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elcome to the fourth annual Orlando Diocesan men's silent retreat! Given that the Catholic Church just finished its Eucharist Revival in July,
it seemed fitting to focus on the Eucharist for this retreat's theme. We have been praying for each of you in anticipation of this retreat!
WHAT'S A RETREAT?
A Catholic retreat is often referred to as a definite time spent away from one’s normal life for the purpose of reconnecting, usually in prayer, with the Trinity - God, the Father, Christ Jesus, His only Son, and The Holy Spirit. If you've felt the tug from our Lord to go deeper in your understanding of Him, deeper in your relationship with Him, then this is your perfect opportunity to do just that.
WHY A SILENT RETREAT?
For the simple reason that God speaks His clearest in the silence of your heart. So there will be very little talking. Getting away from the noise of the world and entering into the calm, peaceful and holy grounds of the San Pedro Spiritual Development Center will provide you with the proper setting to engage in this silence. God has something for you in that silence.
WHEN IS IT?
Check-in is between 4:30pm and 6pm on the afternoon of Thursday, December 5, 2024 with dinner following. The retreat concludes on Sunday, December 8, 2024 with family Mass at 9am at St. James Cathedral in downtown Orlando followed by family breakfast in the St. James Cathedral Social Hall catered by St. James Cathedral's Knights of Columbus council 12402.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT?
Retreat Core Team Members will be there to greet you on Thursday afternoon, check you in and show you to your single-occupancy room in one of San Pedro's newly renovated guest-quarter buildings. Check out the web site's "San Pedro's Lodging" page for more details. You'll also be well fed by San Pedro's catering staff for breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout each day and snacks will also be provided. Check out the web site's "Meals" page for more details. Your comfort away from home is vital in reducing any possible distractions from your personal time with Jesus.
Your spiritual needs will also be met with morning prayer, daily Mass, afternoon Stations Of The Cross (optional) and evening Rosary walks out in the beautiful nature of San Pedro grounds that lead right into Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction,. There will be morning talks from clergy based on the four different Eucharist prayer options said by the Priest during Mass depending on the liturgical season, followed by a meal (breakfast or lunch) and generous opportunities for silence in the afternoons. To find out more about the clergy who will be giving talks and serving you this weekend, go to the web site's "Clergy & Speakers" page. Our days will end around the campfire where we will temporarily break our silence to share God's graces, thoughts on the morning talks and have time for fellowship. Various clergy will also be present to provide the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and Spiritual Direction throughout the weekend.
Most of all, you can expect plenty of time and space for quiet contemplation, prayer, meditation, walks around San Pedro and time to rest in our Lord, Jesus Christ. We highly encourage that you leave your cell phone in your room during the retreat to maximize your experience. If someone needs to reach you, Retreat Core Team Directors Deacon Mark Zeitler (407.466.0543) and/or Paul Mylod (407.405.4946) can be contacted.
On Sunday morning, we encourage you to invite your wife and children (all ages welcome) to join you in the celebration of the holy sacrifice of the Mass at 9:00 a.m. at St. James Cathedral Church in downtown Orlando followed by a family breakfast catered by the St. James Cathedral Knights of Columbus council 12402 in the St. James social hall.
ST. JAMES ADDRESS
215 N. Orange Avenue;
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 422-2005
RECOMMENDATIONS.
1. Gift yourself with time away from your cell phones, laptop computers and all smart devices.
2. Bring a writing utensil and notebook/journal.
3. Bring reading materials (i.e. Bible, devotionals, etc...)
4. Bring comfortable walking shoes
5. Bring your rosary
6. Bring any Catholic books with which you're ready to part to contribute to the literature table.
ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS...
Brothers In Christ,
Please know you and your family have been in our prayers as we’ve been preparing for the opportunity for you to step out of the secular
world and experience the silent voice of Christ!
1. REGISTRATION: begins at 4:30 PM on Thursday afternoon. Dinner will be served at 6:00 PM. We hope you can take advantage of the time between check-in and dinner to socialize prior to the weekend going silent.
2. ACCOMMODATIONS: You will have your own private room for the weekend, complete with bedding linens, towels etc. Please be sure to bring your own toiletries.
3. CELL PHONES & TECHNOLOGY: We ask once we go silent that you turn off your phones and disconnect from the outside world and connect to Christ and communicate with Him in silence.
4. EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION: Please share with your family the following emergency phone numbers if they need to get a hold of you during the weekend:
Deacon Mark Zeitler Cell: 407.466.0543
Paul Mylod Cell: 407.405.4946
5. COOL WEATHER: We will be experiencing some cool weather for the weekend, and we anticipate some after sunset outdoor activities so a warm jacket, etc. may be needed.
6. WHAT TO WEAR: The dress for the weekend is casual and comfortable. Comfortable walking shoes are suggested. Spruce it up for Sunday Mass though.
7. MEALS: Breakfast, lunch and Dinnner will be catered by San Pedro's world-class caterer. The meals are all pre-planned along with snacks and drinks throughout the day including: iced tea, water, coffee and hot tea. There’s no reason for you to have to bring any snacks yourself.
8. ARE THERE SPOTS LEFT TO REGISTER?: YES! And there is still time to invite a friend to also experience this weekend but hurry because spots are filling up quickly and WE WILL REACH CAPACITY, which is 40 men.
9. SUNDAY MASS?Please note that we will be celebrating Sunday Mass with your families at 9:00 AM at St. James Cathedral church in downtown Orlando followed by a family brunch in their Social Hall. We encourage your wives and children to join you!!
10. BRING YOUR ROSARY: Please bring your Rosary for our evening Rosary walks and/or for your own use throughout the weekend. There will be extra Rosaries on hand if you do not have one already.
11. LITERATURE TABLE: There will be a literature table provided filled with great Catholic books for any of the retreatants to take,. If you have some gently used Catholic books with which you're ready to part, please bring them with you to the retreat so that you can contribute to the table.
God’s Peace,
- Your Men's Silent Retreat Core Team