Silent Weekend

December 15-17, 2023

Taking place directly after finals week, the Silent Weekend is a perfect opportunity to soak up peace and insight in a supportive community. This is a preached silent retreat, meaning that it will feature a series of talks on Ignatian principles alternating with personal time to reflect, walk, read, and pray. The retreat will also include communal prayer and opportunities for conversation with spiritual directors.

This is an ideal retreat if you:

  • Want to experience a silent retreat but aren’t available for the 5-day Silent Directed Retreat in January (or want to work up to it)
  • Know you’ll want some time to reflect, process, and pray before holiday busyness is in full swing
  • Want to go home with a fresh spirit
  • Find it difficult to fit a weekend retreat in during the semester

Join us for this opportunity to unplug and re-center your spirituality, and to head into Winter Break ready and rejuvenated.

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What is the different between the Silent Weekend and the Silent Directed Retreat?

In addition to the difference in length, the Silent Weekend is a preached retreat, meaning that it is organized around a series of talks given by the retreat director. The Silent Directed Retreat is a directed retreat, in which each retreatant is matched with a spiritual director whom they meet with daily for conversation and guidance. Both retreats include abundant personal time for prayer and reflection, optional communal prayer opportunities, and a relaxed and homey atmosphere.

Is the entire weekend completely silent?

No, especially on Friday. The retreat group enjoys Friday dinner together, heads out to the retreat center, and gets settled with as much conversation as desired. Silence begins during the first retreat talk of the evening and continues through Saturday and into Sunday morning. The silent atmosphere will come to an end around lunchtime on Sunday, giving the group time to discuss their experiences on retreat and hopes going forward.

Even during the silent portion, retreatants will have the opportunity for one-to-one conversation with staff members, for Reconciliation, and for communal prayer opportunities that include spoken responses (including Mass).

After their initial adjustment, most retreatants find the silence to be a welcome, inviting environment for reflection and prayer.

For more on the opportunities that a silent retreat can bring, see this article about Marquette silent retreats.

How does the timing of this retreat work with finals and residence hall move-out?

The retreat will begin at 5:30pm on Friday of finals week; retreatants should check their exam schedules, but most finals have ended by this point. Retreatants are  welcome to leave their retreat luggage in the Campus Ministry office earlier on Friday if this is helpful.

We will eat dinner on campus first and then depart at 6:30pm; you can come after dinner if this is helpful, just let Campus Ministry staff know to expect it.

This retreat takes place during move-out weekend, so retreatants living in a residence hall will need to be moved out prior to the retreat. Campus Ministry may be able to help with post-retreat transportation to the train station or airport; contact Campus Ministry staff if you would like to discuss options. Retreatants are also welcome to leave bags or other items in the Campus Ministry office over the weekend, where they will be secure and can be picked up following the retreat.

 

Open to:
All students, both undergraduate and graduate, of the Marquette community.

 

Retreat Location:
Joseph and Mary Retreat House - Mundelein, IL

Located on the quiet grounds of Mundelein Seminary, Joseph and Mary Retreat House offers comfortable single rooms with private bath, a library, chapels, walking paths, and close proximity to a lake surrounded by a walking trail.

Additionally, the retreat house is next door to Marytown, home of the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Retreatants are welcome to visit and explore the shrine and participate in Masses, Adoration, and other prayer opportunities there.

 

Schedule:
Meet at Campus Ministry (AMU 236) at 5:30 pm on Friday. We will eat dinner on campus and then depart at 6:30pm. We will return to campus at 4:00 pm on Sunday.

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Click here for a sample schedule.

Friday:

5:30pm - Dinner

6:30pm - Depart for Retreat Center

7:45pm - Arrival and welcome

8:30pm - Talk #1, silence begins

9:00pm - Personal prayer & reflection

9:45pm - Optional night prayer

 

Saturday:

8:00-9:00am - Breakfast

9:15am - Talk #2

9:45am - Personal prayer & reflection

11:00am - Optional group prayer

12:00-1:00pm - Lunch

1:15-6:00pm - Personal prayer & reflection (Spiritual Conversation, Confession, and optional group and individual prayer opportunities available)

6:00-7:00pm - Dinner

7:15pm - Talk #3

7:45pm - Personal prayer & reflection (Spiritual Conversation, Confession, and Eucharistic Adoration available)

9:00pm - Optional night prayer

 

Sunday:

8:00-9:00am - Breakfast

9:15am - Talk #4

9:45am - Personal prayer & reflection (Spiritual Conversation available)

11:00am - Mass, silence ends

12:00pm - Lunch

1:00pm - Partner walk

1:30pm - Sharing of graces and social

2:15pm - Pack and clean

2:45pm - Depart retreat center

4:00pm - Return to Marquette (with airport or train station stop en route for those departing Milwaukee)

Cost:
$20, covers transportation, food and lodging. Financial assistance is readily available; see the Retreat FAQ page for more information.

 

Registration:
Registration for the Silent Weekend is now closed. Email Pablo Cardenal if you would like to be on the waitlist.

 

For any questions or for further information, please contact:

Pablo Cardenal
Campus Ministry, AMU 236
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881
(414) 288-3689