Summer Directed Retreat II 2026
With Buff Barnes, Sister Jean Marie Pisula, CSFN, Sister Clare A. D’Auria OSF, Sr. Mary Elizabeth Looby, GNSH and Sister Kathy Benham, IHM
July 16 - 23, 2026
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.
Cost: $650 -$750 (depending on room choice)
About the Spiritual Directors
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 […]
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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 […]
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Sister Clare A. D’Auria OSF
Clare A. D’Auria OSF, a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, Aston, PA, currently ministers as a staff member at the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Aston, Pennsylvania. For half of her fifty years in ministry, Clare has traveled throughout the United States and abroad, offering directed retreats as well as guided and preached retreats especially […]
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Sr. Mary Elizabeth Looby, GNSH
Sr. Mary Elizabeth Looby is a Grey Nun of the Sacred Heart. She holds a BA in History and Political Science from D’Youville College; a M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Temple University. Her training for spiritual direction and retreat ministry was at Bon Secours Spiritual Center in MD. She added a certification in Spiritual Direction […]
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Sister Kathy Benham, IHM
Sister Kathy Benham, IHM is a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculata, Pennsylvania. Her experience of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius laid a strong foundation for her spiritual growth and formation as a spiritual director, religious educator and parish minister. Her places of study include Immaculata University, Creighton […]
Learn more about Sister Kathy Benham, IHMCategory : Overnight Program