Registration for the retreat at St. John’s Abbey is found in the Conference Registration Form. The $100 registration fee includes all meals and registration costs for the retreat but does not include lodging and transportation from St. John’s to the airport.
Additional Costs
Lodging (Payable to St. John’s Abbey directly upon checkout)
Single Room (one twin bed) w/ private bath. ($140)
Price per room for a two-night stay at the Abbey Guesthouse
Transportation from St. John’s Abbey to Airport ($66)
All registrants will be transported from Minneapolis to Collegeville by motorcoach on Wednesday, June 12. However, transportation will not be provided at the conclusion of the retreat on Friday, June 14. Groome Transportation provides shuttle service throughout the day between Minneapolis-St. Paul International and the Abbey Guesthouse (St. John’s University, Collegeville).
For schedule and pricing information see Groome Transportation’s website or call 320-316-0943. Arrangements must be made by 4:00pm the day before your scheduled travel to reserve this service.
Saint John’s Abbey
Saint John’s Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Collegeville Township, Minnesota, United States, affiliated with the American-Cassinese Congregation. The abbey was established following the arrival in the area of monks from Saint Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania in 1856. The Benedictine monks of Saint John’s Abbey welcome guests of all faiths to experience the abiding presence of God with a praying community. Located in central Minnesota on 2,740 acres of woodlands and lakes, the Abbey Guesthouse provides monastic hospitality to all who call.
Although the larger group will share an entire day on the beautiful grounds of St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, MN, a small group (up to 30 registrants) will remain at the Abbey for an extended two-day retreat.
The retreat will be held in the St. John's Abbey Chapter House, immediately adjacent to the Abbey Church. Our day will follow the rhythm of prayer as we join the monks of Saint John’s through the daily offices. In the spirit of Saint Benedict, retreat participants will be introduced to some of the spiritual practices that help shape one's life in God. The first word in The Rule of Saint Benedict is "listen". Together we will listen as we engage in ancient and timely practices such as Lectio Divina (Divine Reading), Gratitude, Hospitality, Silence, and of course, worship. During the retreat participants will not only engage in these practices, but they will also leave with several practices to take into their daily life.
The retreat will be led by the Reverend Kathie Nycklemoe, who is a spiritual director at the Benedictine Center of Saint Paul’s Monastery in Saint Paul, MN. She has served in public ministry since 1989, and as a pastor since 1995. Her training in contemplative practices began at the Shalem Institute in Baltimore, MD, under the direction of Tilden Edwards and Gerald May, and she received her training to be a spiritual director from the Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse, WI. She is Associate Pastor of St. Stephen’s Lutheran in Bloomington, MN, a pastor and spiritual director who regularly leads retreats for clergy and laity. She also serves as a clergy coach through the Fairview Clergy Health Center and as a mentor/teacher with the Spiritual Direction Certification Program at the Lutheran Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC.