Programs
Silent Directed Retreat - Online Option
With Jaclyn Newns, Sister Margaret Scott, aci and Linda Robinson
Several times throughout the year, St. Raphaela Center offers multiday Ignatian retreats directed by the Center staff and visiting directors. This is a unique opportunity to spend time in silence and tranquility in order to listen more deeply to the quiet voice of God that speaks to each of our hearts. Our experienced spiritual directors […]
A Practicum in Giving the 19th Annotation 2023-24
With Linda Robinson
This Practicum (available in a hybrid format; participants can choose to join online or in-person) will explore the content, graces and dynamics of the 19th Annotation: Retreat in Everyday Life. It will provide assistance and support to spiritual directors as they give the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. This Practicum will deepen one’s experiential understanding […]
A Practicum in Giving the 19th Annotation 2025-26
With Linda Robinson
This online practicum will explore the content, graces and dynamics of the 19th Annotation: Retreat in Everyday Life. It will provide assistance and support to spiritual directors as they give the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. This Practicum will deepen one’s experiential understanding of the weeks of the Spiritual Exercises as they unfold in the […]
La Salle Academy Faculty Retreat
An Online Practicum in Giving the 19th Annotation 2022- 2023
With Sister Karen Doyle, SSJ and Nan C. Bouché
This Practicum will explore the content, graces and dynamics of the 19th Annotation: Retreat in Everyday Life. It will provide assistance and support to spiritual directors as they give the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. This Practicum will deepen one’s experiential understanding of the weeks of the Spiritual Exercises as they unfold in the everyday […]
Group Inquiry
St. Raphaela Center offers the use of our facilities to many different types of groups for a variety of gatherings. By providing us with the information in the form below, we will be able to begin the planning process for your group's stay at St. Raphaela Center.
Host Your Retreat - Overnight
St. Raphaela Center provides the perfect atmosphere in which individuals or groups of any religious tradition can come together to think, plan, pray, reflect, and grow. We are able to host groups that range in size from 2 to 80 people. Many parishes use our facilities, and we also host a variety of programs and days of […]
Host Your Retreat - University groups
St. Raphaela Center provides the perfect atmosphere in which individuals or groups of any religious tradition can come together to think, plan, pray, reflect, and grow. We are able to host groups that range in size from 2 to 80 people. Many parishes use our facilities, and we also host a variety of programs and days of […]
Host Your Retreat - Elementary, Middle and High School
St. Raphaela Center provides the perfect atmosphere in which individuals or groups of any religious tradition can come together to think, plan, pray, reflect, and grow. We are able to host groups that range in size from 2 to 80 people. Many parishes use our facilities, and we also host a variety of programs and days of […]
Sponsored or Personal Day of Prayer
We have one day set aside each month for individuals to come and enjoy the peace and quiet of the Center. The retreat begins with a common opening prayer to set the tone for the day, after which retreatants are free to spend their time in personal prayer or quiet reflection. The Center is also […]
Centering Prayer
We have one day set aside each month for individuals to come and enjoy the peace and quiet of the Center. The retreat begins with a common opening prayer to set the tone for the day, after which retreatants are free to spend their time in personal prayer or quiet reflection. The Center is also […]
Handmaid Feast Days
Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life
The 19th Annotation This retreat follows the entire 30-day Spiritual Exercises retreat, but is adapted to be made during “daily life”, that is, without taking a month off of work or studies or family. Retreatants meet once a week with their spiritual director to review their prayer and to receive material for the following week […]
Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life Inquiry
With Sister Lyan Tri, ACJ, Linda Robinson, Leigh Murray and Sister Pat Mensing, SSJ
The 19th Annotation This retreat follows the entire 30-day Spiritual Exercises retreat, but is adapted to be made during “daily life”, that is, without taking a month off of work or studies or family. Retreatants meet once a week with their spiritual director to review their prayer and to receive material for the following week […]
Desert Day
We have one day set aside each month for individuals to come and enjoy the peace and quiet of the Center. The retreat begins with a common opening prayer to set the tone for the day, after which retreatants are free to spend their time in personal prayer or quiet reflection. The Center is also […]
Shawl Ministry
Spiritual Direction Office Reservation
Spiritual Directors associated with St. Raphaela Center may use this form to request the use of a Spiritual Direction office. Even though the dates specify an overnight stay, the "Check In" date is the date understood for your reservation. If you want to reserve an office over the course of consecutive days, please specify that […]
Busy Person's Retreat
With Fr. Joe Schad, SJ, Sister Kathy Benham, IHM and Sister Carmen Cabrejos, ACJ
The Busy Person’s Retreat is an experience designed to support you to connecting with God in your daily, ordinary life. During these days, you will be encouraged to take the time to pray on your own for about 30 minutes each day. Daily 30 minute meetings with your spiritual director either in-person or via Zoom […]
Personal Overnight Retreat
An individual may make a retreat at the Center for a few hours, for a few days, or for an extended period of time. During this time, the retreatant may meet with a spiritual director or just spend some time in personal prayer or quiet reflection.
