Top Rated

OASIS 2026 - 2027

Name: OASIS 2026 - 2027
Start: 2026-09-17
End: 2027-05-21
Location: St. Placid Priory
Rating: 4.86

4.86294 reviews

500 College Street NE Lacey, Washington 98516

Up to 25 in group

September 17, 2026 - May 21, 2027

Retreat Highlights

Two 2-night Retreats at the Spirituality Center
8 Spiritual Direction Sessions
6 Day retreats at the Spirituality Center
8 monthly presentations

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Paz

Monika

Anna-Camille

Sonja

Laura

Julian

Paz Vital, OSB, PhD

Sister Paz has a MA Theology and Ministry at Catholic Theological Union. She is a Spiritual Director and a Retreat and Workshop presenter. Sister Paz loves to share her Mexican traditions, especially her experiences on the Day of the Dead. She is an Oasis & Prayer Practices Facilitator.

Monika Ellis, OSB

Sister Monika, OSB, MA Education, is a member of St. Placid Priory since 1971, is a retreat and spiritual director, musician and artist. She is an enthusiastic teacher who loves to pass on what she knows about craft.

Anna-Camille Wooden, OSB

Anna-Camille Wooden, OSB is St. Placid Priory's sub-prioress, Oblate Director, a program presenter, and helps care for the monastery cat. She has a long time Centering Prayer practice, is a commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer, an experienced retreat leader, and is on the Contemplative Outreach Northwest Leadership team.

Sonja Weber, OSB

Sr Sonja Weber, OSB, enjoyed art throughout her life, and later focused mostly on iconography, combining her desires for contemplation and creativity. She is a Prayer Practices, Oasis, and Retreat Leader.

Laura Swan, OSB

Sr. Laura Swan, OSB, is a writer and spiritual director, who also serves St Placid community as Formation Director. She is the author of numerous books, including The Forgotten Desert Mothers and The Wisdom of the Beguines. Sister Laura holds many different hats she is a "YouTube star” too.

Julian Cleary, OSB

Sr Julian Cleary, OSB, has practiced disability law for about 25 years. More recently she has engaged in immigration work. To Sr. Julian the Reverend Howard Thurman has been a model and a mentor in absentia of inner transformation, peaceful advocacy, and a purveyor of dignity and respect to all.

Details of this retreat

Do you yearn for rest, prayer and nurturing in your busy schedule?
What would your life look like if you gifted yourself or a loved one two 2-night stays at the Center, along with six day retreats throughout the year?
Silence, spiritual direction and Lectio Divina are available to aid your reflection.

Every Third Thursday of the month, have a day retreat from 1:30 pm- 7:15 pm --at the Spirituality Center or Zoom

Sep 17: Ch.1 - 2 Spirituality and the Seasons of our lives & Some Anthropology of Aging. —Sr. Paz

Retreat: Oct 14-16 Wednesday, 7:15pm - Friday, 1:00pm @ Spirituality Center

Oct 15: Ch.3: The Challenge in Aging —Sr Monika
Nov 19: Ch. 4: Passivity as Generativity & Leaving Behind a Nurturing Spirit —Sr. Julian
Jan 21: Ch. 5: The Modality & Darkness of Faith in Its Deeper
Stages of Maturity —Sr Anna Camille
Feb 19: Ch. 6: Forest Dwelling & Preparing to Find Our Beggar’s Hut—Sr. Sonja

Retreat: Mar 17-19: Wednesday, 7:15pm—Friday, 1:00pm @ Spirituality Center

Mar 18: Ch. 7: Finding a Beggar’s Hut & Giving Our Deaths Away —Sr. Anna Camille
April 15: Ch. 8: Thoughts on the Afterlife —Sr. Laura
May 20: Ch. 9: A Paradigm for a Christian Mystic—Sr. Paz

View and/or print the BROCHURE.

Getting Here

St. Placid Priory, 500 College Street NE Lacey, Washington 98516

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.

