The Seven Fountains
The word “Retreat”
What is “Retreat”
The word “retreat” is an ambiguous word in current English. Even businesses have retreats for their staff, but with a different meaning and method. For many, the word “retreat” means conferences, church camps, seminars in the morning and free time in the afternoons and evenings, etc. Even if there is a spiritual context to the “retreat”, people take it for granted that there will be plenty of time for group interaction, friendly conversation, and relaxation.
This is very different from the kind of retreat that Seven Fountains is meant for. Here, “retreat” means what Jesus said one day to His disciples: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 This is the atmosphere that we wish to create at Seven Fountains: a place where people can get away from their busy lives, have time and space to be quiet, and be with the Lord restfully, silently, and with devout intimacy.
Consequently, a retreat for us means a time of personal prayer, in an atmosphere of genuine silence, with a single-minded purpose: to seek and find the Lord.
Surely this style of retreat is not the only one! In the Church, and in modern society, there are many types of retreat; many styles; many purposes. We have chosen one definite style that, in the tradition of St. Ignatius of Loyola, has helped bring people closer to Jesus Christ.
Personal Individual Retreat
You come when you want, you pray as you want, you find God in your time and in your way. There is a Jesuit to accompany you on this journey. Individual retreats can be from one to thirty days, depending on your time, your needs, and the availability of the spiritual director.
Group Retreat
With friends, to make a shared retreat. There is a Jesuit available to give some input, and to introduce time for personal and group prayer.
We are happy to receive groups who have their own retreat director or pastor to lead the retreat, provided only that the group respects the atmosphere of silence and recollection everywhere on the grounds, in the dining areas, and in the residences.
Silence
All retreats are made in an atmosphere of genuine silence, so that each retreatant can find the Lord more easily and more deeply.