn about the progress of our ongoing projects and share with us your life as an Oblate of St. Benedict.

Benedict, in all that he said and did showed that he knew the root word of humility is humus, meaning earth.  Let us join together for this weekend of friendship and walk together in humility, a real down-to-earth way to God.

October 24-26

Centering Prayer Retreat
Fr. William Meninger
Price; Single $180/ Double $320

In 1974, Father William Meninger, a Trappist monk and retreat master at St. Josephs Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts. Found a dusty little book in the abbey library, The Cloud of Unknowing.  As he read it he was delighted to discover that this anonymous 14th century book presented contemplative meditation as a teachable, spiritual process enabling the ordinary person to enter and receive a direct experience of union with God.   This form of meditation, recently known as “Centering Prayer” can be traced from and through the earliest centuries of Christianity.

He quickly began teaching contemplative prayer according to The Cloud of Unknowing at the Abbey Retreat House.  One year later his Abbot, Thomas Keating, and Basil Pennington, both of whom had been looking for a teachable form of Christian contemplative meditation to offset the movement of young Catholics toward Eastern meditation techniques, took up his workshop.  Ten years later, Abbot Keating, initiated his organized and effective Contemplative outreach, Ltd. In order to facilitate a spirituality focused on Centering Prayer. 

Fr. Meninger leaves his silent monastic life only four times each year to teach lest he lose his own monastic orientation while sharing it with others.  His book, The Loving Search For God is a effort to bring the message of The Cloud of Unknowing to men and women of the 21st Century.  Both books will be used as companion resources for this teaching and workshop on Centering Prayer.

November 7-9

Roots of Christian Mysticism – A Lectio Divina Retreat
Fr. Steve Coffey, OSB
Price; Single $180/ Double $320

This weekend retreat will introduce participants to some of the important spiritual writings that shaped the Christian tradition of prayer and spirituality.  The retreat will combine the practice of “lectio divina”, prayerful reading of the texts, with conferences that will explore the spiritual riches contained in these writings.  Special emphasis will be placed on the writings of St Augustine of Hippo; St Gregory the Great, and St Bernard of Clairvaux.

Fr Steve serves as Director of Formation at the Monastery of the Risen Christ in San Luis Obispo, CA.  He is an experienced retreat and spiritual director and has taught the history of Christian spirituality in both academic and pastoral settings.  Fr Steve also serves as a consultant for the Office of Ministries of the Diocese of Fresno.

“Healing Life’s Hurts: Don’t Forgive Too Soon”
Dennis Linn, M. Div., Sheila Linn, M. Div., Matt Linn, S.J.
Price; Single $180/ Double $320

The hurts of life can diminish our sense of belonging and cause stress, depression, meaninglessness and physical illness.  Forgiveness brings healing, but how can we forgive others and stand up for ourselves at the same time?  Such healthy forgiveness helps us to recover our sense of belonging to ourselves, others, God and the universe.  During this retreat, the Linns will lead participants in the simple ways of forgiveness and healing that they have found most universally effective during their years of ministry in over fifty countries.  Their presentations and healing processes will integrate spirituality with psychology, medicine and science, and are intended to foster social and political healing as well as personal growth.  Participants can take these ways of healing home to share with family and friends.

The Linn’s “Purpose” is to support personal growth and the evolution of our planet by integrating spirituality, psychology and science in ways that empower all of us to heal personal and social wounds and discover our unique gifts for carrying out the special purpose of our lives.  Our ministry is committed to the nonviolent resolution of personal and social conflicts, care for the earth, gender and racial equality, economic justice, and respect for all faith traditions. 

Dennis, Sheila & Matt Linn are well known for their retreats and seminars on processes for healing and reconciliation that integrate spirituality with psychology, medicine and science.  Our roots are in Ignatian Spirituality, which emphasizes finding the presence of God in all things.  Dennis and Matt have co-authored twenty-one books, with the last sixteen co-authored with Sheila. Dennis and Sheila live in Colorado with their son, John.  Matt lives in a Jesuit community in Minnesota.

