Fall Directed Retreat I 2025
With Fr. Joe Schad, SJ, Sister Jean Marie Pisula, CSFN, Sister Carmen Cabrejos, ACJ, Sister Mary Carboy, SSJ, Buff Barnes, Sister Jean Marie Holup, SS.C.M. and Sister Mercedes Rojo, OSF
September 12 - 19, 2025
A directed retreat at St. Raphaela Center is a time of quiet in order to enhance attentiveness to God’s voice within you and in your life. A reverent silence is maintained throughout the Retreat Center at all times including during meals. Each retreatant meets with his/her director daily for approximately 45 minutes. Each director possesses the necessary skills to guide their directees compassionately and peacefully, allowing them to listen to God’s voice and to journey closely with their loving God, both within the retreat setting and going forth into their daily lives. The number, nature and length of periods of formal prayer each day will depend upon the ability and needs of the individual and will be determined in conversation with the director. Retreatants are provided suggested scripture passages tailored to their own prayer. Ideally retreatants will have some experience in meditative prayer, the desire to enter into prolonged silence, and sufficient self-awareness to recognize their own inward movements. All retreatants have the opportunity for daily liturgy and reconciliation.
Date: September 12-19, 2025
Time: Starting at 4:00pm
Cost: $625 – $725 (depending on room choice)
About the Spiritual Directors
Fr. Joe Schad, SJ
Joe Schad, SJ, is originally from South Philadelphia. He attended St. Joe's Prep, where he first encountered the Jesuits. He graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), with a BFA in the graphic arts program. Afterwards, Fr. Joe spent most of a year discerning his vocation at a Trappist monastery in North Carolina. Following […]
Learn more about Fr. Joe Schad, SJ
Sister Jean Marie Pisula, CSFN
Sister Jean Marie Pisula is a Sister of the Holy Family Of Nazareth, who just recently returned from 26 years of missionary service in the Philippines. Her Masters degree in Spirituality at Creighton University and her studies and practicum at the Ignatian Spirituality Center in the Philippines have helped her to do ministries like Bible […]
Learn more about Sister Jean Marie Pisula, CSFN
Sister Carmen Cabrejos, ACJ
Sister Carmen Cabrejos is a Handmaid of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Born in Peru, she has lived in the United States since 1986, in Miami, Athens and Atlanta GA, Philadelphia, and is coming back to Haverford. She has worked in Hispanic ministry, adult faith formation, work with the homeless and Spiritual Direction. She holds […]
Learn more about Sister Carmen Cabrejos, ACJ
Sister Mary Carboy, SSJ
Sister Mary has been a Spiritual Director at St. Raphaela Center for many years. Her internship program in spiritual direction began with the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Center for Spirituality in Chestnut Hill, PA. She earned her undergraduate degree in Education at Chestnut Hill College and a Master's of Arts in Spirituality from Duquesne. She has […]
Learn more about Sister Mary Carboy, SSJ
Buff Barnes
Buff has been offering spiritual direction to individuals and groups since 2004. She completed a certificate training at Oasis Ministries in Camp Hill, PA, and subsequently completed a Master's degree in Holistic Spirituality and Spiritual Direction at Chestnut Hill College. Buff is part of the spiritual direction ministry at Wayne Presbyterian Church and St. David's […]
Learn more about Buff Barnes
Sister Jean Marie Holup, SS.C.M.
Jean Marie Holup, SS.C.M., a Sister of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, has previously ministered for 20 years as the Director of St. Cyril Spiritual Center in Danville, PA. Before that time, Jean was on staff at Bon Secours Spiritual Center in Marriottsville, MD. She received an M.A. in Christian Spirituality in 1995 from Creighton University, […]
Learn more about Sister Jean Marie Holup, SS.C.M.
Sister Mercedes Rojo, OSF
Mercedes Rojo, OSF, is a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia. She is a psychotherapist, spiritual director and retreat facilitator. Sister Mercedes has extensive experience as an educator, retreat facilitator, spiritual director, and mental health counselor, and is passionate about bringing her faith and her experience of God’s PRESENCE in the Here and Now to […]
Learn more about Sister Mercedes Rojo, OSFCategory : Overnight Program