A Jesuit retreat is based on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits. These Exercises are composed from the spiritual experience that Ignatius had during his conversion when he spent hours in prayer at Manresa in Spain.

The retreat centers on Jesus, his mind, heart, priorities and values. The focus in prayer is on what Jesus said and did. The retreat stresses the need to reflect and pray in order to see the world as a place where Christ walks, talks and touches people's lives. It helps us realize that the Lord is very active in our lives and it enables us to seek His will in our daily circumstances.

Jesuit retreats focus on making decisions in our everyday life through the tools of discernment. Saint Ignatius hoped to foster contemplation in action through his Spiritual Exercises.

Conference Weekend Retreats

The conference retreat is one in which a series of talks are given to a group on subjects usually taken from the scriptures. The most important time of the retreat is spent in personal prayer and reflection on how all of this touches my life. An opportunity is offered for faith sharing with others and/or consultation with one of the retreat directors. Some retreats will be single sex and some are joint weekends.

Mount Manresa has traditional served the alumni of our Jesuit schools. Our calendar will list weekends at which Jesuit alumni will gather. These weekends will make reference to these schools, but welcome individuals from other backgrounds.

Retreats are offered weekends throughout the year. Retreats begin on Friday evening and conclude after lunch on Sunday.

Privately Directed Retreats

The directed retreat is individually guided by a director who helps the person focus his/her prayer on scripture. The person shares his/her prayer experiences with the director. Not only the mind, but the emotions and feelings play an important part in this type of retreat. Movements of consolation and desolation are frequent and the retreatant learns to discern the sources of the desires, thoughts and movements of the heart and spirit. With the help of the director, the retreatant learns to become more and more aware of how active God is in his/her life and how to better cooperate with God's gifts and grace.

The Spiritual Exercises over one month

Ideally one gives one month while staying at the retreat house to make the full Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Anyone wishing to take this option must contact the retreat house to arrange for this experience.

The Spiritual Exercises over nine months

St. Ignatius of Loyola encouraged people who cannot afford thirty days away from their commitments to make the Spiritual Exercises over an extended period of several months. Ignatius hoped that the Spiritual Exercises would make specific accommodations for such needs. During this kind of retreat the retreatant remains in his or her own environment while committing daily to at least an hour’s prayer.

Mount Manresa offers two formats. In the individual format, one meets weekly with a director who listens to the experience of prayer and helps one through the Exercises. In the group format, four to six retreatants meet with a pair of facilitators twice a month, sharing experiences of prayer with the group, receiving feedback and guidance. For more information, contact Fr. Matt Roche, S.J. 718-727-3844 x214.

Aware of the growing interest in retreats among those involved in Recovery Programs (from addictions to alcohol, substances, gambling, etc.), Mount Manresa Retreat House offers a number of weekend and evening events to enrich and enhance recovery and growth of those involved in such programs.

These retreats are spiritual rather than religious. Thus, the focus rests primarily on development of a relationship between the recovering person and the 'God of his/her understanding.' Topics such as fear, anger, shame and secrets, forgiveness, self-acceptance are also presented and offered for private prayer or group discussion.

In addition to weekend retreats, there is also a monthly evening of fellowship and recollection, one for men and another for women. On these evenings, one may share dinner with other recovering men or women, may talk privately with clergy, attend Eucharist, and may attend discussion meetings.

The William Moore Night of Reconciliation has a monthly meeting for Catholic men recovering from alcoholism on the Thursday evening before First Friday.

Serenity Ladies have a monthly meeting for women recovering from alcoholism on the Thursday evening after First Friday.

The evening begins at 6:00 pm with a dinner, followed by a meeting, the sacrament of reconciliation, and Mass. Free will offering suggested. For more information, call 718-727-3844 x200.

Periodically, special retreats are organized for particular groups or to meet particular interests. For example Mount Manresa has periodically offered a Retreat for Singles, Zen Retreats, and Retreat Days for the Charismatic Renewal.

