This one-day small group retreat is designed to offer abuse survivors a place of rest, prayer, and space to reconnect with themselves and with God. Through guided meditations, personal prayer, and embodied practices, we will open ourselves to what God wants to reveal to us here and now. God’s love is powerful and faithful, yet our experiences of abuse can wound our image and experience of God. In this retreat, we will consider Jesus’ words, particularly in the Beatitudes, to allow him to gently guide us to a new experience of the love, safety, and freedom God desires for each of us. Prayerful silence will be observed throughout this retreat. In this way, our presence offers our witness of solidarity with one another while allowing each person to enter deeply into their own unique journey with God during the retreat. Our primary focus in this retreat will be on the present - how we are right now. We will not be intentionally uncovering past memories of abuse or seeking to expose these in any way. While memories may arise naturally, we will intentionally ground ourselves in the present and allow God to minister us and help us connect with love, safety, and support.
Please read carefully the following guidelines before inquiring about this retreat. Link to schedule an inquiry call to register is located at the end of these guidelines.
This retreat is for persons age 18+ who have experienced any form of abuse at any time in their lives (past, not current).
This retreat is designed for persons who are no longer in actively in abusive situations. In this retreat, we will be gently opening up to receive God’s love in places where we have been deeply wounded. This depth and vulnerability can only be engaged in a healthy way once a person has moved from harm and danger to safety and stability. Safety must come first before deeper healing can take place. For information on how to safely leave an abusive situation, please visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline website thehotline.org or call 1-800-799-7233.
This retreat is offered from a Christian perspective, yet persons of any faith tradition (or of none) are welcome to attend.
In this retreat, we will not be sharing the stories of our experiences of abuse. We will hold these experiences with reverence and care. Our stories are sacred and worthy of being expressed and heard. However, without proper support, opening up these stories (especially all at once) can lead to more harm rather than healing. This retreat is designed to surround our stories with love - so that, when we are ready, we can share our stories in trusted spaces with the safety and support necessary for that to be a healing experience.
Anyone interested in attending this retreat is encouraged to consider connecting with a therapist and perhaps a spiritual director prior to attending the retreat to ensure proper care and adequate support are in place. This can help the healing begun in this brief space of retreat to continue to grow and integrate over the long term. Please note, when choosing a therapist, it is always most important to choose a competent practitioner whom you trust. Finding a therapist who shares your religious beliefs can be a nice bonus, but it is far less important than forming a relationship with a well-trained professional with whom you can build a bond of trust. Part of this trust will be founded on the therapist’s respect for your faith and worldview, but this respect can be found even in practitioners whose spiritual practices differ from your own.
Prayerful silence will be observed throughout the retreat. Additionally, even during speaking periods, such as immediately before and after the retreat, we will refrain from discussing our own (or others’) experiences of abuse, trauma, or relationships with the persons who harmed us. In this space, we communicate understanding and solidarity with each other simply by being present. Sharing our stories aloud can only happen safely in safe and trusted spaces - and with discernment on when and how to share. While this retreat is designed to be a safe space for our stories to be held, the trust necessary to open up these stories will not yet have had time to develop among us. Each person’s journey - even just in this day of retreat - is unique. This silence is a gift we give one another to honor the sacredness of each person’s unique journey.
Logistical considerations - This retreat is held in a handicap accessible space. Ample on-site parking is available. There is plenty of outdoor space, including a small public park one block away, to take a walk or to rest. There will be a break for lunch, and each person is invited either to bring a lunch or enjoy one of the many nearby restaurants and cafes. The retreat will be held in a meeting space in the Crescent Hill neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky. Precise location and additional information will be provided upon registration inquiry.
This retreat is given on a free-will offering basis. Offerings can be made by cash or check on the day of the retreat.
All persons interested in attending this retreat are invited to set up an inquiry call. Please click here to fill out the contact form. In the menu, please select “Register for an event.” Thank you for your interest! I look forward to connecting with you.
If you are interested in this retreat but this date does not work in your schedule, please visit the home page and sign up to receive the Missa Est newsletter to learn about future retreat opportunities.