Discernment Retreats

Duc In Altum  (Silent, Directed Discernment Retreat)
These 3 day retreats are open to those young women between the ages of 18-35 who are discerning Religious Life and desiring a deeper experience of solitude, silence and contemplative prayer. Retreatants join the nuns for Mass, Divine Office, and Eucharistic Adoration. A priest is available throughout the retreat for spiritual direction and confession. Each day two talks will be given (one by the priest director and one by Sr. Mary Fidelis), on such subjects as vocation, contemplative prayer, discernment, and the interior life. Due to the housing limitations, these retreats can have no more than 6 participants.  Please email Sr. Mary Fidelis if you would like to make a Duc In Altum

2013 Duc In Altum Retreat Dates
January 2nd through January 5th (directed by Fr. Paul Sullivan)
May 21st through May 25th (directed by Fr. Paul Sullivan)

Solitude and Service Days
These work/prayer days are open to young women between the ages of 16 – 30 who would like to lend a helping hand, get to know the PCPAs better, and grow in their prayer life, through Eucharistic Adoration. Email Sr. Mary Fidelis to learn about upcoming dates for Solitude and Service days

Come and See  (A day of prayerful discernment with the Nuns)
The Come and See days are scheduled according to need. Locals parishes or schools are invited to contact us to arrange a day to bring out highschool or college age women. Or if you are a local young lady who would like to experience a Come and See Day of Prayer, please contact Sr. Mary Fidelis to learn when the next Come and See is scheduled so you can join in. Due to limited space, we ask that each Come and See retreat have no more than 20 participants.

Sample Schedule for “Come and See” Days of Prayer
(can be adjusted to the needs of the group or school)
10 a.m. Holy Mass
11 a.m. Meet the Nuns
11:30 p.m. Divine Office (Daytime Prayer) and Divine Mercy Chaplet with the Nuns
12:00 p.m. Picnic with the Nuns
1 p.m. WHAT IS VOCATION?
1:30 p.m. WHAT IS DISCERNMENT?
2 p.m. Coffee Break
2:30 p.m. WHO ARE THE PCPAs?, followed by Q&A time
3:30 p.m. Eucharstic Adoration
4:30 p.m. Depart

 “Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to Him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? Do we not then risk ending up diminished and deprived of our freedom? And once again the Pope said: No! If we let Christ in to our lives, we LOSE NOTHING, NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so today, dear young people: DO NOT BE AFRAID OF CHRIST! He takes nothing away but give you EVERYTHING. When we give ourselves to Him, we receive a hundred-fold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ and you will find TRUE LIFE.” – Pope Benedict XVI