Basic Information

July 4 - 6
Summer Associates Weekend

This summer weekend is an opportunities for members of the Associates of Holy Cross, and anyone interested in exploring association with Holy Cross, to come together in an atmosphere of community and prayer to share their experiences and build community with other Associates. There will be sessions led by Brothers and time to socialize as well.

Fee: $150, Deposit: $75

Led by Jose Reissig

This.retreat is appropriate both for beginners and for experienced practitioners, and consist of periods for sitting, walking, receiving instruction, listening to talks and inquiring. Jose’s teachings are inspired by the teachings of the Buddha. The retreat program will end on Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

The participants will keep silence throughout the retreat, except when otherwise scheduled. Please do not bring any reading materials or computer-like electronic devices, and keep writing to an absolute minimum. Unless you prefer to sit on a chair, bring a cushion or a bench, and a zabuton or blanket to place underneath it. Please bring only “fragrance-free” hygiene products, and avoid perfumes.

There will be opportunities for offering dana (donations) to help covering Jose's organizing expenses and as support for his teaching. There is a scholarship fund to make sure no one is prevented from attending because of financial need. To apply write to Charles Prosser at 206 Mountain View Rd, Rhinebeck, NY 12572, indicating in just a few words the rationale for your request (e.g.: currently unemployed). If you need clarification contact Charles at (845)876-0253 or prosser@frontiernet.net.

For registration or if you need additional information, you may contact the retreat organizers at (845)876-7963, or raquelrabinovich@frontiernet.net.

Cost of room and board: $150, Dana: voluntary

September 4 - 6
Fall Associates Weekend - Living with your Rule

This retreat is a time for Associates, working with other members of the Monastic Community
and other Associates, to explore ways of enriching your life through a clearer understanding of
the Benedictine Rule and the individual Associates Rule. We share insight and experience as we
journey together on our conversion of life. This program is particularly well suited to newer
Associates (or to those considering becoming Associates) who are looking for guidance in
developing and maintaining their rule.

Cost: $150 Deposit: $75

September 09 -11, 2008 (Tuesday - Thursday)
Paint Your Faith

Facilitated by Elizabeth Rundquist

This workshop focuses on visual expression of the creative process as a manifestation of faith.
Sometimes the ideas we hold are dim and unformed. Let the beautiful surroundings and
welcoming community of Holy Cross Monastery allow your God-given creativity to blossom.
You will find visual and verbal expression as part of a group of seekers looking for new ways to
express the life of the Spirit. Art materials, a creative group process, prayer and quiet will fuel
your expression.

Our time together will be structured to allow for both individual and group experience.
Absolutely no artistic abilities are necessary, only a wish to let your own creativity and curiosity
shine through. A variety of art materials, including collage and clay, will be available. Art books
and journals for writing will also be available for you to explore. You are free to bring your own
materials.

Elizabeth Rundquist, MA, ATR-BC is an artist and a psychotherapist with Board-Certification in
Art Therapy. She is a graduate of EfM (Education for Ministry) and an experienced group leader
with a strong belief that every human being is creative, as a God-given gift.

Fee: $180 (materials included), Deposit: $70

September 30 - October 3 (Tuesday to Friday)
Rule of Life -A Retreat for Adults Who Work With Youth

Led by Br. Randy Greve OHC and Jenifer Gamber.

Youth leaders are invited to gather for a time of renewal, refreshment, and inspiration on the
peaceful banks of the Hudson River. This retreat is designed to encourage those who work with
youth in their personal journey and equip them with new perspectives and insights for ministry.
Together we will engage in a creative balance of readings, discussion, presentations, and
individual and corporate prayer, including the daily rhythm of the monastic offices. Drawing on
the wisdom of St. Benedict grounded in the practicalities of life in community, Br. Randy and
Jenifer will explore the background, development, and living of a "rule of life". Examining the
known and unknown sources of our thoughts, words, and actions, we will seek to help retreatants
define and claim what they and their ministries stand for so that we live and love out of our
deepest, most authentic self in all our relationships.

Br. Randy spent many years as a professional youth minister before becoming a monk in the
Order of the Holy Cross in 2005. He continues to consult, teach, and lead retreats for youth and
adult leaders.

Jenifer Gamber is a volunteer youth leader at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania and the author of My Faith, My Life; A Teen's Guide to the Episcopal Church,
published by Morehouse.

Fee $300; Deposit $80

 

September 30 - October 2
The tender heart of Joy: finding the source; troubleshooting the obstacles

Led by Carol Bean

How can we live a truly joyous life? Can joy be cultivated, activated, summoned? Life is
difficult. And it hurts. We may feel that the joy is there but we do not always experience it; it
seems to get left behind somehow in our hurry to get to the next place on our busy agenda. This
retreat is an introduction to specific methods we can use to reclaim the joy that is, in fact,
inherently available within us.

