Spirituality / Prayer

Retreat Opportunities Available in Our Area

What is a Catholic retreat?

A Catholic retreat is an opportunity to step aside from your daily life and take time to spend with the Lord, to restore your soul, and to pray and reflect. It usually consists of a few days away at a retreat house where talks are presented by a priest or another retreat director, where you’ll have “alone time” for prayer and reflection, and attend Mass.

Is a retreat for me?

The simple answer is: yes. A retreat is not only for priests, sisters, deacons, or others in ministry but also for the everyday Catholic trying to build a closer relationship with the Lord. A time away from work, family responsibilities, and the everyday busyness of life so that you can recharge and re-energize your spiritual life. A retreat can be a life-changing experience.

Where can I find a place that provides retreats?

There are some places in the Rochester area. More information about them is below:

Notre Dame Retreat House
Website: https://notredameretreat.org/
Location overlooking Canandaigua Lake:
5151 Foster Road
Canandaigua, NY 14424
Phone: (585) 394-5700

The Mission
Their mission is to provide space and time for spiritual formation and to awaken the spirit within. Now run by a volunteer Board of Directors, Notre Dame was founded in 1967 by the Redemptorist Fathers and remains true to their charism of preaching the good news of plentiful redemption--that Jesus loves us and knows us by name.

Programs
Variety of retreats for adults – weekend and 1-day. Some are offered for only men or women and some for any adult. There are also special couples retreats. Topics range from a selected theme for the year to special interest topics.

Mercy Spirituality Center
A Spiritual Ministry of the Sisters of Mercy
Website: https://www.mercyspiritualitycenter.org/
Located near Highland Park at
65 Highland Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620
Phone: (585) 473-6893

The Mission
Their mission is to create a community of active contemplatives by providing lifelong growth opportunities, spiritual direction and retreats. The programs are rooted in an awareness of the God in all things. They seek to deepen that connection through care of the Earth, building a contemplative community, and concern for social and ecological justice.

Programs
Diverse programming for adults throughout the year on a variety of topics that cover the broad mission above. Weekend and week-long retreats are offered, as well as discussion groups (in person and virtual), days of reflection, and spiritual growth series that cross several weeks.

The Abbey of the Genesee
Website: https://geneseeabbey.org
3258 River Rd., Piffard, NY 14533
Phone: (585) 243-0660

A Trappist-Cistercian monastery located in Piffard, New York which offers various retreat services focused on providing a quiet, spiritual experience in a serene environment. Guests can participate in private, self-guided retreats at one of their three retreat houses: Nazareth, Bethany, or Bethlehem House. These houses vary in size, accommodating individuals or groups. Retreatants are invited to share in the monastic rhythm of prayer and silence, with access to the Divine Office and daily Mass, although participation is optional. The retreats are designed for personal reflection and spiritual renewal, with a deep emphasis on silence and solitude. The cost is $90 per night per person, with a group fee for those staying in Bethany or Bethlehem houses. While amenities such as kitchens are provided, there is no phone service or public internet, encouraging a deeper sense of retreat from daily life. Additionally, the Abbey offers vocation discernment retreats for single Catholic men aged 21-50 who are exploring the monastic life.

Mt. Irenaeus
Franciscan Mountain Community
Website: www.mountainonline.org
621 Roberts Road, Friendship, NY 14739
Phone: (585) 973-2470

A retreat facility available for individual visits and overnights. They do not normally serve large groups. Overnight stays are welcome. There is Mass every Sunday at 11 AM followed by brunch. The community welcomes people of all faiths at the Mountain. They live in community with one another and their guests. They invite you to take time in solitude on their land for quiet reflection and experience relationship with other creatures. They enjoy living a Franciscan life in the contemplative model of Sts. Francis and Clare. The co-ministry with St. Bonaventure University welcomes students from August through May, so many weekends and evenings are dedicated to working in collaboration with students and student leaders.

Mount Savior
Website: https://msaviour.org
231 Monastery Road, Pine City, NY 14871
Phone: (607) 734-1688
Email:

Mount Savior Monastery is a community of Benedictine monks who follow the rule of St. Benedict, live in community, and pray the Divine Office of the church daily. The monastery offers hospitality to persons who wish to come away to make a retreat. They have dwellings for individuals, couples, and groups. As a guest you can spend a couple of days or a week to be in a quiet place in the country to stay, eat, and sleep, to make your own personal retreat. You also have an opportunity to pray with the monks as they pray.

Cursillo Retreats
Origin and Purpose
The Cursillo (pronounced 'kur-see-yo) movement began in the 1940's in Spain. In 1957 it came to the U.S. And 10 years later to Rochester. The name, “Cursillo de Christianidad,” translates into English as “short course in Christian living.” The founders were dedicated to helping adult Catholics come to know Christ better. Their intention then and now was to give the laity a renewed spirituality and a clearer understanding of how Christ can work through them to bring Christian values to all environments and people with whom they come in contact. Cursillo develops a consciousness of our Baptismal responsibility to be evangelizers and leaders in the task of
Christian renewal.

How is this achieved?
It begins with a weekend experience where Cursillo provides the tools for this spiritual revitalization --- a simple method of holiness, formation and evangelization to bring others as well as ourselves closer to Christ. It becomes a way of thinking and a pattern for daily living while offering a Christian community of support in civic, social, parish, and economic life.

The Weekend
The 3-day Cursillo weekend begins on Thursday evening and closes on Sunday night. The retreat phase lasts from opening night until after Mass the following morning. After that, the group of about 30 people listens to a series of coordinated talks presented by a team of lay persons and spiritual advisers. Each talk is followed by a discussion period. Throughout the three days, there are opportunities for prayer, introspection, sharing, spiritual counseling, participation in the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation, as well as having fun, all while living in a small Christian community.

How can I participate?
To attend a Cursillo weekend, you must have a sponsor who is an active Cursillista and submit an application. If you do not know someone to sponsor you, we can help. As the initial link with the Cursillo community, your sponsor is responsible for preparing you for the weekend, establishing you in a group reunion where you live or work, and introducing you to the Ultreya Center community in your area.

Upcoming dates for 2025:
Women’s 98: February 20-23, 2025
Men’s 97: May 29-June 1, 2025
To sign up or ask questions please contact Keith Bunker:

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