Program Price, Include Two 2-night stays at the retreat center with meals, and Spiritual Direction in each 6 sessions

Zoom Option Only

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms

Free Wifi

Spa

Sauna

Pool

Towels

Free Parking

Kitchen

Tour Assistance

Hot Tub

Coffee/Tea

Cafe

Restaurant

Fitness Center

Yoga Studio

Housekeeping

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

Vegetarian

Pescetarian

Ayurvedic

Includes Meat

Organic

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

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

What's Included

Sep 19: Ch.1 Learning to Pray in Silence —Sr. Lucy
Retreat: Oct 16-18 Wednesday, 7:15pm – Friday, 1:00pm at the Center
Oct 17: Ch.2: The Homing Instinct of the Human Heart —Sr Anna-Camille
Nov 21: Ch. 3 The Mystic in All of Us —Sr. Paz
Jan 16: Ch. 4 Alive in Body, Mind, & Spirit. Learning to Pray in Silence —Sr Sonja
Feb 20: Ch. 5 Encountering God through the Senses —Sr. Monika
Retreat: Mar 19-21: Wednesday, 7:15pm—Friday, 1:00pm at the Center
Mar 20: Ch. 6: Cultivating Grateful Joy —Sr. Monika
Apr 24: Ch. 7 Attuned to the Dynamic Order of Love —Sr. Lucy
May 15: Ch. 8 Standing on Holy Ground —Sr. Laura

Customer Reviews

4.86 out of 5.0 average rating

Katherine • Jul 23, 2026

5.0

Verified

When the Heart Is Touched: The Ancient Monastic Method of Lectio Divina

On Saturday, July 20, Sr. Anna-Camille treated a group of us to a deep dive into the ancient prayer form of lectio divina. The first thing I noticed about Sister's approach to the subject was her quiet format for the day. We eased into our subject slowly and were therefore able to begin to immerse ourselves in prayer without the distractions that sometimes meet us in our daily lives. We talked about different ways to pray lectio by ourselves, which is the ancient and ongoing way monastics pray.

We really were immersed in prayer all day long, and the atmosphere in the room was deeply satisfying and reverent. We prayed through various pieces of scripture, noticing how the words, when deeply felt, made astonishing impressions on us.

It was a relaxing, quiet day of prayer that was both refreshing and restful. My daily lectio practice has been enhanced by our day of quiet, but powerful prayer.

Denise • Jul 23, 2026

5.0

Verified

Great Refresher on Lectio Divina

I appreciated the small group experience and practice of lectio divina together. The shared insights were very helpful and I came away with a desire to include this ancient prayer form into my daily routine. I also was glad to get ideas on books and authors who have written on the subject. I have already purchased a couple of new Bibles!

Anonymous • Jul 18, 2026

5.0

Verified

St. Placid's is a place of peace for ALL

St. Placid's is a lovely, peaceful spot for a personal retreat, and the sisters and staff are incredibly welcoming to EVERYONE regardless of religion, race, etc. The first time I came to St. Placid's, I was an atheist simply needing a break during a difficult time, and the sisters welcomed me with open arms.

This time around, I got to watch a doe and her two young bucks (twin children) grazing by the guesthouse... Such a peaceful experience. The grounds have peacefully winding paths through the forest for short hikes - though they're a little overgrown in places - along with an ADA accessible gravel road that skirts the forest's edge.

There is a library with a really nice variety of fiction and nonfiction in the Priory, including new fiction releases, and a chapel where guests are welcome to sing with the sisters during times of praise (even if you aren't religious). If you're on the fence, please come here. It is truly a place of peace.

Jane • Jul 11, 2026

5.0

Verified

St. Placid Priory spiritual Center

St. Placid Priory offers a complete retreat experience — silence, kindness, and hospitality that nourish the soul. The reception is warm and welcoming, setting the tone for a stay marked by peace and clarity. Beyond the quiet spaces for prayer and reflection, the center provides thoughtful amenities: a well‑curated gift shop for meaningful keepsakes, a library filled with spiritual resources, and dining that is simple yet satisfying. Together, these elements create a holistic environment where everything you need for rest, renewal, and spiritual growth is present in one place.

Vera • Jul 07, 2026

5.0

Verified

Wonderful!

Everyone was kind, caring and mindful. I am grateful for this beautiful sanctuary of wonderful women!

OASIS 2026 - 2027

Retreat Highlights

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Paz Vital, OSB, PhD

Monika Ellis, OSB

Anna-Camille Wooden, OSB

Sonja Weber, OSB

Laura Swan, OSB

Julian Cleary, OSB

Details of this retreat

Getting Here

Directions

Accommodation

Venue & Amenities

Meals

Menu Types

What's Included

When the Heart Is Touched: The Ancient Monastic Method of Lectio Divina

Great Refresher on Lectio Divina

St. Placid's is a place of peace for ALL

St. Placid Priory spiritual Center

Wonderful!

Have a question for your host?

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