Upcoming Events & Retreats

Earth Day & Anniversary Mass
Apr
21

Earth Day & Anniversary Mass

Please join us for the SFSPC Anniversary Mass and Earth Day Celebration. Mass will be at 10 am, followed by brunch at 10:45am. Then the Earth Day portion of the day will begin at noon and go until 4 pm. Our Earth Day Speaker is Charles Pilkey, a former geologist turned artist, author, and illustrator. Pilkey is one of the contributors of the brand new book Escaping Nature: How to Survive Global Climate Change which can be purchased online or in the bookstore. You can register online by clicking here

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Retreat Leader Training
May
18

Retreat Leader Training

Retreat Facilitation Workshop

Have you always wanted to lead a retreat, but don't know how to begin? This one-day workshop will help you get started. Topics will include developing a theme, pre-event planning, on-site considerations, facilitating sessions, dealing with the unexpected, and recognizing when to let go and let the Spirit lead.

Sue DiMaggio has led retreat teams for nearly 20 years. A  retired communications professional, Sue incorporates the arts, interactivity, and adult learning principles to develop meaningful retreats that resonate with a wide range of participants.

The cost is $40 and will include lunch

Click here to register

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Addiction Recovery Retreat
May
29
to May 31

Addiction Recovery Retreat

Chris Budnick, MSW, LCSW, LCAS, CCS is the Executive Director of Healing Transitions and has been working in the addiction treatment and recovery field since 1993. Chris became a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor in 1998.

This retreat will afford the many opportunities for respite, reflection, and fellowship.

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 Silent Retreat
Jun
23
to Jun 28

Silent Retreat

Presenter: Fr. Steven Patti OFM. Fr. Steve is a Franciscan friar currently serving at the parish of  St. Peter Claver Church in Macon, GA. He has served at Immaculate Conception Church in Durham NC from 2003-2011, and at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Raleigh NC from 2014-2020.

More info to come!

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Icon Retreat
Jul
15
to Jul 19

Icon Retreat

Please join us for a five day icon retreat with Fr. Damian Higgins. Fr. Damian Higgins is a gifted artist and teacher. He has been painting icons for his monastery and for churches and homes around the world for nearly 30 years. He began teaching the process at the request of those who felt drawn to the depth and beauty of the art form and wanted to understand more about its spirituality and theology.

During this retreat you will learn about the ancient art of icon making and Fr. Damien will guide the group as everyone creates their own icon. There is no prior experience necessary in order to attend this retreat. The cost of this retreat is $850 which includes meals and lodging.

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The Big Silence
Jul
29
to Aug 1

The Big Silence

Inspired by the documentary The Big Silence with Abbot Christopher Jamison and encouraged by several Clergy School of the Spirit students, this 4-day mostly silent retreat will now be grounded in the writings of Ruth Haley Barton's Invitation to Solitude and Silence as well as newer prayer resources and prayer stations.

After the hectic holiday season, get away for a time of rest, renewal, reflecting, and recharging. Set a course for 2024 with deep listening to the Spirit and experiencing God's transforming presence.

Visit https://www.thebigsilence.org/register.html to register for the retreat!

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Labyrinth Training
Aug
25
to Aug 29

Labyrinth Training

“The most widespread use of the contemporary labyrinth is as a walking meditation. The effect of walking with intent and purpose can unify the rational, intuitive and spiritual aspects of the walker. In the developed world we have created an intense leisure-orientated society, but one that is too hectic and overloaded with choice to ensure a truly balanced lifestyle. Labyrinth walking can give us respite and also allow intuitive knowledge to suggest how to cope better with ourselves and the world around us.”

— Jim Buchanan

If you are curious to learn more about the sacred practice of walking the labyrinth this is the retreat for you. This training/retreat will be lead by Catherine Anderson. Catherine Anderson is the author of The Creative Photographer and Meeting Your Soul on the Labyrinth. She is Veriditas advanced labyrinth facilitator and leads creative workshops

Part I of the training will be all day on March 2 and costs $125 for the day and will be an additional $125 to spend the night.

Part II of the Training will be from March 3-5 and will fulfill the requirements to become a certified labyrinth facilitator. You cannot do Part II of the training without Part I and the cost for Part I and Part II is $500.

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Silent Retreat
Nov
22
to Nov 24

Silent Retreat

Do you need to take a time out to detach yourself from the world or do you need a place to find rest? We invite you to consider this abbreviated silent retreat weekend hosted by the Emmaus Center for Spirituality. You can enjoy the silence by walking, resting and finding time alone on the beautiful grounds of St Francis Springs Prayer Center. Bring a journal to record what you may discover as you listen in the silence of how God may be speaking to you. If you choose, you can meet with a spiritual director during the retreat to discuss what you have discovered.

