Eight-Day Intensive and Post Intensive Retreats

Join us Sunday July 14 through Sunday July 21 at the beautiful Portiuncula Center in Frankfort Illinois.

The Intensive Retreat provides an opportunity to deepen the practice of Centering Prayer in an atmosphere of profound silence and community support. There are up to six 30-minute Centering Prayer periods daily. This prayer is supported with viewing a selection of the Spiritual Journey video series by Fr. Thomas Keating. Private interviews with the retreat guides can be scheduled.

The Post-Intensive Retreat provides an opportunity to deepen the practice of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina in an atmosphere of profound silence and community support. There are up to seven 30-minute periods of Centering Prayer daily. Participants observe Sacred Silence four days during the retreat. Previous participation in an 8- or 10-Day Intensive Retreat is a prerequisite for the Post-Intensive.

Check-in at the Portiuncula Center begins at 2:00 pm Sunday July 14. The retreat begins at 3:00pm, and concludes late morning on Sunday July 21.

Minimum number of registrants is 13. Maximum 20.

About the Retreat Guides

John Holmes has served Contemplative Outreach Chicago for five years and is a long-time practitioner of Centering Prayer. John is a graduate of the Center for Action and Contemplation Living School. He is a Spiritual Director and facilitates Spiritual Direction formation for Mayslake Ministries’ Sacred Presence Program.

Sandy Janowski is a retired Social Worker, Addiction Counselor and Community College Adjunct Instructor. In 2009 she was commissioned by the Institute of Spiritual Companionship and has been a practitioner of Centering Prayer since 2001. Sandy serves on the Circle of Service for Contemplative Outreach Chicago. Sandy is a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

About the Portiuncula Center for Prayer

Nestled in a lovely wooded 55-acre campus of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, the Center provides a peaceful environment for renewing body, mind, and soul. It is a place where you can enter your heart’s center to rest, refresh, and meet again the God who loves you.

The facilities are air-conditioned and handicapped accessible. There is a designated refrigerator for those who bring their own dietary foods.

The Center is located 45 minutes south of Chicago near the intersection of Route 45 and I-80 and is accessible from Chicago airports by shuttle services: Portiuncula Center for Prayer, 9263 W. St. Francis Road, Frankfort, IL 60423. Phone: (815) 464-3880. Fax: (815) 469-4880.

To Register:

The cost of the retreat including room, meals, and materials is $740 for private room with shared bath. Scholarships are available.

You may register now by paying a non-refundable deposit of $100. The balance of payment is due by June 30. (Please mail your check to Alan Krema, 822 Bakewell Lane, Naperville, Il. 60565.)

Alternatively, you may choose to pay in full now.

Regardless of how you register, any funds deposited for this retreat will be refunded to you if the retreat does not meet minimum registration of 13 people. No refunds will be given if you cancel after July 1.

Questions? Please write to get.info@centeringprayerchicago.org.