Behold Retreats
Small, experiential gatherings, usually in someone's home, where teaching, testimony, and prayer meet the people who need them.
What a Retreat Feels Like
Fifteen people. A living room. Coffee on the counter and something simmering in the kitchen.
Our retreats aren’t lectures or conferences. They’re gatherings. Small enough that no one disappears, intimate enough that the walls come down. You’ll hear teaching. You’ll hear witnesses share what Jesus has done in their lives. You’ll pray. You’ll eat. You’ll leave knowing this isn’t a theory.
This is the St. John Paul II’s wisdom as it’s meant to be received: not as information, but as encounter.
What We Cover
A retreat traces the arc of St. John Paul II’s vision: the beginning, the brokenness, and the life Christ has opened for us. We move through Scripture, the sacramental shape of love, and what it means for the way we actually live.
Along the way, members of our team share testimony. The moments that shaped them and the truths that set them free. Most retreats include time for Adoration or Mass, depending on the setting.
Every retreat is a little different. The rhythm changes; the encounter doesn’t.
who Retreats are for
If you’re hungry to know Jesus in prayer and to know who you are before Him, this is for you.
Our retreats have welcomed young adults, college students, seminarians, graduate students, high schoolers, parish leaders, parents, and professionals. Anywhere from eighteen to a hundred. Anyone who wants to go deeper.
Some retreats are hosted within parishes. Some are standalone gatherings you can sign up for as an individual. Some are built around a specific group, like teachers, clergy, core team leaders, or young adults. All of them are small, and all of them are built around encounter.
Hosting a Retreat
A lot of our retreats happen because someone opens their home.
If you’ve been through a retreat before, or you’ve just heard enough to know this is something your friends, your family, or your small group needs, we’d love to talk about hosting one. Equip training is available for alumni who want to learn how to lead retreats themselves and spread to family, friends, and small groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know anything about St. John Paul II or his teaching to come?
Not at all. Retreats are built to introduce it, whether this is your first exposure or your fiftieth.
How long is a retreat?
Most are a single day or a weekend, with time woven in for teaching, prayer, conversation, and meals.
Where are retreats held?
Usually in someone’s home, which is part of what makes them what they are. Some are held at parishes. The setting changes; the depth doesn’t.
How many people are at a retreat?
Small. In a home, typically no more than fifteen. That’s intentional.
Is this a couples retreat? A singles retreat?
Neither, and both. Our retreats aren’t segmented by vocation. Young adults, married couples, seminarians, and parish leaders often sit at the same table. The teaching speaks to all of them.
Is this about issues of morality?
No. St. John Paul’s wisdom is an incredible worldview, a way of knowing God, yourself, and everything in between. It shapes how you pray, how you live, how you love. Morality issues flows from it, but it isn’t the point.
How do I sign up?
Check our events page for upcoming retreats, or reach out directly if you’re hoping to bring one to your community.
Come and See
Whether you’re seeking your first retreat, hosting one in your home, or bringing us to your parish, the door is open.