DAY/EVENING RETREATS

Day and Evening retreats at Jesuit Retreat House provide a valuable opportunity to deepen one's relationship with the Lord through presentations, prayer, and quiet reflection.  During your retreat, you can walk our 57 acres of paved paths and visit the shrines along the way.  You can also enjoy the comfortable silence of our chapel and library.  Pastries and/or meals are included, with provisions depending upon the type and length of the retreat.

Crisis & Contemplation: Sept 11
a day of reflection for spiritual directors, retreat directors
pastoral ministers, and Ignatian lay leaders 

Deepen your spiritual ministry by joining us for this day of prayerful reflection. This day will address the experience of crisis from a contemplative perspective and offer spiritual and psychological insights into how we might understand and respond to it, not only in our personal lives, but also as it arises within the lives of those to whom we minister. The retreat takes place from 9am-2pm, includes lunch, and costs $10/person.  Retreat costs are covered in part by JRH Lay Leadership made possible by generous donations.  Register here by September 7.  

About Rosemarie Carfagna, OSU

Sr. Rosemarie Carfagna, O.S.U. is an Ursuline Sister from Cleveland , Ohio . She holds a doctoral degree in Spirituality from Duquesne University . In addition to being a spiritual director, Rosemarie is the author of three books, most recently, Contemplation and Midlife Crisis. She is currently Senior Vice President for Mission and Ministry with the Sisters of Charity Health System.     

Gone to the Dogs: An Incredible Journey: Sept 15
presented by Rev. Joseph Kraker, pastor and author of Vinnie Here 

A great way to think about where we are going is to hear stories from interesting people about where they have been and what they have learned. Fr. Joseph Kraker has quite a story to tell, so during this day of reflection he will share life lessons learned on his journey from television, to pastor, to author of two books with his church dog, Vinnie. The retreat takes place 9am-2:30pm, and costs $25, including lunch.   Register by September 13.  

About Rev. Joseph Kraker

Rev. Joseph Kraker is the pastor of St. Vincent Church in Akron, OH and author of the popular book Vinnie Here: Fanciful Conversations Between a Pastor and His Dog.  He was ordained a priest in 1964 and served as an associate pastor at St. Jude Parish in Elyria, Ohio, Director of Communications of the Diocese of Cleveland, and pastor of St. Timothy Parish in Garfield Heights, OH before coming to St. Vincent in 1994.  

Women's Morning Prayer Group
Sept 27, Oct 25, & Nov 22 

Join us for the last Monday of each month September thru November to pray together and learn more about the beauty of prayer.  Led by JRH director Sr. Mary Ann Flannery, S.C., this prayer group will refresh your spirit and help you find strength in regular prayer habits.  The morning prayer takes place 9:30-10:45am, costs $5/session, and includes coffee and pastry.  Register here.  

About Mary Ann Flannery, S.C.

Sr.  Mary Ann Flannery, S.C. is the executive director of the Jesuit Retreat House in Parma , Ohio .  She has been a longtime educator in the Cleveland diocese.  She taught at St. Pius X School, Lumen Cordium High School , Notre Dame College of Ohio, and most recently at John Carroll University where she completed twenty years teaching in the communications department.  Sister also served 12 years on her community’s leadership team and on multiple boards, including the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland and L’Arche Cleveland.  She has given retreats at Jesuit Retreat House when needed over the last several years.  Sister has a Ph.D in rhetoric and communications specializing in journalism ethics.

Mary, the Magnificat, & the Rosary - Oct 12
day of reflection & devotion led by Sr. Marian Durkin, C.S.A. 

October is month of devotion to our Blessed Mother, so all are invited to come for a Marian day of prayer at JRH.  Experienced retreat director and Rosary devotee Sr. Marian Durkin will give a morning presentation on the Magnificat and spend the afternoon reviewing the history of the Rosary as well as praying it.  There will also be time for quiet reflection and closing prayer service.  The retreat takes place 9am-2:30pm, and costs $25, including lunch.  Register by October 8. 

