Programs

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Open Dates
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Spirit Centers offers contemplative space for learning, renewal, and crucial conversation with others for a better world. Sometimes that means taking private time in silence and nature. Sometimes that means a group retreat to express or deepen spiritual longings. Sometimes that means sitting in safe conversation with the Holy Spirit and a spiritual director. If you aren't sure which is appropriate now, give them a gift certificate and let them choose their path.

Individual Retreat

Flexible Dates
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
St. Benedict said, “Listen with the ear of your heart.” Why? It is this type of listening that allows the hearing of divine wisdom and inspiration that guides our lives into ever-increasing fullness, peace, and joy. But sometimes the noise and blur of life make that difficult. That is why we offer you the opportunity to come to Spirit Center and listen.

A Watercolor Journey 2026

With Pearl Maxner

March 10 - 12, 2026
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude

Explore watercolor painting with step-by-step instructions on the use of color and light and capturing mood and emotion. Paint with confidence and trust God in the flowing of color in your life. For beginning to intermediate painters. All supplies provided.

Diffusions :: Two Dogs And A Parrot

With Tim Oberholzer

March 12 - 26, 2026
Zoom
This short, three-week book discussion will explore Joan Chittister's book Two Dogs And A Parrot: What Our Animal Friends Can Teach Us About Life. In this weekly journey, our group will meet via 1 1/2 hour Zoom sessions, Thursdays, 6-7:30 pm (Pacific) 9-10:30 pm (Eastern), to share thoughts and impressions of each chapter. Themes include acceptance, self-knowledge, purpose, balance, rejection, woundedness, presence, diversity, play, love, adventure, and respect.

Centering Prayer Intensive

With Donna Kreiensieck and Mary Bieter

March 16 - 22, 2026
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
This 7 days/6 night Centering Prayer retreat provides an opportunity to deepen one’s established Centering Prayer practice by building to 4 ½ hours of prayer time at mid-week.  During the retreat, one is held in prayer by the sisters of St. Gertrude’s Benedictine community located on the Camas Prairie in Central Idaho.  The Spirit Center offers a quiet setting to support your retreat; including private rooms with baths, meals, daily prayer with the sisters and/or Eucharist, hiking trails, museum and gift shop.

Diffusions: St. Gertrude of Helfta: Companion for the Millennium

With Dr. Samantha L. Miller

March 18, 2026
zoom
Join us in reading about St. Gertrude of Helfta, 13-th-century mystic and namesake of St. Gertrude's Monastery, in Gertrude of Helfta:  Companion for the Millennium by Sr. Evangela Bossert.   Each chapter is a description of part of Gertrude's story, a description of one of her visions, and then a meditation on these for our lives. 

Diffusions - Playing with Words: Benedict’s Little Rule for Beginners

With Tim Oberholzer

March 24, 2026
ZOOM
St. Benedict's "little rule written for beginners" invites us to grow in virtue through intentional living in the ordinariness of life. The text contains numerous themes to inspire and direct individuals and communities in the way of perfection. During these Zoom sessions, we will ponder the Rule of St. Benedict by "playing" with recurring words and themes.  Each month we will examine Benedict's weaving of a different word or theme through the Rule to gain an understanding of his intention and our application.

Transformation: A Faith Journey

With Chuck Tacke

March 25 - 29, 2026

This retreat will provide an opportunity for the participants to explore and deepen their understanding of their personal faith journey by reflecting on past faith experiences, examining their present faith stories and discovering ways they are being challenged to move into the future.   The goal of the retreat is to deepen one's faith, build community, […]

Discovering Your Soul Potential: A Retreat on the Breakthrough Enneagram

With Sr. Barbara Jean Glodowski, OSB

April 21 - 23, 2026
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
The Enneagram is a spiritual wisdom tradition that was widely used by the desert Elders of the Christian church along with mystics and theologians who lived during the first five centuries AD. The Hurley/Dobson Breakthrough Enneagram Retreat is a refreshingly new and easy way to learn the Enneagram.  It presents the Enneagram in the simple language of thinking, feeling, and doing, which are the three centers of intelligence we use every day.  It answers the age-old question, “why do people do what they do?” It accomplishes this goal by describing nine personality styles.  It also reveals what a person can do to overcome the limitations of the type, making the system positive, hopeful, and immediately applicable to daily life.  It is a tool to help you on the path of Spiritual Transformation.

Diffusions: St. Gertrude of Helfta: Companion for the Millennium

With Dr. Samantha L. Miller

April 29, 2026
Zoom

Join us in reading with and about St. Gertrude of Helfta, 13th-century mystic and namesake of St. Gertrude's Monastery, in Gertrude of Helfta: Companion for the Millennium by Sr. Evangela Bossert. Each chapter is a description of part of Gertrude's story, a description of one of her visions, and then a meditation on these for our own […]

Deepening Our Spirituality with Mindfulness

With Gail Stearns

May 8 - 10, 2026
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
Ancient spiritual wisdom and current science are showing we can actually shift the way our brains work, to experience less reactivity toward greater calm and purpose.  When we combine mindfulness tools with spiritual, contemplative practice, we can experience this transformation in a beautiful way.

Using our Yoga Practice to Celebrate the Joys of Summer

With Kay Totten

June 12 - 14, 2026
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude

We will explore the themes of purity, contentment, self-discipline, self-study, and devotion to our spiritual journey during the retreat weekend.  I’m excited to announce that I will be joined by 1-2 amazing yoga teachers who will now be part of the “team” that will provide you with a safe and yet challenging space to rest, […]

Exploring Nature's Gifts 2026

With Sr. Carlotta Fontes, OSB

June 25 - 28, 2026
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude
“Our backyard is an abundant source of God’s gift of healing plants to us.” Discover what ancient herbal wisdom has to show us today. Learn how to identify and harvest herbs in order to make herbal teas, salves, and more. The retreat activities will take participants onto the Monastery of St. Gertrude hillside for hands-on experience.