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Just This – Now: A Contemplative Retreat
Mar
24
to Mar 27

Just This – Now: A Contemplative Retreat

When we take a long, loving look at the real, we see the vast landscape of divine mercy, grace, and fruitfulness into which our single lives are planted. ~ Walter Burghardt

 

One of the gifts of eldering is the realization that each moment is a precious, not-to-be repeated gift. The goal of this retreat is to help us enhance our attentiveness to the now through brief teachings, a variety of contemplative practices within a safe and confidential community. This retreat will provide an opportunity to reflect on attentiveness and presence in the moments of our lives; the longings and barriers to being fully present to the now; and practices to attune our beings to attentive living.  We will have brief teachings, small listening groups, group reflection times, and opportunities to experience practices that open us to being fully present to now. Opportunities to explore attentiveness through movement led by Charlie Butler, and visual arts led by Susan Michie-Bent will be available Monday and Tuesday afternoons. St. Francis Springs’s provides a safe and quiet setting for our retreat, set on 140 acres of beautiful and peaceful wooded property in North Carolina’s rolling hills, away from the busyness and distractions of daily life. We hope you will join us!

 

Retreat Leaders:

  • Pattie Butler, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist with over 26 years of experience, brings a wealth of experience along with a love for attending to the deep movement of Spirit in individuals and group.  She is a graduate of the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation Retreat Leadership program.

  • Anne Findlay-Chamberlain worked as a counselor for 15 years before following a call to pastoral ministry. In addition to 24 years of experience in parish ministry, Anne is also a graduate of the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation Clergy Spiritual Life and Leadership program and a trained Spiritual Director through the Charlotte Spirituality Center.

  • Susan Mitchie-Bent is a retired pastor and an artist who loves to make art accessible and shame free.

  • Charlie Butler is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice.  He also trained for 25 years with Master Eric Sbarge and is certified a Laoshr (teacher level) of the practice of Tai Chi Chuan.

Cost: $525 per person for single occupancy, $375 per person for double occupancy

To learn more/register please contact Pattie Butler at pjbutler-msw@earthlink.net

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International Women's Day Celebration
Mar
8

International Women's Day Celebration

Please join us for our 2nd Annual International Women's Day Celebration. This years theme is Valuing Women's Voices and Choices: A Day of Inspiring Inclusion.

The day will be led by two of our deeply devoted and beloved volunteers Georgette Schraeder and Lynn Brown. Come prepared to share, listen, reflect, and imagine.  

The cost of the event is $12.26 and lunch is included.

To register please call  (336) 573-3751 or email info@stfrancissprings.com 

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Black History Month Celebration
Feb
18

Black History Month Celebration

Join us to celebrate Black History Month! The Program will be from 4-6 PM and will be followed by dinner.

Our Presenters

  • Carmen Cauthen works as a family historian, racial equity advocate, and truth teller. She will be sharing about her work on the Historic Black Neighborhoods of Raleigh.

  • Natasha Sistruck Robinson is an author, international speaker, leadership consultant, mentoring coach, and the visionary founder of the nonprofit Leadership LINKS. She will be sharing about her life as told through her memoir A Sojourner's Truth: Choosing Freedom and Courage in a Divided World.

  • Reggie Edwards and Helen Johnson have been friends for over 40 years and will be sharing the story of their friendship across racial lines.

  • Ian Parks is the founder of the non-profit organization After School Special, which he created to help serve teenagers who want to reach their full potential in life. Ian will be sharing about this work alongside one of his high schoolers.

  • Allen Jones will be sharing his beautiful voice with us through song.

  • Meek Squad will be playing some of their original music

To RSVP call (336) 573-3751 or email us info@stfrancissprings.com. There is no set cost for this event but we will be accepting donations the night of the event.

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Ash Wednesday
Feb
14

Ash Wednesday

Journey to Jerusalem: A Pathway to An Interior Life

Fr. Bob Menard OFM will be facilitating a day retreat for Ash Wednesday. The day will begin with mass and the distribution of ashes. The rest of the day will include time for communal reflection, personal contemplation, and reconciliation.

Lunch is included and the cost is $12.26

Please call  (336) 573-3751 or email info@stfrancissprings.com to register.

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The Instinctual Enneagram: A Workshop for Couples & Other Seekers
Jan
26
to Jan 28

The Instinctual Enneagram: A Workshop for Couples & Other Seekers

The Enneagram is an ancient, powerful tool that identifies nine distinct personality types and provides an in-depth map of each type's psychological and spiritual dimensions. The Instincts are our inborn, natural embodied drives that connect us to the web of life and show us how the body is inextricably intertwined with and influences our psychospiritual work. “Type is Temperament; Instinct is Intelligence.”  Join Riso-Hudson Certified Enneagram Teacher Deborah Delano for a weekend workshop on the surprising spiritual and practical implications of instinct work with the Enneagram. $400 for the weekend as a couple.  Please call the Center to make reservations.

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The Big Silence
Jan
14
to Jan 17

The Big Silence

Inspired by the documentary The Big Silence with Abbot Christopher Jamison and encouraged by several Clergy School of the Spirit students, this 4-day mostly silent retreat will now be grounded in the writings of Ruth Haley Barton's Invitation to Solitude and Silence as well as newer prayer resources and prayer stations.