We will work with three approaches that we can then put to use in our individual lives: Opening
to joy through focused stillness; opening to joy in activity; and finally, making room for joy by
identifying and releasing the obstacles that have taken up residence in our minds and hearts. We
will be working with fun, dynamic and effective processes designed to teach us how to call forth
that joy that already flows like a river through our soul.

Participants will go home refreshed, inspired, and most importantly, armed with specific tools
that will enable them to cultivate an enduring practice of joy and present moment awareness.

About the facilitator: Carol Bean is a meditation and awareness instructor with twenty years of
meditation experience. She has trained with outstanding teachers in many traditions and will be
drawing from the most effective methods she has encountered and used in her own journey.

Fee: $210 Deposit: $70

October 6 - 10 (Monday to Friday)
Its All Greek to Me... a one-week introduction

Led by Canon Tony Cayless

In this one-week intensive program participants will learn the basics of how to
* read Greek
* read and understand the prologue of St. John's Gospel, and the Lord's
Prayer in the original text.
* comprehend the rudiments of Greek grammar and syntax
* effortlessly have acquired a vocabulary of about 100 words
* hold the key to further study of the Septuagint and New Testament

This program will be of interest to anyone who has wanted to begin exploring the New
Testament and the Septuagint in its original language. Participants do not need to know a word of
Greek before the program. This program will also be of interest to those who have some Greek,
but have forgotten much of what they learned.

All materials will be provided.

Canon Tony Cayless taught Beginning Classical Greek at the Cathedral Schools of St Mary and
St Paul in Garden City, Long Island. He also taught basic and intermediate New Testament Greek
at the George Mercer Jr. School of Theology. He holds a D.Min from The Graduate Theological
Foundation. His doctoral project was the development of this form of instruction in Greek with
the title Greek for Groups

Fee $600; Deposit $100

October 14-17, 2008 (Tuesday - Friday)
Building homes, Building hope

Accompanied by George Masters, AHC and Br. Bernard Delcourt, OHC

Habitat for Humanity (HFH) is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFH seeks to
eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter
of conscience and action. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build
houses together in partnership with families in need. We are partnering with Ulster County
Habitat for Humanity and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh to offer our guests the
possibility to make a difference on the issue of appropriate housing.

On this volunteering retreat we will work, reflect and pray together. After breakfast, we will grab
our bagged lunch and drive to the "Habitat build site". We will work under the guidance of
seasoned Habitat volunteers from 9 to 2 p.m. Lunch will provide respite and time for
conversation.

After our return to the monastery, you are free to relax, rest and enjoy the rhythm of monastic
life. In the early evening, we will gather to briefly reflect on our volunteer work and how it
relates to our faith and hopes.

On Friday, we will have an on-site Eucharist and complete some work before returning to the
monastery for lunch and prepare for departure.

Prior volunteering experience on similar "builds" is appreciated but not required. Everyone can
contribute. Enrollment is limited to 10 volunteers. You should pack work clothes for 3 days of
on-site work.

Retreat fee: $190, Deposit: $70

October 17 - 19
Fall Foliage Celebration

Led by the monastic community

All creation sings of God's beauty, but somehow creation seems to sing a little louder during
Autumn in the majestic mid-Hudson valley. Each fall many friends, old and new, come to join
the monks in the daily round of prayer and Eucharist, while the valley dons its coat of many
colors. There will be a presentation on monastic spirituality on Saturday morning and a reception
in the evening. In the afternoon, there will be time to explore the local landscape and trails.
Within a short distance are such historic places as F.D.R.'s home, the Vanderbilt mansion,
Frederick Church's Olana, and the quaint villages of New Paltz, Rhinebeck, and Woodstock.

Fee $230; Deposit: $75

 

November 14 - 16
Meditation in the Christian Tradition (Silent)

Led by The Rev Mary Gates and Br Bede Thomas Mudge OHC

This retreat will introduce the participants to the major practices of Meditation that are in current
use in Christianity. Each method will be introduced and a generous amount of time allotted to
practice each one, so that full familiarity with the meditation practice can be begun. Plenty of
time is also allowed for questions and for sharing the experience of the practices. We also touch
on the meditative stage where techniques need to be abandoned so that a deep and silent
awareness of God can be cultivated. Beginners will find plenty of help here in getting started and
people with some experience will likewise find challenge to develop their practice. If you have a
meditation practice and use a cushion or bench, please bring it with you.

The Rev. Mary Gates is a psychotherapist in private practice. She has studied with Thomas
Keating and has taught Centering Prayer for more than 20 years. She is has served as a spiritual
director and has a wide experience in teaching the ways of prayer.

Br. Bede Thomas Mudge OHC is Prior of Holy Cross Monastery. He has been active in the
practice of spiritual direction for many years and in teaching about spiritual direction and
meditation. He is the author of the widely-read booklet, Using the Jesus Prayer.

Fee: $230; Deposit: $75

November 18 - 21 (Tuesday - Friday)
Bibliophile's Extravaganza - Library Volunteers Retreat

Accompanied by Br. Bernard Delcourt, OHC

Holy Cross monks and their friends have been collecting books since 1884. The West Park part
of the Holy Cross Library has over 15.000 volumes and counting...

