UPCOMING RETREATS & EVENTS: Call us today ... pre-registrations (two weeks) are needed for COR-sponsored retreats.
Call 716-754-7376, Ext. 2 to pre-register or request detailed flier via email or US Mail.
#1. 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. 2.
#2: 2024 Evening of Prayer Seasonal Series of Mini-Retreats
FALL: Wed., November 6, 2024 (pre-register by Oct. 23 @ 5:00 PM)
ALL SESSIONS 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Check-in 4:30-4:55 PM (earlier check-in available with advance arrangements; just call for details)
Our Evening of Prayer Series mini-retreats:
- Come and celebrate our wonderful seasons here in Western New York!
- Explore the spiritual benefits of taking time to refresh, renew, and rejuvenate.
- Opening prayers followed by a theme-decorated dinner.
- Retreats are varied in themes and content, which could include poetry, music, readings, sharing memories, and quiet time, all to celebrate the colors and symbols of each respective season and theme
- Why not extend your Evening of Prayer retreat to include an overnight that evening, and/or extend the Evening of Prayer to some additional private retreat days (details available).
Each 2024 Evening of Prayer is only $35 per person and includes dinner.
Must pre-register by 5:00 PM two weeks prior to retreat date. PLEASE PLAN AHEAD!
No reservations will be accepted after the two-week prior 5:00 PM deadline due to multiple logistics requirements.
Time Schedule for each Evening of Prayer session:
4:30-4:50 PM Check-in (Use Center of Renewal entrance off our black-railed porch; parking just past retreat center)
5:00-5:30 PM Welcome & Opening Prayers
5:30-6:15 PM Dinner (Center of Renewal Dining Room)
6:30-8:00 PM Theme-based Program & Closing Prayers
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.