Meditations on Mary, God’s Masterpiece –
A Pre-Advent Silent Retreat
Presented by the Pecos Community
Price; Single $300/ Double $480

The radiant crown of glory, with which God encircled the most pure Virgin Mother, seems to shine more brilliantly as we wait in joyful expectation for the presence of “Emmanuel” – “God with us”.   Let us join with the Most Blessed Virgin Mary and “ponder” the words of the angel Gabriel “Do not be afraid Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.”

December 15, 2008 – January 2, 2009

Individual Private Retreats at the Hermitages of the Monastery

This special time of the year is open for those who feel the call to come alone in prayer and contemplation here at the monastery during the seasons of Advent and Christmas.
The last two weeks of the year is a good time to make a personal inventory of one’s walk and life with God, to discern on what choices to make in the beginning of the year or one can simply rest and pray after the stress and tensions of the year just gone by. Spiritual Directors and Confessors from any of the monks and sisters of Pecos are available upon personal request by the guest.  Retreatants must provide their own meals.

Special Retreats

Directed Retreats using Sandplay Therapy
Elaine Laity MA LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Spiritual Director, and Certified Play Therapist

Elaine has 29 years experience as a Counselor and Spiritual Director. She has engaged in private practice since 1992. She creates a safe, trusting space for clients to come in touch with their deepest selves. Spirituality and prayer are integral part of her life and permeate all of her work. She was a member of the Pecos Benedictine Monastery for 16 years where she served as Counselor and Spiritual Director to hundreds of people from all walks of life.
With a background in Jungian oriented psychotherapy, dream work is one of her gifted areas. She has about 26 years experience working with dreams and symbolism. Currently, she is in her 4 th year at an advanced Jungian Studies Program at the C.G. Jung Institute in Santa Fe, NM. She has also completed a five year training program in peri- and prenatal psychology. She works with trauma and shock in the womb and birth, and their effect on clients’ current lives. Her gift for going underneath life patterns to the root source of the problem helps clients make lasting changes in their lives.
For available dates to set up a Directed Retreat, please make a telephone call to: Elaine Laity MA LPC – 505-867-3470.
Current counseling fee: $65.00/session

Private Retreats

Individual Private and/or Directed Retreats

Join the monks and sisters for one day or 30 in individual private retreat spending days in silence, prayer, rest and solitude.  You may also wish to receive spiritual direction during which you meet each day with a monk or sister.  The scheduling of a directed retreat will depend upon the availability of the members of the community.  The monks and the sisters of Pecos are always available for counseling, spiritual direction, confessions or being just a trusting and comforting presence for those in individual private retreats.

Retreat Charges

SCHEDULE OF CHARGES FOR 2008 RETREATS

Retreat Rooms per night, meals included:
Private Retreatants:
Singles: $65.00
Couples: $110.00
Clergy/Religious $55.00
Oblates $52.00
Students: $52.00
Free-will Offering for Spiritual Direction
Scheduled Retreats
All guests staying at the monastery refer to the posted Retreat Price.  Commuters pay 80% of the posted retreat price for the entire retreat.
 Hermitages: (Single occupancy only)
Hermitages per night, meals included:
Singles: $75.00
Religious $64.00
Oblates: $60.00
Students: $60.00
Former Community members: $52.00
No Daytime Use
Deposits: First night
Deposits are refundable if the cancellation is made more than 30 days prior to the retreat.  Deposits are non-refundable if cancellation is less than 30 days prior to the retreat; however you may transfer the deposit to another retreat during the same year or can be designated for a donation.

Questions/Answers

For any further questions about Retreat Schedule, please contact:
Br. Jim , OSB Oliv.
Director
Tel. 505-757-6415
e-mail:

For questions about Fees/Charges, please contact:
Melanie White
Reservations/Guest Master
Tel. 505-757-6600
Fax. 505-757-2285
Br. Thomas
Porter of the Monastery

Poustinia/Hermitage
Experience

Hermitage/Poustinia

For a more private encounter, you may request a hermitage, which allows for silence and private meals.  Or, you may desire “The Poustinia Experience”, a deep hermit-type form of contemplation, which includes spiritual direction and orientation about the “Poustinia”.  Please contact Guest Master for more details.

Limited Scholarships are available. Please call or write for an application.

 December 15-January 2,2009

Main Retreat House closed