Our mission, in union with the mission
of the universal church,
is directed toward the awakening and deepening of faith with and
for the people of our times.
We engage in this mission through our life of prayer, community and ministry.
Our ministry takes various forms, including retreats, spiritual direction,
directed retreats and adult faith formation.
and concern for a world in need, we give ourselves with all our strength to making the gospel known so that it may become a source of life for everyone. (CONSTITUTIONS #6)
From the early days of the Cenacle Congregation, retreats especially those according to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, have been central to the ministry. Retreats offer sacred moments in time when God’s grace transforms lives. The Cenacle has always been regarded as a place where people seek a deeper relationship with God. As an essential part of their mission, Cenacle Sisters have been privileged to accompany persons on their spiritual journey.
The Cenacle offers a variety of spiritually rich retreats and interactive workshops that enliven our mission, that provide sustenance to an individual’s life of faith. Please visit our Program Page to view our current offerings or to inquire about the retreats in which you are most interested. Thank you.
Spiritual Direction is a privileged time and place to reflect with another about your relationship with God. The focus is your life with God as it is lived out in all of your experiences. Spiritual Direction is the process of coming home to your deepest self.
Hourly appointments are scheduled about every four weeks. All of your life is material for Spiritual Direction as you seek to become more aware of God’s presence in your life. The agenda is what you bring: prayer, images of God, questions of faith, concerns about the church, relationships, fears, and joys. The director helps you to listen to your life with as much care as it deserves.
Spiritual Direction, though practiced in the Church for centuries, is increasingly sought by people in today’s world who desire a deeper relationship with God and someone to accompany them in that search. The tradition has consistently defined the practice of Spiritual Direction as an art that recognizes the Holy Spirit as the true director.
What is the Director’s Role?
The role of the spiritual director can be expressed in several ways, but in essence is to stand in service to the relationship between God and the one seeking direction. This is done through respectful listening to the experience of the directee, helping the directee to recognize and listen to their own experience of God. The director does not tell the person what to do, but may offer suggestions for reflections and prayer.
The Spiritual Director, if not a Cenacle Sister, is a person of prayer, knowledgeable of the Christian, as well as non-Christian traditions, familiar with the principles of spiritual discernment, having received training for spiritual direction as well as demonstrating gifts for this ministry.
What is my commitment?
Your commitment to the Spiritual Direction relationship is that of bringing yourself to the session in an open stance, being faithful to your personal prayer life, and to the scheduled meetings with your director.
The Cenacle does not charge a specific fee for Spiritual Direction. We are aware that we are offering a service when we provide Spiritual Direction (indeed, a professional service). We are always grateful for the offerings given to us. To continue our ministry, we rely on the generosity and support of those who are able to make offerings to us. Whether or not you are able to give, know that the Sisters of the Cenacle welcome you for Spiritual Direction.
**During the pandemic some Spiritual Direction has mostly shifted to video-conferencing rather than in-person gatherings. Please check with your director.**
If you are a current directee you may make an offering (which is not tax deductible) by clicking HERE. Offerings for spiritual direction constitute a good or service and thus are not donations.
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION OFFERING
Individual Directed Retreats are an opportunity to reflect with a qualified spiritual director about your life, its events and your relationship with God and others. It is a graced way of serving another believer — helping the other to grow in intimacy with God and to live out the consequences of personal growth.
If you’d like to have a Cenacle Sister provide a presentation in person or online for your ministry, please email mpiper@cenaclesisters.org.
If you have a question about the Spiritual Ministries of the Cenacle we invite you sign up for our e-newlsletter
You may also email inquiries to Mark at mpiper@cenaclesisters.org
We would like to join you in prayer, to pray for your intentions, and to pray with you!