Life in the Eucharist
One night Retreat, with a second-night option
June 17-18, 2022
Deepen your life in the Eucharist.
Prepare your heart for the Feast of Corpus Christi.
Learn ways to become “bread” for a hungry world.
And more…
The Feast of Corpus Christi is on June 19. What better way to prepare for this grand feast than to spend a day pondering the mysteries of the Eucharist and what the precious Body and Blood of Jesus mean to you in your life. More importantly, explore ways you can better live a Eucharistic life and ultimately become ‘bread’ for a hungry world. To help you do this, this retreat will feature a blend of meditations on the Eucharist, Adoration, Liturgy of the Hours, and contemplation.
Four Thoughtful Meditations
The meditations will center around the four verbs describing the action of Jesus during the Last Supper – take, bless, break, and give:
“Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” (Mk 14:22)
In living the Eucharistic life and being Eucharist to a hungry world, we too in a sense are taken, blessed, broken, and given.
1st Meditation: Taken
God has formed us in the womb, called us by name, and taken us to be a special possession. Call to mind the many ways God has ‘taken’ you, set you apart for a special purpose. Consider how God has brought you to this point in your life, taking you through the many trials and joys. Part of living the Eucharistic life is appreciating how we’ve been ‘taken’ by God.
2nd Meditation: Blessed
Recognize how God has taken you and blessed you. In Adoration and prayer, spend some time pondering the grace God has showered upon you and gratitude for all God has provided. Part of life in the Eucharist is a sense of being lifted up to heaven and being blessed beyond measure. Deeply consider the question, How have I been blessed by God? And let your answer guide you to a new life in the Eucharist.
3rd Meditation: Broken
There are times, however, when we feel the opposite of blessed. We feel broken through the pains of life and a loss of purpose and direction. We fight a constant battle against our own weaknesses and failings of the past and the present. In the presence of the healing power of the Eucharist, the retreat will grant opportunities to explore our own brokenness, offer these to God, and receive the grace and healing we need to live a Eucharistic life. By deepening the understanding of our own brokenness and the healing power of the Eucharist, we are able to bring this as we seek to heal the brokenness of others.
4th Meditation: Given
In the Eucharist, we become one Body in Christ. In the beautiful imagery of the ancient Didache, “As grain that was scattered on the hillside was gathered together and made into one loaf, so too, we, your people, scattered throughout the world, are gathered together around your table and become one.” As you consider your chosenness, blessedness, and brokenness, the final step in living the Eucharistic life is to give yourself as God’s chosen gift to the world.
A Time for Renewal
Retreat Schedule
| Friday, June 17 | |
| 2:00 PM | Arrive, explore the grounds, visit the chapel |
| 5:00 PM | Evening Prayer |
| 5:30 PM | Drop-in Reception – Lounge |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner |
| 7:00 PM | 1st Meditation: What it means to be ‘taken’ by the Lord |
| 8:30 PM | Eucharistic Adoration and Night Prayer |
| Saturday, June 18 | |
| 7:15 AM | Holy Mass |
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:00 AM | 2nd Meditation: In what ways does being Eucharist mean being ‘blessed’ |
| 10:00 AM | Private reflection |
| 11:00 AM | 3rd Meditation: How the Lord uses our brokeness |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch |
| 1:00 PM | 4th Meditation: Being a gift to the world |
| 2:00 PM | Eucharistic Adoration |
| 3:30 PM | Resolutions |
| 4:00 PM | Blessing and dismissal |
Exceptional Retreat Atmosphere
Indoor and outdoor reflection areas
In addition to the thoughtful meditation, there will be plenty of time to pray and reflect upon the words and upon God’s plan for you. For those who prefer doing this in a sacred space, there is a beautiful chapel and several indoor and outdoor reflection places. For those who are more active, there are trails cut through our 180 acres. The more ambitious can take a short drive or a long hike to Baker Mountain Park. Added to the outdoor space, there is a horseshoe pit, a bonfire, and even some corn-hole boards.
Nicely appointed rooms and fine dining
The lodging rooms were fully renovated in 2015. Each room has two full-sized beds and a private bath. Our dining area has an exceptionally qualified full-time chef with a wide range of culinary expertise. The dining room has also been recently renovated and has a 100% sanitation rating. The meeting room has cathedral ceilings and spectacular views.
Grace-filled encounters
For those who want to immerse themselves in the retreat, there will be several scheduled hours of Adoration. The chapel is open all night for those who want to have a more intimate encounter with the Lord. Some delight in the thought of sleeping under the same roof as the Blessed Sacrament, and many are known to make late-night visits to the chapel.
Meet your Retreat Master
The meditations and discussions will be led by Deacon Scott D. Gilfillan. Ordained as a Catholic deacon in 2001, he has a wide range of experience facilitating groups and leading retreats for parishes, RCIA programs, and deacon candidates. For many years, he was the director of the deacon formation for the diocese of Charlotte, assisting and guiding deacon candidates and their wives in discernment and formation. Most recently he has become the director of the Catholic conference and retreat center in Hickory.
Registration
We have closed our registration portal. If you’re interested in our retreat, there still may be time. Please call 828.327.7441 or email info@catholicconference.org
The registration for the retreat includes one overnight stay, all retreat fees, full-course meals from Friday and Saturday, The retreat price is as follows:
- Shared room (two persons per room): $150 per person.
- Single, one person per room: $175.
- Commuter price (no lodging): $90 per person
- Extend your stay into Sunday: Add $75 for an additional night
Cancellation Policy: A full refund will be granted with two week’s notice