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Winter P.A.U.S.E. retreat: Christian Contemplative Prayer and Spiritual Formation
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Winter P.A.U.S.E. retreat: Christian Contemplative Prayer and Spiritual Formation

4.86250 reviews
Location icon
500 College Street Northeast, Olympia, WA, USA
Date
March 14 - 15, 2025

Retreat Highlights

  • Winter P.A.U.S.E. Retreat Highlights
  • • Deepen Your Understanding of Spiritual Formation
  • • Recognize the Manifestation of Spiritual Formation
  • • Explore Christian Contemplative Prayer
  • • Experience God in Nature

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

About our 4 seasonal P.A.U.S.E. retreats

(P.A.U.S.E.—­Prayer and Understanding Silent Experiences)

We warmly invite you to our 4 seasons of P.A.U.S.E. retreats—sacred opportunities to appreciate the seasons, rest, reflect, and nurture your connection with God. These retreats center on Christian contemplative prayer, offering space for spiritual formation, soul care, holistic healing, and deepening faith. Guided by the words of Psalm 46:10, “...Be still, and know that I am God...,” our seasonal P.A.U.S.E. retreats explore unique aspects of spiritual growth and renewal.

While quiet moments of prayer are at the heart of our retreat, we also embrace times of fellowship, learning, and holistic nourishment—a rejuvenating pause amidst life’s busyness.

Winter P.A.U.S.E. Retreat Highlights

Our retreat, Christian Contemplative Prayer and Spiritual Formation offers time to:

Deepen Your Understanding of Spiritual Formation

Reflect on spiritual formation as a lifelong journey with God, guided by the Holy Spirit, as we grow in Christlikeness (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV).

Recognize the Manifestation of Spiritual Formation

Discover how spiritual growth reveals itself in sharing God’s love and grace with others (1 Peter 4:10 NIV, 1 John 4:7 NIV).

Explore Christian Contemplative Prayer

Discuss Christian contemplative prayer’s influence on our spiritual formation and strengthening of our relationship with God (1 John 3:19 NIV).

Experience God in Nature

If you choose, participate in a shortened Forest Therapy walk, blending Christian contemplative prayer with time spent with God in nature (Romans 1:20).

(Note: You may sign up for full-length Forest Therapy walks on up-coming dates at

St. Placid Priory.)

 

We invite you to join us this winter as we seek to grow in faith, embrace the stillness, and draw closer to God.

 

 

~Be blessed and strengthened in the stillness of God’s presence~

(Isaiah 30:15a; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NIV)

Getting Here

Location icon St. Placid Priory, 500 College Street Northeast, Olympia, WA, USA

Directions

Traveling north from Portland, on I-5:
Take Exit 109
Turn left onto Martin Way at end of exit
Stay in the far right lane
Turn right at second light onto
College Street NE
Turn right at St. Placid sign
(second possible right turn)

Traveling south from Seattle, on I-5:
Take Exit 109
Turn right onto Martin Way at end of exit
Stay in the far right lane
Turn right at the light onto
College Street NE
Turn right at St. Placid sign
(second possible right turn)

Accommodation

We have ten retreat bedrooms, most of which are equipped with two twin beds. The rooms may be shared if you are coming with a friend or partner, but generally there is just one person per room. Our building is set back among the trees so the rooms stay fairly cool. There is heat in each room for the colder nights. Each room has a sink, mirror, chair, desk, and small closet area. Towels and linens are provided, but please bring your own toiletries. Bathrooms are shared and showers are available. Retreatants are welcome to join the Sisters for Mass, Praise, and meals. There is wi-fi available in the Priory Library from 8:30am-8:00pm everyday. The Priory Store is also open on Fridays and Saturdays. Plenty of walking trails wind around the Priory's property and are open to retreatants. Spiritual Direction is available upon request at an additional charge.

Single Occupancy, 1 person
Double occupancy, shared room
Commuter, presentations, and meals
Commuter, only presentation

Venue & Amenities

Venue & Amenities
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent
The Priory Spirituality Center is an ecumenical Christian ministry that encourages those of all faiths to discern the voice of God in their lives and in the world. A ministry of St. Placid Priory we reflect Benedictine values: peace, hospitality, community, learning and prayerful discernment.

We offer a peaceful and contemplative setting for personal reflection. We encourage and challenge people to know the presence of God in their lives through classes, workshops, retreats and individual spir

Meals

Menu Types

Vegan icon Vegan
Vegetarian icon Vegetarian
Pescetarian icon Pescetarian
Ayurvedic icon Ayurvedic
Includes Meat icon Includes Meat
Organic icon Organic
Gluten Free icon Gluten Free
Dairy Free icon Dairy Free
Nut Free icon Nut Free
On-your-own breakfast: Center Kitchen. Eggs, milk, bread, cereal, fruit provided. Your own food welcome, may be cooked in Kitchen. Lunch/Dinner served, main dish+salad bar. Sun coffee hour after Mass

Customer Reviews

4.86 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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Peace and Quiet
I spent a night at St Placid because I was overwhelmed. I answered 1 telephone text but other than dinner and speaking briefly with the people working in the Spiritually Center, I had real peace and quiet. I wrote in my journal twice in the morning, ripped out a knitting project and made a ball of yarn to re start it later, had dinner with the Sisters, had perhaps the most peaceful, restful night of sleep in my life (the pitter patter of rain was wonderful), went to part of Praise the next day and sat with the Sisters for part of lunch and when I woke up early in the morning, I had an idea for something I had been floundering with for several weeks. It was so wonderful, I am sure it was inspired from the peace I had in my heart from this experience and I was so happy thinking about it, that I found myself laughing out loud more than once. Then I went back to bed for 2 more hours. I will return - this may be the start of a new 'thing' for doing good things for myself. I am planning on attending a 2 hour forest retreat there at the end of this Month.
DB

5.0
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Cinema Divina – Reality with a capital “R”
St. Placid Priory creates a range of retreats, online and on local, to serve a wide variety of retreat-goers. The recent "Reality with a capital "R" was a joyful gathering of those committed to action through times fraught with uncertainty. It was an invitation to see life and community through the lens of Reality. Especially appreciated the Evelyn Underhill comment on Reality being perceived through taking time to Read, Reflect, Respond, and Rest.

5.0
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Every time.
I have been to multiple events at St. Placid, including this most recent "Cinema Divina" with M. Freeman, and am consistently amazed at the depth and timeliness of what I experience.

This priory is a place of learning and welcome that always makes me glad I have attended whatever I have been fortunate to be invited to.

It's a beautiful haven in a world that can be very conflicted.

Thank you, Sisters. You are a gift

5.0
Verified logo
St Placid Priory offers beauty, peace, and warm hospitality
Our group retreat this February was everything we could have wished. The welcoming Spirituality Center housed the seven of us in peace, with space and time for inner reflection, journaling, long walks, and meeting from time to time as a group. The food was delicious too!

I have been going on retreats at St. Placid since 1995. Highest recommendation.

5.0
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The Sacred Art of the Line
A creative activity which was nurturing to the soul.

Select your options

Available Dates
March 14 - 15, 2025
  • $235.00
    Single Occupancy, 1 person
  • $395.00
    Double occupancy, shared room
  • $150.00
    Commuter, presentations, and meals
  • $120.00
    Commuter, only presentation

Have a question for your host?

Contact

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