What is a Silent Directed Retreat? Part 3

By Fr. Ron Will, CPPS

Over the last few days, we’ve been looking at what a silent directed retreat is and what to expect while you’re on a retreat. Let’s continue to look at some questions you might have.

Third question: How does it begin?

Since a directed retreat is individual in desire and nature, it is difficult to describe a pattern or flow. But at the beginning, as you are settling in, you will meet with your director for a short period to talk about your desires or hopes, to connect with your director and decide with the director some scripture or materials to focus your first day of the retreat. That will be unique to you.

Each day you will meet with your director to see where you are and what is happening. You might want to spend more time on a certain scripture. Repetition is one of the primary aspects of prayer on a directed retreat, since the goal is not knowing much, but savoring and relishing much.

Your director will try to assist you to notice what you savor and what you missed savoring so that you may return to it again. That is the language of your heart and God will often speak to us in the language of our hearts.

Our New Stay-at-Home Directed Retreat Format

We have adapted our retreat format so that you can make the retreat from your own home. We will use this format for those who cannot attend in-person events. You will meet daily by phone or Zoom with a spiritual director for a personalized retreat experience.

Our directed retreats for 2026 are:

• February 19-22
• May 28-31
• September 24-27

The retreats begin on Thursdays at 7 p.m. and conclude on Sundays no later than 4 p.m.

There are a couple of retreat directors available to you, including me. You can make a reservation — there is a $10 registration fee

• by visiting this page or
• by emailing info@pbrenewalcenter.org or
• calling 816-415-3745.

Read the other parts of this series here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. Coming Soon: Part 4.

[Fr. Ron Will, a Precious Blood priest and spiritual director, is a graduate of Catholic Theological Union and Creighton University’s School of Christian Spirituality. He has a special interest in helping form intentional disciples of Jesus, encouraging others to go spiritually deep-sea diving to explore a deeper relationship with God, and walking with people as they dive into the ocean of God’s mystery actually experiencing God rather than simply dipping one’s toe into the water.]