Enrichment Session for Spiritual Directors: Identifying Your Own Voice as a Spiritual Director
With Paul Burgmayer, Ph.D
Online Enrichment Sessions for Spiritual Directors Sundays, 1:00-4:00pm EST - Zoom February 23, 2025: Paul Burgmayer, Ph.D Identifying Your Own Voice as a Spiritual Director An afternoon of exploration into your spiritual direction practice Ever find yourself questioning why you do certain things as a spiritual director? Is it habit? Training? Or simply what you […]
Women's Weekend: Awaken to Your Spiritual Story
With Kathy Garrett, Ph.D, Andria Seneviratne and Becky McIntyre
Awaken to Your Spiritual Story is a reflective and nurturing retreat for women of all ages to engage with their creativity, self-expression, and intuition to discover greater spiritual meaning in their life stories. Each life story has times of ease and love, mystery and drama, and challenge and sorrow. Exploring these experiences through contemplative, creative […]
Lent Day of Prayer
With Sister Kathy Benham, IHM and Michelle Gomez
Using art/visual media, scripture, and reflection, we will creatively explore the seasonal themes of forgiveness and mercy and how these graces are both requested and received. We will examine the importance of finding the interior changes that occur through forgiving others and ourselves. There will be time for silent contemplation and opportunities for small and […]
Lenten Soup & Cinema: The Way
With John Dougherty
Join us for a special Lenten movie night and reflection in our House of Hope. We will watch The Way (2010), directed by Emilio Estevez, about a grieving father (Martin Sheen, Estevez’ actual father) walking the Camino de Santiago, discovering unexpected grace on the journey. Afterwards guests will have a chance to discuss the film, […]
Meeting Christ in Prayer: 18th Annotation Group
With Fr. Joe Schad, SJ and Sister Kathy Benham, IHM
Meeting Christ in Prayer is modeled on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, which is a tried-and-true method of spiritual renewal. By means of prayer, reflection and faith sharing, Meeting Christ in Prayer will introduce you to various ways of praying and will help you to form regular habits of prayer, providing you […]
Enrichment Session for Spiritual Directors: Listening as a Radical Act of Love, Healing, Justice, and Transformation
With Tricia Way
Online Enrichment Sessions for Spiritual Directors Sundays, 1:00-4:00pm EST - Zoom April 6, 2025: Tricia Way Listening as a Radical Act of Love, Healing, Justice, and Transformation This session will offer Spiritual Directors an opportunity to join together in community and reflect deeply on the content, quality, and impact of our listening in the work […]
Writing Workshop
With John Dougherty
Writing can be a spiritual act, a way for us to process our experiences and engage in conversations with God. In this workshop, Catholic writer John Dougherty (America Magazine, National Catholic Reporter, Jesuit Media Lab) will offer some skills for bringing our spiritual stories to life on the page and, even more importantly, some time […]
Women's Weekend: Palm Sunday 2025
With Sister Kathy Benham, IHM
Take a weekend away with other women to nurture your relationship with God. Enjoy this privileged time and space to grow in your spiritual journey. Sr. Kathy will provide you with food for your prayer, guiding you as you retreat with our God of abundant love. This is a wonderful opportunity to prepare to enter […]
Easter Triduum Retreat 2025
With Jaclyn Newns and Fr. Joe Schad, SJ
The Easter Triduum invites us to take a long, loving look into the Paschal Mystery as the foundation of our faith. Join us for a weekend of beauty and intention as we flow through liturgical celebrations, silence and sacred circles of sharing. Father Jack Newns will be our Presider. Holy Thursday: Seder Meal & Mass […]