About Marian Durkin, C.S.A.

Sr. Marian Durkin, C.S.A. is a member of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and an experienced retreat director with a special devotion to the Blessed Mother. After serving nearly 30 years as a teacher and administrator in the Cleveland diocesan schools, Sr. Durkin spent 15 years of ministry working with HIV-positive individuals, founding The Open House.  

Father-Son Day Retreat: October 31
an afternoon of reflection presented by Rev. Carl Bonk, S.J. 

Fathers and sons are welcome to come together or alone to this day of sharing quality time and reflection.  The program features presentations on Jesus as the model for Christian manhood and his relationship with the Father he called "Abba,"  an inspirational look at the heartwarming story of a father and his physically-challenged son, and a presentation by Plain Dealer columnist James McCarty and his son, Brett, on their shared love of birdwatching.  The retreat takes place on a Sunday afternoon, 1-5pm, $25, includes lunch.  Register by October 28. 

Simple Living: A Spirituality of Living With Less - Nov 8
day and evening programs presented by Megan Wilson-Reitz and Carl Toomey

This retreat will provide a practical background on how simple living can help us through difficult economic times while providing a spiritual direction and basis for a renewed life style.  If you or a family member are unemployed or feel called to simplify your life and increase your spirituality, this retreat is for you.  A shortened version of the day retreat will be offered in the evening.  The day program is 9am-2:30pm and the evening program is 7-9pm.  Cost for the programs is to be determined.  Register by November 3. 

About Megan Wilson-Reitz

Megan Wilson-Reitz is adjunct instructor in Religious Studies at John Carroll University .  She has served in Chile , and volunteered for nine years at the Catholic Worker community in Cleveland , both experiences providing a major inspiration of simple living.  She has been applying the concept of “Sabbath Economics” to articulate a personal commitment to simple living and to inform her teaching, research and presentations such as this.

About Carl Toomey

Carl Toomey is a Roman Catholic deacon and member of St. Mary Magdalene Parish.  After thirty years in industrial sales for a local company, he was let go as a consequence of down-sizing.  Carl is a graduate of John Carroll’s Ignatian Spirituality Institute and is a spiritual director.

Vatican II & Catholic Identity - Nov 11 & 18
reflections on Lumen Gentium & Gaudium et Spes, by Rev. Mark A. Latcovich 

The Second Vatican Council is described by many historians and religious leaders as “the most important religious event of the twentieth century.”  The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) and the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes) are two important documents from the council that shape Catholic identity from the view point of tradition, dialogue, mission and ministry. These documents empower today’s Catholic laity to become evangelizers of their faith by developing an ecclesial spirituality and call to holiness centered on Christ and modeled on Mary’s discipleship.  Please join us for a fresh read of these documents --- whether it is for the first time, or as a review to celebrate fifty years of hope, blessing and faithful mission to continued spirit of Vatican II.  The evening programs each take place from 7-9pm and cost $15/program.  Register by November 15. 

About Rev. Mark Latcovich, PhD

Rev. Mark A. Latcovich, PhD is Vice-Rector and Academic Dean of Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology.  He was ordained in 1981 and teaches course about the Documents of Vatican II, The Catechism of the Catholic Church, and Pastoral Skills. He has advanced degrees in sociology and ecclesiology.  He firmly and passionately believes that the best preparation for spiritual growth and personal evangelization is to read the documents of Vatican II.

Poustinia Days: Sept 28 & Oct 26
day of fasting & prayer in solitude

Poustinia, from the Russian word for "desert," is an ancient tradition in which one spends a day of fasting and prayer in solitude.  It is a break from the busy world to listen to God's voice.  Retreatants are given bread, water, and room of their own for private prayer. Spiritual direction and the Sacrament of Reconciliation will also be made available.   Each poustinia day takes place from 9am-3pm and costs $10. Register here or contact us for more information about making a poustinia.