Forest Impressions: A Mindful Oil Painting Retreat

I experience deep peace each time I stay at the Priory Spirituality Center. Knowing there have been prayers before me and will be prayers after me settles my heart-mind-body as I enter the time I have to "retreat." From the trails to the prayer times to encountering the sisters and staff, I know that God is present in all.
My room, every time I've stayed, has a warmth of spirit and cleanliness. It is a portal for encountering what God has for me. Thank you to all who make it an inviting place to find restoration that fills my soul.
Mary P.

Drove up from Oregon. Stayed at St. Placid overnight to attend a visiting Theologians teaching on Contemplative Prayer in Nature. It was enriching. Being able to learn, grow, walk the Forrest, contemplate, pray in the presence of nature was phenomenal. The silent stay ministered to my whole body. It was just what I needed. The other guest was friendly and respectful of quiet. The Sisters were kind and welcoming. Purchased some good books at their shop. A tranquil experience. I will be attending again in the future.

The hospitality is spectacular. The location is stunningly peaceful and quiet. The food is world-class, some of the best pizza I've ever had.

Saint Placid Priory offered me exactly what I was looking for: genuine welcome, beauty, and the gift of being held in a rhythm not my own.

The retreat center sits in a beautiful wooded setting, and my room — simple, with two single beds and a sink, looking out on a quiet cluster of trees — was more than enough. Centralized restrooms and showers were spotless.

The food was outstanding. The chef took my dietary restrictions (gluten-free, dairy-free, and several vegetable sensitivities) seriously and with evident care — every meal was genuinely delicious, not merely compliant.

You can choose to eat with the sisters, and that is a delight: they live the Benedictine rule of welcoming all as Christ, and you feel it.

Joining the sisters for prayer was grounding. Their modern chapel carries a real sense of peace, and the rhythm of the liturgy of the hours offered an anchor for the day. The library, open to all visitors, is extensive and inviting; and beautiful art is woven throughout the retreat center and priory — present without being decorative, as if it belongs to the prayer.

I came away rested. For anyone seeking a quiet, well-tended space for reflection, I recommend Saint Placid without reservation.

If you are interested in having a quiet contemplative private retreat, then St. Placid Priory is the place to visit. It is in a peaceful setting that is great for refreshing and calming the soul. Nothing fancy, but everything that one needs for a personal retreat. All the staff is friendly and helpful. A highlight for me was participating in the celebration of the hours and eating with the sisters.