After the hectic holiday season, get away for a time of rest, renewal, reflecting, and recharging. Set a course for 2024 with deep listening to the Spirit and experiencing God's transforming presence.

Visit https://www.thebigsilence.org/register.html to register for the retreat!

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Icon Retreat
Jan
8
to Jan 12

Icon Retreat

Please join us for a five day icon retreat with Fr. Damian Higgins. Fr. Damian Higgins is a gifted artist and teacher. He has been painting icons for his monastery and for churches and homes around the world for nearly 30 years. He began teaching the process at the request of those who felt drawn to the depth and beauty of the art form and wanted to understand more about its spirituality and theology.

During this retreat you will learn about the ancient art of icon making and Fr. Damien will guide the group as everyone creates their own icon. There is no prior experience necessary in order to attend this retreat. The cost of this retreat is $850 which includes meals and lodging.

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Christianity Deconstructs Racism
Dec
8
to Dec 10

Christianity Deconstructs Racism

The Christianity Deconstructs Racism Retreat focusses on how the Christianity of Jesus is a powerful deconstructive force against America’s original sin of racism. As racism evolves, Christians continue to be challenged to either speak out or remain silent believing that nothing can be done to combat and overcome its evil reality. The anti-racism content presented in this retreat is grounded in equity-based models and covers systemic racism, historical racism, white privilege and other anti-racist understandings. The theological content is drawn from readings and interpretation of the Scriptures with close readings of the texts and Biblical stories that enabled African Americans to remain unapologetically Christian and unashamedly Black.

This retreat will be lead by Rev Dr. M. Keith Daniel. The Rev. Dr. M. Keith Daniel is a Christian Community Development practitioner and consultant to nonprofit organizations, churches and educational institutions. In 2017, he launched Madison Consulting, LLC.

He is the board chair for DurhamCares, Inc. and serves on the board of StepUp Durham and the School for Conversion in Durham, N.C. Before that, Daniel served as the executive director of operations and strategic partnerships for StepUp North Carolina and as executive director of DurhamCares. He also served as a minister at Duke University Chapel.

Daniel is ordained in the American Baptist Church and earned B.A., M.Div. and D.Min. degrees from Duke University as well as a master's degree from North Carolina State University.

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Labyrinth Workshop
Nov
16
to Nov 20

Labyrinth Workshop

“The most widespread use of the contemporary labyrinth is as a walking meditation. The effect of walking with intent and purpose can unify the rational, intuitive and spiritual aspects of the walker. In the developed world we have created an intense leisure-orientated society, but one that is too hectic and overloaded with choice to ensure a truly balanced lifestyle. Labyrinth walking can give us respite and also allow intuitive knowledge to suggest how to cope better with ourselves and the world around us.”

— Jim Buchanan

If you are curious to learn more about the sacred practice of walking the labyrinth this is the retreat for you. This training/retreat will be lead by Catherine Anderson. Catherine Anderson is the author of The Creative Photographer and Meeting Your Soul on the Labyrinth. She is Veriditas advanced labyrinth facilitator and leads creative workshops

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Silent Retreat hosted by the Emmaus Center
Sep
27
to Sep 29

Silent Retreat hosted by the Emmaus Center

Do you need to take a time out to detach yourself from the world or do you need a place to find rest? We invite you to consider this abbreviated silent retreat weekend hosted by the Emmaus Center for Spirituality. You can enjoy the silence by walking, resting and finding time alone on the beautiful grounds of St Francis Springs Prayer Center. Bring a journal to record what you may discover as you listen in the silence of how God may be speaking to you. If you choose, you can meet with a spiritual director during the retreat to discuss what you have discovered.

The cost of the retreat is $300.00 which includes rooms, meals, and Spiritual Direction. To register for the retreat, please send an email to St Francis Springs Prayer Center with Bob Pearson . He will assist with lodging, payment discussion, and answer questions about the retreat center. To answer specific questions about the retreat, please email The Emmaus Center

Deadline for registration is Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Refunds: A full refund is available if you cancel prior to October 17, 2023. In lieu of a refund, consider donating to St. Francis Springs Prayer Center or Emmaus Center for Spirituality.

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Cut the Chaos & Just Be
Aug
13

Cut the Chaos & Just Be

This 3 day retreat is designed to restore inner calm and clarity through using the tools of SoulCollage® and walking the labyrinth.

The retreat will be led by Sherrine Washington and Terri Burleson. Sherrine and Terri have both been trained as SoulCollage®and Labyrinth facilitators.

This is not an official St. Francis Springs hosted retreat so to learn more about the retreat and sign up please follow the link below.

Link to retreat website for additional information and registration: https://events.podia.com/retreat

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Feast of St. Clare
Aug
12

Feast of St. Clare

Join us for our first time celebrating the Feast of St. Clare on Saturday, August 12 from 10-3! This will be lead by the Sister’s of Poor Clare from South Carolina. The cost is $25 and will include lunch and a prayer service lead by the Sisters.

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