UPCOMING RETREATS & EVENTS: Call us today ... pre-registrations (two weeks) are needed for COR-sponsored retreats.
ASH WEDNESDAY RETREAT DAY (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM) - Wednesday, February 22, 2023. Ash Wednesday retreat-workshop will focus on practical aspects of Lenten spirituality. Facilitated by Center of Renewal Executive Director Nancy P. Askins, PhD, this retreat will feature multiple adult learning techniques enhanced by one’s individual insight, vision, and understanding. Each retreatant will be given options to personalize their retreat day to include insightful discussions, meditative music, and reflective activities to enrich this year’s sacred six weeks of Lent. Ashes will be administered by Mission Integration Minister Sr. Pat McMahon, OSF in a prayer service during the retreat day. Each retreatant will receive a Lenten booklet for daily meditation during the 40 days of Lent, and the retreat will also include lunch, coffee breaks, and periods for personal contemplative time to further enrich the retreat experience. Advance reservations ($40) are due by February 8th (two-weeks prior) to ensure adequate seating, materials, and meals; however, a limited number of late pre-registrations ($50) might be possible for an additional fee if space is available. Also, if you are interested in an overnight personal retreat linking Ash Wednesday’s retreat with the first night of “Meeting the Gospel People of Lent” series (explained below) the following evening on February 23rd, just ask for details when you call to register for Ash Wednesday BY FEB. 8TH DEADLINE. Call 716-754-7376, Ext. 1 or 2 for details anc/or flier via email.
NEW THIS LENT / LENTEN GOSPEL EVENING SERIES: On the five Thursdays of Lent (2/23/23 through 3/23/23), we’ll offer “Meeting the Gospel People of Lent” focused on each respective Sunday’s Gospel, co-led by Sr. Colleen Shanahan, OSF and Sr. Patricia McMahon, OSF. Opening prayer 5:15 PM, 5:30 dinner, retreat from 6:30-8:00 PM. Also, if you are interested in an overnight personal retreat linking Ash Wednesday’s retreat with the first night of “Meeting the Gospel People of Lent” series the following evening on February 23rd, just ask for details when you call to register for Ash Wednesday BY FEB. 8TH DEADLINE. Separate deadlines for each week of the Lenten Gospel Series are 14 days prior to each Thursday starting with Feb. 9th for the session on Feb. 23. Call 716-754-7376, Ext. 1 or 2 for details anc/or flier via email.
CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER GROUP meets the 1st Tuesday evening of each month. Advance reservations are not needed for this ongoing event, but feel free to call us to confirm a particular session will meet. Questions? Please call Center of Renewal at 716-754-7376, Ext. 1 or 2.
2023 ADVENT WEEKEND SILENT RETREAT. December 1-2-3, 2023. Mark your new 2023 calendar now. Retreat to be presented by Sr. Marcella Kiesel, OSF. Call us to be placed on our waiting list.
CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER GROUP meets the 1st Tuesday evening of each month. Advance reservations are not needed for this ongoing event, but feel free to call to confirm if the group will meet on a particular date. Questions? Please call Center of Renewal at 716-754-7376, Ext. 1 or 2. NEXT SESSION WILL MEET IN JANUARY 2023.
EVENINGS OF PRAYER: A series of new one-evening-only themed mini-retreats, including dinner, to be offered throughout the year. Pre-register two weeks in advance to avoid $5 late fee. Day of event: Check-in from 4:30-4:50 PM, opening prayers at 5:00 PM, dinner at 5:30 PM, with retreat evening session from 6:30-8:00 PM. Only $25 per person by two-weeks-prior deadline, $5 extra late fee afterward depending upon availability ... call us for details.
More retreats are regularly being scheduled. Watch for details.
Ongoing Program Schedule
In addition to providing hospitality to both groups and individuals seeking quality meeting and overnight accommodation facilities in an environment of peace and tranquility, Stella Niagara's Center of Renewal designs and offers its own sponsored retreats and programs with featured retreat presenters for spiritual growth and lifelong learning.
Examples of the ongoing schedule of sponsored retreats and programs include partial or full single retreat days on a special topics. Retreats in recent years have been scheduled to commemorate special church days such as Ash Wednesday and the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, Papal Encyclical topics and themes, wellness and spirituality, peace and justice, and Biblical topics.
Weekly or monthly retreat programs have included a women’s spiritual reading group, a six-week study group on “Laudato Si: On Care of Our Common Home” Encyclical by Pope Francis, and the Guided & Meditation Prayer Group currently meeting on the first Tuesday evening of each month. Overnight retreats have typically been scheduled from one to six nights in length, affording the retreatants to focus more intently on a specific themes during the entire retreat. Retreat presenters are garnered from among visiting scholars, theologians, priests, sisters, and brothers, all knowledgeable specialists in their respective fields and ministries. Other retreat themes have included embracing change, benefits of the 12-step program for everyone, thoughts and behaviors, fruits of the Spirit and Pauline mysticism, and understanding self and others through Biblical comparisons. Directed Retreats can be scheduled on a customized basis throughout the year.
One key example of specialized group programs throughout the year which consider Center of Renewal their “retreat center of choice” include the Women’s Respite Program under the direction of its founder Sr. Diane Gianadda, OSF. For many years, this meaningful program has benefitted single moms and grandmothers of low income, mothers of autistic children, and women with cancer, with each event serving 20 to 30 women. Center of Renewal is proud to serve as the retreat ministry location for these meaningful outreach programs.
