Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (SEEL) 17 Retreat (in person)

Do you long for GOD? Do you desire time to reflect on your spiritual path and the movement of the Spirit within your life? Do you wish to enrich your spiritual experience through monthly prayer and reflection? Would you like a framework in which to explore and pray your heart’s desire? Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (SEEL) is an eight-month retreat at Prairiewoods (120 East Boyson Road in Hiawatha) based on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatius explored a number of different kinds of prayer in creating the Exercises. He recognized that emotions and feelings in addition to the intellect help us to sense the movement of the Spirit in our lives. The Exercises develop dispositions of the heart for prayer, which then become part of daily life. Retreatants in SEEL become increasingly aware of the presence of and activity of God in all things. They learn to discern that movement of God in their lives and in the world and to integrate meditation, contemplation and action. We invite you to commit to one hour of prayer each day for eight months, at least one monthly meeting with a spiritual director and eight monthly Friday sessions (Oct. 4, Nov. 1, Dec. 13, Jan. 3, Feb. 7, March 7, April 4 and May 9). The first and final sessions are 9 a.m.–3 p.m., while all other sessions are 9 a.m.–1 p.m. This retreat is best suited for those who have or are interested in establishing a discipline of regular personal prayer, have experience sharing their spiritual journey with others, and are called and committed to deepening personal faith. It will be facilitated by Ann Jackson, PBVM, and Leslie Schwarting. Exceptions may be made for participants to join via Zoom, if necessary. The cost of this eight-month retreat is $450 (payable in October or in monthly installments of $50) plus monthly spiritual direction sessions paid separately. (Partial scholarships are available.) Online registration is not available. For more information or to request an application, contact Prairiewoods at 319-395-6700.