Silence: the language of God

Silence is the language of God. A silent, directed retreat

Sept. 7-10, 2023
7 p.m. Thursday to Sunday 4 p.m.
In-person and Zoom options available.

“At the heart of every person is an innate silence … Nothing will make us discover God better than the silence inscribed in the center of our being. If we do not cultivate this silence how can we find God?”

—Cardinal Robert Sarah, The Power of Silence

Why a silent, directed retreat?

Be still before the LORD; wait for him. — Psalm 37:7

If you want “to cultivate the silence at the center of your being,” a silent, directed retreat with Precious Blood Renewal Center might be what you’re looking for. A silent, directed retreat is a personally guided prayer experience over a long weekend.

Before the weekend begins, a spiritual director will contact you about how to prepare yourself for the weekend and what to expect.

We begin Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. for orientation, an opening prayer and to meet other retreatants. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are spent in silent contemplation. You will have a private room and can use the chapel, library or other rooms at the Center. You can also walk our grounds.

Each day, each retreatant meets with a spiritual director for reflection and spiritual discernment. The retreat ends Sunday afternoon with Mass and sharing

2024 Retreat Dates: Feb. 22-24; June 20-23; Sept 12-15

The group meetings and prayers are a hybrid experience, with some retreatants in person and others joining by Zoom. The individual meetings too can be conducted in person or via Zoom.

What’s the Cost?

Zoom retreat: $150 per person
In-person retreat: $350 a person.

Retreat costs cover all the meals and snacks, a private room, linen and towels, retreat director fee, and private spiritual direction time. Prices are set to cover these costs. Anyone unable to pay the suggested amounts may leave whatever offering they can afford. No one will be turned away.

Sr. Linda Zahner (see bio below) is a trained massage therapist and will be offering 15-minute chair massage sessions during the retreat. You must reserve a session and pay $15 for it at registration time.

For God alone, my soul waits in silence. — Psalm 67:1

Not Sure This Is for You?

Learn more about directed retreats here. Or contact the Renewal Center (by email info@pbrenewalcenter.org or calling 816-415-3745) and one of our directors will reach out to you with more information.

Our Spiritual Directors

Before the weekend begins, a spiritual director will contact you about how to prepare yourself for the weekend and what to expect.

Sr. Linda Zahner was inspired by the Benedictine Sisters who taught her in grade and high school. She entered the Benedictine Community of Mount St. Scholastica shortly after graduation. She has worked in education as a teacher, administrator, and executive officer for a consolidated Catholic school system in Iowa. In her next career, she completed certification as a spiritual director and retreat director from the Creighton Spirituality Program. In addition, she completed massage therapy training at the Universal College of Healing Arts in Omaha, Nebraska and remains Nationally Certified. She is also a certified Eden Energy Medicine clinical practitioner. Within the monastic community and at Sophia Spirituality Center she guides retreats and offers therapeutic massages, contemplative healing touch, promoting a holistic approach to health and wellbeing of body, mind, and spirit.

Fr. Ron Will, a Precious Blood priest, is a graduate of Catholic Theological Union and Creighton University’s School of Christian Spirituality. Fr. Ron 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.