In recent years, the librarians have embarked on yet another conversion experience: shifting the
catalog form index cards to an on-line medium. This is a long-term project that requires a lot of
labor. We are starting by cataloging a large backlog of donated books. The influx of newly
cataloged books also entails physical work: re-stacking, cleaning, archiving.

At present, one or two monks can spend a small fraction of their time on all of these tasks. If
you'd like to help come and join us on this retreat to become a Holy Cross Library Volunteer. We
will balance work, rest, prayer and recreation. Each day, we will work from 9.30 to 11.30 a.m.
and from 2.30 to 4.30 p.m. The librarian(s) will provide the necessary training and supervision.
Work in the library can be dusty; bring appropriate clothing for your work times.

Cost: $180 Deposit: $70

November 26 - 27
Thanksgiving - the Monastery Way

Harvest Thanksgiving is a wonderful and ancient tradition that calls us into a thankful
relationship with God and with all of God's creation. At Holy Cross Monastery we blend
traditional Americana (yes - Turkey is served at the Thanksgiving feast) with religious tradition.
You may come for as many days as you like.

Fee: $70 per day; Deposit $70

November 28 - 30
Waiting for Christ in the Womb of Mary (Silent)

Led by Carolyn Bluemle

Embody the spirit of Advent: opening to the indwelling of Emmanuel and waiting for the
incarnation of God's love. Enter the mystery, power, and rhythm of your body through yoga,
chant, and mindful walking. We will integrate our bodies and spirits in worship: aligning our
bodies through yoga postures and praying with our bodies in posture sequences to sung prayers.
We will slow down to the deepest rhythms of our breath and sit in meditation: that we may rest in
God and that God may rest in us.

Some previous experience with yoga is recommended but not required. The sequences can be
modified to accommodate anyone. Discover how opening your body can help to deepen your
relationship with God.

Please bring a symbol of your intention for the retreat to place on a prayer table in the practice
room. And if you have them, a sticky mat and a meditation cushion.

Carolyn Bluemle, teaching yoga since 1989 and Iyengar certified, teaches at Unity Woods Yoga
Center and in the Sacred Circles program at the Washington National Cathedral. During doctoral
studies in philosophy at UC Berkeley, she honed her analytical skills. Years as a dancer inspired
her appreciation of the rhythms and poetry of the body. Through the healing practices of yoga,
meditation, and Taize chant she has renewed her Christian faith with joy and compassion. Her
teaching, precise and enthusiastic, reflects her deep experience of yoga as prayer.

Fee: $240 Deposit: $75

December 5 - 7
Advent Retreat

Led by Br. Bede, Suzanne Guthrie, and Sr. Helena Marie, CHS

Darkness and light, endings and beginnings, longing and fulfillment. These are the themes of
Advent; and we will weave them togheter through reflection, silence, music, and story, to help
you prepare for the living of the coming Mystery of Christ among us.

Suzanne Guthrie is an author and conductor of retreats and conferences. Her books Grace's
Window and Praying the Hours have been widely read and appreciated, and her retreats at Holy
Cross and elsewhere have been greatly valued by those who have attended. She concentrates on
the spiritual tradition of Christianity, especially the Carmelite mystics, and uses their teachings in
her work with young people and with retreatants of all ages.

Br. Bede Thomas Mudge OHC is Prior of Holy Cross Monastery. He has been active in the
practice of spiritual direction for many years and in teaching about spiritual direction and
meditation. He is the author of the widely-read booklet, Using the Jesus Prayer.

Cost: $230 Deposit: $75

December 5 - 12 or 5 - 14
Individually Directed Retreats

Limited Registration

Spending time in prayer and silence is a classic way to deepen your spiritual life and to enhance
your experience of Advent. Retreatants will meet individually each day with a Spiritual Director
who will assist and guide you in responding to God's movement in your life and in responding to
the invitation to deeper union with God.

Retreatants will start the retreat on Tuesday and may conclude on Friday or Sunday, depending
on your needs.

Participants are asked to include a brief synopsis of your spiritual journey and a statement of your
hopes for the retreat.

Fee: Tuesday - Friday $240, Tuesday – Sunday $400; Deposit: $80

December 19 - January 1
Christmas and New Years - the Monastery Way

Christmas time at the Monastery is quite remarkable. It is a time filled with feasts and
celebration. Many evenings in the Pilgrim Hall are accented with a story reading or carol sing.
Most of all it is a time to gather, as those shepherds did in Bethlehem, to offer praise to God and
pray for peace on earth using the ancient cycle of monastic prayer.

Join us for any of these days.

Fee: $70 per night; Deposit $35

Hold the Dates:

Feb 27 - March 1: Lenten Retreat
April 9 - 12: Truduum and Easter

Note: All deposits are nonrefundable and nontransferable