Retreat Center St. Mary of the Pines

Chatawa, Mississippi

2018 Programs

General Information St. Mary of the Pines Retreat Center is a ministry

of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Central Pacific Province. Sisters Sue Von Bank, Dorez Mehrtens and Joan Schaefer serve as the staff.

The grounds are surrounded by woods, provid-

ing a place of peaceful serenity. There is ample

space for walking, an outdoor swimming pool,

a cosmic walk, a meditation well, a labyrinth,

outdoor Stations of the Cross and a small lake.

Two hermitages are available for retreats.

The nearby retirement center of the School

Sisters of Notre Dame provides those in retreat

with opportunities for liturgical services and the

assurance of remembrance in prayer.

Directions St. Mary of the Pines is two miles east of I-55. It is about a two-hour drive from Jackson, MS and from New Orleans and Baton Rouge, LA. Take Chatawa Exit #4 and follow the signs to St. Mary of the Pines.

Mailing address

St. Mary of the Pines Retreat Center

3167 Old Highway 51-South

Osyka, MS 39657

Photo credits: SSND Sisters Theresa Dietz, Mary Kay Gosch and Mary Anne Hebert, CSJ

For more information and to reserve your retreat, contact:

Sister Sue Von Bank, SSND Office: 601-783-0801 Cell: 601-741-3029

E-mail:

retreatcenter@ssndcp.org

School Sisters of Notre Dame www.ssndcentralpacific.org

Directed Retreats A directed retreat is a time of prayer, silence and solitude with the daily opportunity to meet with a spiritual director. The resident retreat director at St. Mary of the Pines is Sister Dorez Mehrtens, SSND. Suggested donation for directed retreats:

3 days-$250; 5 days-$420; 8 days-$650

Spiritual Direction Suggested donation: $40 to $50 per session

For information and to reserve a directed retreat or spiritual direction, contact: Sister Dorez Mehrtens, SSND Office: 601-783-0411 or Cell: 601-810-7758 E-mail: dorezm37@yahoo.com

Private Retreats A private retreat is a retreat without a director and may be scheduled any time when space is available. The individual chooses his/her own resources and rhythm of prayer time and reflection throughout the day. Suggested donation: $70 per night

Financial assistance is available upon request

Meditation Well on Cosmic Walk

August 20-27 Icon Workshop/Retreat for Beginners This six-day workshop/retreat is for students who are beginners in iconography. They will be led by Fr. Igumen Mefodii from the Prosopon School of Iconography. Suggested donation: $1145

April 12-15 Women’s Silent Retreat

Therese’s Path of Confidence and Love The depth and breadth of Therese’s “Little Way” continues to have relevance for us today. Join Robin Hebert and walk this journey, with Therese as your guide, and embrace her spirituality in a way that nourishes your soul. Robin, a retreat leader and spiritual director from Lafayette, LA, is a past president of the Theresians of the U.S. This is a 3-day silent retreat for women. Suggested donation: $240 (private rooms only)

October 26-28 Annual Women’s Retreat

Poetry: A Doorway into Prayer The poet Mary Oliver describes poetry as “a doorway into thanks, and a silence in which an-other voice may speak.” That “Other Voice” longs to speak to each of us as we explore the Psalms, the Song of Songs and other scriptural passages. Sister Beth Fitzpatrick, a Sister of Mt. Carmel, will lead the retreat. Currently the Vicar for Religious in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Sister Beth has also served at Notre Dame Seminary. She has offered similar poetry weekend retreats on the North Shore and in New Orleans. Suggested donation: $150 private; $120 shared

February 17 A Lenten Day of Reflection

God’s Love and Mercy In the season of Lent we often reflect on the love and mercy shown to us through the passion of Christ. We ask ourselves: “How does this impact my life? How am I another Christ for others by showing my love and mercy?” Sister Dorez Mehrtens, SSND, who is on staff at the retreat center, will help us with these reflections.

This Saturday reflection day begins at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. Suggested donation: $40, includes lunch

December 1 An Advent Day of Reflection

Hospitality of the Soul Advent invites us to a deeper reality as we celebrate Christ’s Incarnation. It is the mystery of the hospitality of the soul as the birthplace of Christ. Andrea Vidrine, LCSW, will lead us as we ponder this mystery. “Ani” is a 14 year vet-eran at the Jesuit Spirituality Center in Grand Coteau. She is committed to interfaith dialogue and serves as an interfaith minister, hospice chaplain and spiritual director. This Saturday reflection day begins at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. Suggested donation: $40, includes lunch

PROGRAMS

February 16-18 Married Couples Retreat

Tending the Soul of Marriage What does16th century St. Ignatius of Loyola have to offer married couples in today’s world? Something that people of all ages search for and long for: deeper communion with God and one another. Robin and Easton Hebert will lead the couples through these days of retreat, using some of the soul-stirring methods of St. Ignatius. There will be pockets of silence and time for deep personal sharing within the context of pray-er. The Heberts are spiritual directors and retreat leaders from Lafayette, LA. They have built a ministry of mentoring those who prepare for mar-riage and those who desire to live the sacrament more fully. Opening of retreat: 4:00 p.m. Friday Closing of retreat: Sunday morning Suggested donation: $360 per couple

2018

June 17-23 Conference Retreat

The Art and Heart of the Spiritual Life The spiritual life is the ongoing process of being transformed into the image of Christ for the sake of others. This process includes, among other things, breaking free from the agenda of the false self, living in the present moment and willingness to resist temptation and to forgive others. Fr. Albert Haase, OFM, a popular preacher, teach-er and spiritual director, and also a former mission-ary to China, will base this retreat on his best sell-ing books and DVDs. Suggested donation: $450

Solitude and Silence are God’s gifts to the soul

In addition to these sponsored retreats, the retreat center hosts other groups who organize their own spiritual events.

Let all creation sing praise to God!