Nine Month Course

This Nine-Month Course enables one to practice contemplative living according to one’s own lifestyle.  Formation is offered in contemplative prayer, lifestyle and activity through:

¨ Deepening our experience of Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, the Active Prayer, Logging, the “Welcoming Prayer” Practice and Spiritual Reading

¨ Nurturing the contemplative dimension of one’s lifestyle by exercising discernment, simplicity, forgiveness, integrity and commitment.

The ongoing process of the Course provides an environment in which to integrate contemplative practices into one’s life.  This integration is accomplished, in part, by opening to God as a community and consenting to God’s presence and action individually and communally.

The Course meets one weekend a month from September 2019 through  June 2020, and is presented by Nine Month Course staff.

Each weekend includes a review of the previous month’s practice(s),  soul-friending, Centering Prayer, conferences,  sharing and rest. Each month’s theme is supported by a Spiritual Counsel and Prayer Practice(s).

The St. Lawrence Retreat Center  is located on 25 beautiful acres in Beacon, NY, just one and one-half hours north of New York City.  The center is off Route I-84, and is accessible to Stewart Airport and the Beacon, NY train station.  The newly renovated, fully accessible facility has an elevator, wide hallways and flat, easily walkable grounds, ensuring that people of all ages and physical abilities can enjoy this sacred space.

The Center  can accommodate up to 20 guests, including handicap accessible rooms and bathrooms.  Every room has a private bathroom and individual climate control.  St. Lawrence Retreat Center is a ministry of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars.

You can read more about the program here in this brochure.

If interested, please fill out the application letter here.