Are retreats worthwhile?

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Before I step away, the Original Poster asked about an ACTS retreat.

I provided my opinions, not once did I encourage or discourage any person. I simply stated well known information about these retreats.

Every spirituality is not for every person. It seems that you are quite attached to these retreats, I would encourage you to keep up with them.
 
PatK63 said:
If I was uncharitable, I apologize! Certainly that was not my intent.
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In this part of the world, when someone states their disorders or illnesses, responding “I guess you like being that way. Why not ask the Holy Spirit to heal you?” is considered brusk at best. You did not intend it to be unkind, then, that is good.
 
As you dislike these retreats and feel they are not beneficial, please refrain from stating your negativity so that others who may need what a retreat like this can offer will not pass up the opportunity.

This topic has been done several times on here and with all the misinformation from people who have not had the experience of a retreat like this, others may get discouraged.

I do not recall any poster saying they’ve done the retreat and had a negative experience. I may have missed it if it happened, but if I remember correctly the only negative information came from people who have not experienced a retreat like this.

I have also said many times that I do not believe everyone should do Cursillo or ACTS.
TheLittleLady said:
I simply stated well known information about these retreats.
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TheLittleLady said:
I provided my opinions
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Which is it? Well known information or your opinion?

*That is a rhetorical question.
 
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I haven’t discouraged anyone from attending such a retreat. I’m merely explaining why some people, myself included, are not interested in this type of retreat.

Frankly, I find your responses to my post and to other posters on this thread to be uncharitable because you give the impression that there is something wrong with people who aren’t interested in this type of retreat.
 
YourNameHere said:
Are retreats worthwhile.
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For me they certainly have been. I don’t go on planned retreats with others where there are scheduled events. I just go to a rural monastery about 80 miles from where I live, attend the sung offices, read in the Oblates library, walk on the nature trails and just enjoy the quiet and the bells calling the monks to service throughout the day. There is nothing to compare it with and I highly recommend them.
 
This is a second-hand recommendation since I’ve never been to one (I’m not married) but several of my Catholic friends who are married and have attended these retreats called Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend retreats and highly recommend them for Catholic married couples. They’ve told me the retreats had greatly helped strengthen their marriage.

https://alifetimeoflove.org/
 
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On my first Ignatian retreat, the priest told us: “A retreat is not a vacation. If you came for a vacation, you’re in the wrong place.” 😉
 
I don’t think ACTS or Cursillo would be for me either. From what I have heard, these retreats seem like prayer camp.
My idea of a spiritual retreat is more of praying, reading the Bible, silent reflection, reciting the Rosary, fasting, and going to Mass.
 
@YourNameHere,

I will make a recommendation, although I have not gone on one, but I have friends and family who have, and that is an Opus Dei retreat. I do try go to a men’s evening of recollection they do once a month, which is about 2 hours, silent. It consists of a meditation given by a priest (always excellent), an examination of conscience, a short talk by one of their lay members on a practical matter of life (eg friendship, fatherhood, work, etc), a second meditation, and then it ends with benediction. It is always worth the time.
Their retreats are around 3 days, silent. One gets their own room. Several meditations during the day. Mass, confessions, spiritual direction and adoration/benediction. Mens and womens retreats are completely separate. They will answer any question you have about them.

Retreats

Retreats at Trumbull Conference Center are silent retreats for either men or women, conducted by priests of the Prelature of Opus Dei. The Conference Center includes a chapel, a dining room, living...
trumbullmanor.org trumbullmanor.org

I hope to go on one in the next year or two. They have conference centers in several areas of the country so it should not be difficult to find one not too far away from you.
 
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I don’t know where you are, but you might do a little local digging and see if they have an monthly evening of recollection in your area. Try that first. It will also give you a chance to ask some people about the retreats. That’s what I have done.
Oh, by the way, from what I have been told, their retreat centers are very well run. Always perfectly clean, and the food is excellent, and very well served. One does not feel like one is at a “camp”, eatig off paper plates, PB&J sandwiches.
 
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In my retreat experience, Dominican retreat houses have excellent food and plenty of wine. I’ve gained weight at a Dominican retreat 🙂
 
The best retreat I went on as an adult was with a group of women in my parish at this location:

www.csjsl.org

Homepage

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet dedicate their lives to bringing Jesus' word of loving unity to the world.
www.csjsl.org

Great food, great leader with inspiring talks!
 
I think it depends on the retreat, and how receptive you are.

I did Christ Renews His Parish for awhile, and it was a great, thought transitory, experience for me. I’d recommend it to anyone; with the caveat that what was worthwhile was the fellowship of being on a team to plan the next retreat. If it was just the retreat itself it wouldn’t move the needle much.
 
I would like for hubby and I to go on one. But doing is not as easy as saying.
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In some regions besides offering overnight “residential” retreats they also offer non-residential weekend retreats where the couples go home after the all-day session and return to the retreat the next morning. It might be easier for your husband to attend one of these non–residential retreats.
 
They may not work for you but what you state you want from a retreat
YourNameHere said:
spiritual retreat is more of praying, reading the Bible, silent reflection, reciting the Rosary, fasting, and going to Mass.
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is what happens, at least at Cursillo.

I’ve been on Charismatic retreats, they are not for me. I’ve been on a silent retreat will go again this year. I’ve done many one day retreats with various themes.

It sounds as though you want a private retreat:


https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/plan-personal-spiritual-retreat

All you need to do is make the commitment to do it. Struggling with which retreat to do, what happens in a retreat, what is the structure, will I get a schedule, is basically procrastination. Don’t worry about which retreat house or which spirituality the order is. Many monasteries offer rooms for retreatents. You could even rent a hotel room in a city near a church you like and do a personal retreat that way. God is calling you to do a retreat, respond to his call and do one. Trust God to have your best interest in mind.
 
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Horton said:
Having a couple do their Cursillo back to back is strongly encouraged but not required at all.
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It isn’t now, but used to be. When our deacon suggested Cursillo to me years ago, it was explained that my husband had to go first.

That was a deal-breaker, and left me unwilling to try Cursillo when they finally changed the rule.
 
I probably have a rather unpopular opinion on here, but I’m of the thought that retreats are a load of codswallop. In my experience (both personally and my observation of others), they produce a fleeting “spiritual high” that goes away within a couple weeks of being back, and can even leave people worse off than where they started (think “hippie”).

Of course, I know there are certainly exceptions to the rule, but that is my two cents.
 
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