Our philosophy at The Open Gate Retreat House is centered with a monastic heart and yet at the same time actively engaged in the world around us. A time for contemplation and a time for action. we pray the cycle of The Liturgy of The Hours in addition to times of silence and grand silence. We will gladly incorporate our times so that your group can join this great rhythm of prayer. It is also our firm belief that a little time for purely social gathering with a taste for the sweeter things and the lost art of story telling (your stories) is also part of a necessary spiritual balance during your retreat stay. Mi Casa su Casa!
If we are directing the retreat, the hours of prayer, meditation and sacred readings will always be a part of the central theme of the retreat.
WELL MINISTRY RETREATS
The Well Retreat grew out of a retreat given to our Presbyterian Brothers and Sisters. We prayed for discernment of being able to address their spiritual needs. The Holy Spirit gave us a format that included the monastic cycle of prayer, sacred readings, journaling, addressing some of the issues in their ministry in a safe loving, non-judgmental environment and time just to be. It was given to the Pastor, Deacons, Elders and their spouses. The Holy Spirit moved quite freely in their hearts and ours with no shortage of little miracles. We continued to listen to the Spirit and gave a similar retreat to a group of Ministers to the Sick from one of the parishes in Orlando. Again it was a deeply moving experience for all. Based on those experiences and what we believe to be an ongoing and growing need to care and spiritually feed those who are on the "front line" every day in parish and church ministry, The Open Gate has developed a core retreat program that can be tailored to the specific spiritual needs of the parish or church group. The "Well Retreat" is an opportunity for parish lay ministers in Bereavement, Ministry to the sick, Prison Ministry, Eucharistic Ministry, Liturgists, Catechists and RCIA facilitators to name a few to come and have your own water buckets refreshed spiritually from time to time. Please contact us to arrange a personal visit from your parish or church group. We will also make arrangements for a parish visit to discuss the a ministry retreat. We'll bring the Triple Chocolate Home-made Brownies. You supply the coffee.