Holy Saturday Desert Day
Come and savor the peace and quiet of the Center.... and lean into this Holy Day of waiting. The retreat will begin with a common opening prayer to set the tone for the day (8:30am), after which retreatants are free to spend their time in personal prayer or quiet reflection anywhere in the house until […]
Saved by Beauty: Making Art in the Easter Garden
With Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS
What connects us as one human family? Our intrinsic creative urge to SEEK, MAKE, and SHARE BEAUTY! Join Brother Mickey McGrath as he shares his own ART and STORIES celebrating Wise Saints and Talented Prophets of Beauty who inspire us to live in HOPE not despair, and in LOVE not fear. Dorothy Day's life motto […]
Spiritual Directors Circle: Grace and Grief
With Nancy Santamaria
The Spiritual Directors Circle of the Philadelphia Region presents, Grace & Grief You are warmly invited to a gathering to focus on our practice of spiritual direction when Grief is present. Our experience affirms that Grace is present there too. How can we best create an expansive space for grief and grace during these times? […]
Spring Directed Retreat Weekend 2025
With Sister Carmen Cabrejos, ACJ, Sister Jean Marie Pisula, CSFN and Sister Kathy Benham, IHM
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. Our Spiritual Directors on staff will […]
Walking with the Pilgrim: A Guided Ignatian Weekend Retreat
With Fr. Joe Schad, SJ
Reflections on the Life of Ignatius During this weekend, we will explore some of the events which shaped the spiritual journey of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Along the way, we will be introduced to his graced moments, challenges and faith, with an emphasis on how we can incorporate some of the principles of the Ignatian […]
Guided Retreat: Praying with Our Senses
With Mary Pollini
Stop, Look, and Listen...and Smell, and Taste, and Touch: Praying with Our Senses “The five senses are the ministers of our soul.” - Leonardo DaVinci In his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius of Loyola recommends that we pray with scripture by putting ourselves in the scene and contemplating the scene with our senses - what do […]
30 Day Spiritual Exercises Summer 2025 Inquiry
With Fr. Joe Schad, SJ
30-day Spiritual Exercises retreat - St. Ignatius’ prepared the Spiritual Exercises as a 30-day intensive retreat. The Exercises can be helpful for someone making a decision – whether it is a vocational choice, a decision regarding one’s current way of life, or pertaining to a period of transition. It is also an excellent experience for […]
Summer Directed Retreat I 2025
With Buff Barnes, Sister Pat Mensing, SSJ, Sr. Mary Elizabeth Looby, GNSH, Sister Jean Marie Pisula, CSFN, Sister Margaret Scott, aci, Fr. Joe Schad, SJ and Sister Mary Carboy, SSJ
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 […]
Summer Directed Retreat II 2025
With Sister Karen Doyle, SSJ, Sister Clare A. D’Auria OSF, Sister Carmen Cabrejos, ACJ, Linda Robinson, Sister Catherine Anne Soley, ra, Fr. Joe Schad, SJ, Sister Kathy Benham, IHM and Sr. Mary Elizabeth Looby, GNSH
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 […]
Retiro Ignaciano de 8 días para Religiosas
Escuchando a Dios como Ignacio 25 de agosto al 1ro de septiembre 2025 Casa de Retiros Santa Rafaela 616 Coopertown Road, Haverford, PA 19041 Este retiro está basado en los Ejercicios Espirituales de San Ignacio de Loyola. La Espiritualidad Ignaciana ofrece diversas oportunidades, formas de orar y acompañamiento espiritual. La hora de llegada es de […]