Preparing the Heart: What Is a Parish Retreat?
“Retreat is:”
It’s stepping away from the noise and busyness of everyday life.
During the season of Lent, the Church invites us to slow down, reflect, and return to God with renewed hearts. One way the Church helps us do this is through a parish retreat.
But what exactly is a retreat?
At its heart, a retreat is a time to step away from the noise and busyness of everyday life so that we can listen more closely to God. In the Gospels, we often see Jesus Himself withdrawing from the crowds to pray in quiet places.
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
- Luke 5:16
In the same way, a retreat invites us to pause, reflect, and make space for God in our lives.
A parish retreat does not require traveling far or going away for days. Even a few hours set aside for prayer, reflection, and spiritual teaching can become a powerful moment of renewal.
Why Retreats Matter in the Spiritual Life
The Church teaches that prayer and reflection are essential for our relationship with God. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we are reminded that prayer is the living relationship between God and His children.
“Prayer is the living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure.”
— Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2565
A retreat gives us time to deepen this relationship. It allows us to quiet our hearts so we can listen to God more attentively.
During a retreat, we are invited to:
• reflect on our relationship with God
• listen to spiritual reflections
• examine our hearts
• pray more deeply
• encounter God’s mercy through the sacraments
In the midst of our busy routines, we can easily lose sight of what matters most. A retreat helps us realign our hearts and remember that God is always calling us closer to Him.
Preparing Our Hearts for a Retreat
Entering a retreat does not require special preparation or perfect faith. The most important thing is simply an open and willing heart.
You may wish to prepare by:
• taking a few moments each day for quiet prayer
• reflecting on areas of your life where you need God’s guidance
• asking the Holy Spirit to open your heart
• considering receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation
During our retreat, the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) will also be available, offering a beautiful opportunity to experience God’s mercy and forgiveness.
The Catechism reminds us that through this sacrament we encounter Christ’s healing grace:
“Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offense committed against Him.”
— Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1422
An Invitation This Lent
As we continue our Lenten journey, we invite you to join us for St. Anne’s Parish Lenten Retreat on Saturday, March 14. This will be a time of prayer, reflection, and renewal as we prepare our hearts for Easter.
Whether you attend regularly or have been away for some time, you are warmly invited to come and spend this time with the Lord.
Sometimes the most important step in our spiritual life is simply this:
to pause, be still, and allow God to speak to our hearts.
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
— Psalm 46:10
Learn more about the retreat schedule here:
https://www.stannesjerseycity.com/lenten-reflections-parish-updates/parish-retreat-march-14-2026