Rosary Group

Each Tuesday evening at 7 PM a group of committed Catholics join together to offer the Rosary for the intentions of the members and for the good of our world.

Christian Life Community (CLC)

CLC is a worldwide community, grounded in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. Our common way of life in the local community is united in a world community that provides:

a sense of graced history - we experience the power of the Spirit working through our personal and communal history in prayer, community and mission.

a forum for ongoing discernment that brings the fruits of deliberations at the local level to the world community and the fruits of discernment at the world community to the local community.

a sense of the sacredness of unity in diversity; an awe of the Spirit reflected in all cultures and ethnic groups We seek to find God in all things especially at home and in the workplace.

a broader context when discerning mission in a local community, seeking the more universal good which transcends geographical and cultural world views.

solidarity with those around the world living the CLC way of life.

CLC meets regularly at Mount Manresa the first and third Tuesday of every month. For more details, contact Dolores Celentano (718) 981-4916

The Lamb of God Prayer Group

This Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group at Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House celebrates more than 35 years of praise. The Prayer Group meets Wednesday evenings (August 15 through June 30) from 8 PM until 10:30 PM. The evening begins with praise and thanksgiving, is followed by Mass and a social. For more information, contact Mount Manresa at 718-727-3844 x200.

Faith in the Dark—a monthly film series raising issues of conscience and faith. Each event will include refreshments and an opportunity for prayer and conversation. See our flyer for details.

The Church Women Want Returns: The 2009-2010 Season—Our popular web lecture series which makes use of the resources of the Boston College Church Women Want series returns in September. This series provides opportunities for participants to learn more about the history of women in the Catholic Church, to share women's stories of the integration of their faith with the fullness of their lives, and to cultivate mentoring relationships among women of faith. See our flyer for details.

Faith on the Web—a monthly lecture series bringing the best lecturers from Boston College’s Front Row to Mount Manresa via the internet. Each event will include refreshments and an opportunity for prayer and conversation.

An Introduction to Spiritual Intimacy: You may have felt or sensed a desire to get closer to God but weren't quite sure how to go about it. This introduction to prayer in the Ignatian tradition is an invitation to explore and pray with that desire. Five Tuesday mornings beginning October 20. More Information. Click here to see photos from this program.

at Manresa: Our retreat team will arrange a experience, in consultation with the parish retreat planners, designed especially to meet your particular needs.

at your parish: An alternative designed to meet special travel, time and cost requirements. Our retreat team will work with your parish retreat planners to prepare an experience in a space which you provide that will meet.

at Manresa: In consultation with the parish, school or parent organization, our retreat team will arrange a retreat experience, designed especially to meet your particular needs.

Some of the more popular requests include:

Confirmation Retreats for parents and sponsors: Gifts of the Holy Spirit for Parents

Graduation Retreats for parents: A Parent’s Inventory

Children with Special Needs: Special Needs, Special Gifts

School and Religious Education Parents Retreat: No One Asked for a Teenager!

Dinner Theater Retreats

at Manresa: Our retreat team will arrange a experience, in consultation with parish retreat planners, designed especially to meet your particular needs.

at your parish: An alternative designed to meet special travel, time and cost requirements. Our retreat team will work with your parish retreat planners to prepare an experience in a space which you provide that will meet your needs.

Some of the more popular requests include:

Six Tools for Excellent Teachers and Catechists

Characteristics of Excellent Catholic Schools

Teachers Meet the Noonday Devil

Teachers: Architects of the Catholic Imagination

Pay Attention

Are You Still Called to Be a Teacher?

at Manresa: In consultation with your parish organization, our retreat team will design arrange a retreat experience to meet your particular needs.

at your parish: Should you require a program for your own site, our retreat team will work with your parish organization to prepare an experience that will meet your particular needs.

Designed in consultation with the Archdiocese of New York, these retreat experiences are designed to meet the needs of leadership teams and participants in Adult Faith Formation and RCIA programs.