Scripture only reports one thing that the Disciples specifically asked Jesus to teach them: how to pray (Luke 11:1). In 2025, the Saint Vincent Retreat program is offering a new series of Spiritual Wellness Days that will provide mini prayer workshops from a variety of perspectives: Praying with the Psalms, the Role of Silence in Prayer, Using Our Imagination to Pray with Scripture, and the ancient monastic practice of praying with Scripture known as Lectio Divina. These Spiritual Wellness Days will be offered on a quarterly basis for a full year. Feel free to attend one, some, or all of these days of reflection designed to address the concerns of our day from a variety of perspectives.

Persons wishing to pay by mail may send a check in the appropriate amount and a note listing which retreat he or she wishes to register for to Archabbey Retreat Office, 300 Fraser Purchase Rd., Latrobe, PA 15650.

ONLINE RETREAT REGISTRATION THIS YEAR IS ALL AT ONE LINK! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR ANY ONE OR FOR ALL RETREATS!

Saturday, April 26, 2025
Praying with the Psalms

Professor of Scripture and Theology at Saint Vincent College, Dr. Catherine Petrany will facilitate a day of reflection and discussion on the importance of the Psalms in the life of the Church and in the personal prayer life of the Christian. The Psalms provide words to express a wide range of human experiences to God in prayer such as praise, contrition, thanksgiving, contrition, and yes, cursing!  Did you know that the Psalms were the prayer book that Jesus used?  

Dr. Catherine Petrany is associate professor of theology at Saint Vincent College, where she teaches scripture. Her work focuses on the book of Psalms and the Wisdom literature of the Old Testament. Her husband, Lucas Briola, also teaches theology at Saint Vincent College and they have a young son.

Schedule: 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fee: $40

Check-In: 11-11:30 a.m., ground floor of the barn at the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, 744 Walzer Way, Latrobe, PA 15650.

Saturday, July 12, 2025
The Role Of Silence In Prayer

Chapter 42 of the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict states that monks should diligently cultivate silence.  In our current culture of noise and distraction, this instruction of Saint Benedict is more important than ever!  Benedictine monk and priest, Father Boniface Hicks will facilitate a day of reflection and discussion on the topic of the role of silence in personal and communal prayer.

Father Boniface Hicks, O.S.B. is director of spiritual formation as well as director of the Institute for Ministry Formation at Saint Vincent Seminary. His books include, Through the Heart of St. Joseph, a 33-day preparation for total consecration to Jesus entitled The Fruit of Her Womb, and The Hidden Power of Silence in the Mass. He is the co-author, along with Father Thomas Acklin, O.S.B., the book Spiritual Direction: A Guide for Sharing the Father’s Love, and Personal Prayer: A Guide for Receiving the Father’s Love.A popular retreatmaster, he frequently appears on various radio programs, podcasts, and television.

Schedule: 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fee: $40

Check-In: 11-11:30 a.m., ground floor of the barn at the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, 744 Walzer Way, Latrobe, PA 15650.

Saturday, October 4, 2025
Ignatian Perspectives on Using the Imagination to Pray with Scripture

Jesuit priest Father Paul O’Connor will return to Saint Vincent and guide participants in an afternoon of praying with Scripture according to the manner promoted by Saint Ignatius of Loyola known as Imaginative Prayer.  Saint Ignatius encourages us to use our imagination to put ourselves in the scenes that are depicted in Scripture, especially passages from the Gospel.

Father Paul O’Connor, S.J.  is a Jesuit priest and the Director of Mission & Identity at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Cleveland, Ohio where he is a retreat director, teacher, and presenter for a variety of Ignatian retreats, especially the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Father O’Connor has done extensive training in Ignatian spirituality and retreat direction. He conducts life transitions retreats, assists people with Ignatian discernment and decision making, and leads Ignatian retreats and programs with the homeless.

Schedule: 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fee: $40

Check-In: 11-11:30 a.m., ground floor of the barn at the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, 744 Walzer Way, Latrobe, PA 15650.

Saturday, January 31, 2026
Drawing from the Wells of Scripture using Lectio Divina

Father Tom Hart, Benedictine monk and priest, will lead participants in an afternoon of instruction, discussion, and practice of the ancient monastic manner of praying with Scripture known as Lectio Divina.  Lectio Divina involves multiple stages during which one engages with the Word: reading (Lectio), reflection (Meditatio), prayer in response to the Word (Oratio), and resting in the Word (Contemplatio).     

Father Tom Hart, O.S.B.,  has served in a variety of capacities at Saint Vincent Archabbey and Saint Vincent College through the years, including as a member of the Religious Studies/Theology Department faculty, and twice as assistant to the president for mission at the college. He has contributed articles to The Bible Today, among other publications, and has given a number of workshops in the dioceses of Greensburg, Pittsburgh, Altoona-Johnstown, Harrisburg, Erie and Little Rock, as well as to the Oblates of Saint Benedict.

Schedule: 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fee: $40

Check-In: 11-11:30 a.m., ground floor of the barn at the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, 744 Walzer Way, Latrobe, PA 15650.