There is a quiet place where love resides..
It is so simple
that I cannot understand,
how difficult it is to find the path to the silence,
where love resides.
Silent retreat
A silent retreat is typically a weekend-long opportunity to commit to silence within a group, rest, and listen to one's inner self.
The retreat is punctuated by shared prayer moments, communion services in the chapel, as well as meals.
A flexible daily schedule reduces feelings of detachment and drifting, allowing life to flow into its natural rhythm. Retreat participants have their own room, supportive reading for reflection, and the healing presence of nature around them. If desired, one can schedule a time with the guide for personal conversation.
A personally guided retreat
In an individually guided retreat, silence and spiritual guidance are combined. The foundation is in the Ignatian prayer tradition.
The communal schedule consists of a daily mass and meals. Each participant's personal retreat is built on prayerful reflections where everyone relates their life to biblical texts. Participants meet their guide daily, receiving texts and support for their journey.
The movement that occurs during the retreat is between the participant and God, and the guide's role is to assist in recognizing it. In its longest form, such a retreat lasts for eight days, while in a shorter version, it may extend over a long weekend.
Weekday retreat
Weekday retreat, guided prayer weeks, is a retreat amidst everyday life, work, and family.
The participant commits to half an hour of meditation daily at home and meets with the guide weekly, for half an hour at a time, for example, in the church premises. The retreatant receives biblical texts from the guide and has the opportunity to share their prayer experience as they wish. This spiritual journey begins with a group gathering, where the method of biblical meditation is guided, and meetings are scheduled. The weeks also conclude together
Retreat and working life
Most commonly, individuals seek out a retreat independently, without knowing other participants, coming from different situations and for various reasons. Silence creates a connection where everyone can be themselves. There's no need to make an impression, initiate contact, or avoid it altogether. The simplicity and sacredness of life find space, allowing the rhythm of rest and work to be restored.
A day or two retreat during workdays can also be organized for one or more members of a work community, collaboratively planned and scheduled during working hours. The starting point may be different, but even in this way, silence can open up new possibilities.
Some employers include mindfulness practices in their well-being initiatives and may cover associated costs; it's worth checking. Who organizes and guides these sessions?
The Retreat guides are trained by the Friends of Silence Association, partly in collaboration with dioceses.
In the retreats organized by the Tampere parishes, the guides come from various professions, including employees of the parishes. Retreat activities have been ecumenical from the beginning.