FAQs-A Guided Retreat: Entering into Silence with St. Ignatius

The full Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius take a whole month to complete. This two-day guided silent retreat offers an initial taste of the Exercises for LMU faculty and staff who would like to experience their spirit and style in a shorter format.

During the retreat, periods of prayer and recollection, along with one-on-one confidential conversations with experienced spiritual directors,  can help participants deepen their friendship with God and move toward greater spiritual freedom.

The retreat directors are Dorian Llywelyn SJ  and Nick Russell SJ. The retreat is limited to  participants from current LMU/LLS faculty and staff.

No prior familiarity with Ignatian ways of praying is assumed.

The Spiritual Exercises are framed in Christian and Catholic terms. However, many people from other churches and other religious backgrounds have found them at least elements of them helpful. Retreatants who are comfortable with the idea of praying to God personally and growing in intimacy with God will likely find this retreat meaningful.

To help us quiet down and become more attentive inwardly, most of the retreat — including meals — will be carried out in silence. Participants will also be strongly encouraged to set aside cell phones, electronics, and all work-related tasks.

- You will be invited to dedicate several periods each day to prayer (typically 3 sessions of 30–60 minutes, adjusted individually).
- A simple daily Mass will be offered, and all are welcome.
- The retreat begins Friday evening, September 26, with an opening meeting and entry into silence, and concludes with Sunday lunch, September 28, when silence is broken in shared conversation.

Each person’s retreat experience will be unique, shaped by the prayer periods and the atmosphere of quiet.

- One-on-one confidential conversations with a retreat director are available daily (and encouraged, though optional).
- Directors can help you tailor your time in prayer to your hopes and desires for the retreat.
- There are no group sessions. Apart from prayer, meals, and optional Mass, the rest of the time is free for rest, walking, reading, or other reflective activities.

The Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center is set in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers beautiful walking trails and views.

Each retreatant has a private en-suite room. Meals are simple, shared together, and taken in silence. We will be sharing the facility with other groups.

Thanks to the generosity of the Center for Ignatian Spirituality, this retreat is fully subsidized for LMU faculty and staff. You may make a donation to the Center if you wish, to help support future retreats.

Please email ignacio@lmu.edu

Apply here