Some Answers

to Your Questions

What is Spiritual Guidance?

What is a Private Retreat?

What is an Individually

Guided Retreat?

What is a Sabbatical?

The Racine Dominican Retreat Program, located on the shore of Lake Michigan at Siena Center in Racine, Wisconsin, offers these opportunities for individuals seeking time away, reflection and, if desired, the help of a Certified Spiritual Guide.

What is Spiritual Guidance?

Spiritual guidance is an age-old process of listening to the heart of another as he or she seeks the intention of the Spirit within the deep recesses of the self.

Spiritual guidance can be a single session or a multi-session commitment, depending on the need or desire. Usually, meetings are scheduled every 4 to 6 weeks.

The goal of spiritual guidance is not dependency upon another but rather a closer union with the divine that invites wholeness and integrity leading to growth and inner unity.

Fees are based on one's ability to pay, and range from $35 to $55 per session.

Is spiritual guidance different from spiritual direction? Most often, the terms are used interchangeably. Some schools of thought prefer the term spiritual guidance; others, spiritual direction or companionship.

What is a Private Retreat?

A private retreat offers time away from the usual activities of life. Apart from the demands of work, family and other commitments, one can find the precious commodity of unstructured time. In this environment of freedom, one's mind, body and spirit can find rest, rejuvenation and renewal.

Private retreats can be as short as one-half day or as long as several weeks, depending on the need.

You may schedule a private retreat at any time except during the month of August. Meals and a comfortable private room are provided. You have access to our chapel, library, grounds, and the common prayer of the Sisters' community, if you wish.

What is an Individually Guided Retreat?

Combining both spiritual guidance and time away, an individually guided retreat is an opportunity to receive spiritual guidance, usually once a day, during a longer, more focused visit, with ample time for prayer and reflection.

During this time away, one is able to explore with a spiritual guide particular issues of importance. Often Scripture or other selected reading materials are used to enliven one?s insight and awareness.

An individually guided retreat is sometimes scheduled during transition times in a person's life, when major decisions are calling to be addressed, or when one is seeking to connect to one's inner wisdom in a new or different way. Meals and a comfortable private bedroom are offered.

What is a Sabbatical?

Typically, a sabbatical is a longer time, usually a month or more, spent in reflection, and prayer in a space away from your daily pressures. Sabbaticals may include spiritual guidance and programs being offered through the Retreat Program at that time. The chapel, our beautiful grounds, and the library are available to enhance your stay.

For more information, please call the Racine Dominican Retreat Program at 262-639-4100 x1297.

Spiritual Directors

Sr. Kathleen Bohn, OP, has a broad background in scripture and theology, and an MA in counseling with additional certified work in Jungian Psychology. As a certified spiritual guide, practicing for over 20 years, Kathleen utilizes dream work and the Enneagram, believing it essential to integrate mind/body/spirit and to know our interconnectedness with all in the universe. She journeys with another with sensitivity, attentiveness and prayer, aware of the Spirit's presence and guidance.

Sr. Miriam Brown, OP, a Sinsinawa Dominican, has been companioning adults in faith and spirituality for 25 years. Her master's degrees are in English and Religious Studies, with training in spiritual direction at the Claret Center in Chicago. She listens to the inner touch and pull of God and the movement of the Spirit in our times, attuning to the compassionate embrace of God.

Pat Shutts has a BA in Theology and an MA in Pastoral Studies, and received certification in spiritual guidance from Creighton University. Pat brings her gift of compassionate listening and openness to the Spirit, and companions seekers as they acknowledge and discover God's presence in all of life's journey.