Whenever you go out, walk together, and when you reach your destination, stay together.—St. Augustine
Retreat Program 2022–23
Held throughout the year, Campus Ministry retreats bring together students from all faith backgrounds to step back from their routine, reflect on their spiritual values, share stories, and understand Villanova’s Catholic and Augustinian values.
This section will be updated as retreat planning progresses.
Thank you for your interest, this retreat has passed.
Date & Time
Start: 9 AM, Saturday, September 10, 2022
End: 4:30 PM, Saturday, September 10, 2022
Location
Garey 10A, Garey Hall, Villanova University campus
Audience
Current VU graduate and professional studies students
Description
Are you excited—and maybe a little stressed—about your graduate and professional studies this year? You’re not alone. Come and meet your Villanova peers, reflect on your hopes and fears, and develop supportive relationships at a graduate-student retreat. You will hear from current grad students, share in small groups and learn how Villanova’s Augustinian tradition invites you to “become what you are not yet.”
The event is open to participants of any or no faith tradition.
Hosted by Campus Ministry and the Grad Center. For any questions, please email Campus Minister for Retreats, Kiva Nice-Webb, or Director of the Grad Center, Emily McCloskey.
What to Expect
Stories shared by current graduate students and time for small group discussion with peers
Intro to the Augustinian tradition of the institution
Considerable social activity, including sitting and talking in small groups and one on one
Moderate physical activity, including group activities inside and outside
Time for individual reflection
What to Bring
Reusable water bottle
Favorite pen for notes and a journal or notepad
Casual, comfortable clothes (layers as needed for temp)
Meals
Breakfast and lunch will be provided
Fee
This event is free.
Registration
First come, first served; register by September 2.
Thank you for your interest, this retreat has passed.
Date & Time
Start: 5 p.m., Friday, October 21
End: 2 p.m., Sunday, October 23
Location
Gretna Glen Camp and Retreat Center
Transportation to and from campus provided
Audience
First-year undergrad students
Description
Get away from campus for a weekend of discovering friendships, exploring your faith and values, and energizing yourself to make the most of your years at Villanova.
Although grounded in the Christian and Augustinian tradition, Escape is designed for and open to students of any or no faith tradition. It is hosted by the Graduate Resident Ministers and led by sophomores and juniors who have participated in Escape.
What to Expect
Stories shared by sophomore and junior students
Considerable social activity, including sitting and talking in small groups and one on one
Moderate physical activity, including group activities inside and outside
Time for individual reflection
Sleeping in bunk rooms
Hall-style bathrooms and showers; single-user options also available
What to Pack
Comfortable, casual clothing for two nights and days (check the weather before leaving; bring layers for temperature changes)
Sturdy shoes for hiking
Medications you usually take
Reusable water bottle
Sleeping bag or sheets/blanket and a pillow
Towel and toiletries
Meals
All meals are provided in the camp cafeteria. When you register, please indicate any allergies or dietary accommodation needed.
Fee
Registration fee is $25 and covers all costs for the weekend. To ask about scholarship assistance for the fee, email Kiva Nice-Webb.
Registration
First come, first served; register by October 11.
Thank you for your interest this retreat has passed.
Date & Time
Start: 5 p.m., Friday, November 11
End: 4 p.m., Sunday, November 13
Location
Gretna Glen Camp and Retreat Center
Transportation to and from campus provided
Audience
Sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students
Description
Explore how unconditional love, especially God's love, is present in your life. This retreat focuses on agape, a selfless and unconditional form of love.
Although grounded in the Christian and Augustinian tradition, Search is designed for and open to students of any or no faith tradition. It is hosted by the Campus Minister for Retreats and Graduate Resident Ministers, and is led by juniors, seniors and grad students who have participated in Search.
What to Expect
Testimonials shared by student leaders
Considerable social activity, including sitting and talking in small groups and one on one
Moderate physical activity, including group activities inside and outside
Time for Individual reflection, reflection activities and relaxation
Sleeping in bunk rooms
Hall-style bathrooms and showers; single-user options also available
What to Pack
Comfortable, casual clothing for two nights and days (check the weather before leaving; bring layers for temperature changes)
Sturdy shoes for hiking
Medications you usually take
Reusable water bottle
Sleeping bag or sheets/blanket and a pillow
Towel and toiletries
Meals
All meals are provided in the camp cafeteria. When you register, please indicate any allergies or dietary accommodation needed.
Fee
Registration fee is $25 and covers all costs for the weekend. To ask about scholarship assistance for the fee, email Kiva Nice-Webb.
Registration
Thank you for your interest, this retreat has passed.
Date & Time
Start: 9:30am, Wednesday, December 7
End: 11:30am, Wednesday, December 7
Location
Corr Chapel
Audience
Open to Villanova faculty, staff, graduate and professional students
Description
Celebrate the Advent season at this ecumenical Christian retreat held on campus during the workday. Meet with colleagues from across the University and share from your personal experiences and faith journey. Coffee served at 9am in Corr Hall Lounge, program begins at 9:30am in Corr Chapel.
What to Expect
Guided reflections led by facilitators
Considerable social activity, including sitting and talking in small groups and one on one
Time for personal reflection, sharing in large and small groups, facilitated activities and a quiet, relaxed environment
What to Bring
Reusable coffee or tea mug.
Journal and pen.
Meals
Coffee and breakfast pastries provided.
Fee
This event is free. Employees, with approval from their supervisor, may attend this one half day with no loss of pay or charge to vacation time. If you have any questions about this process, please contact Human Resources at ext. 7900.
Registration
First come, first served; register Dec. 2. Direct questions about the retreat to Campus Minister for Retreats, Kiva Nice-Webb.
This section will be updated as retreat planning progresses. Upcoming retreats will be moved to the top of the list and past retreats will be moved down.
Registration is open.
Date & Time
Start: 9:00am, Saturday, March 25, 2023
End: 6:00pm, Saturday, March 25, 2023
Location
Off-campus, check-in from 9-9:30am outside Stanford Hall on South Campus.
Audience
First-year undergrad students
Description
Get away from campus for a weekend of discovering friendships, exploring your faith and values, and energizing yourself to make the most of your years at Villanova.
Although grounded in the Christian and Augustinian tradition, Escape is designed for and open to students of any or no faith tradition. It is hosted by the Graduate Resident Ministers and led by sophomores and juniors who have participated in Escape.
What to Expect
Stories shared by sophomore and junior students
Considerable social activity, including sitting and talking in small groups and one on one
Moderate physical activity, including group activities inside and outside
Time for individual reflection
What to Bring
Comfortable, casual clothing (check the weather before leaving; bring layers for temperature changes)
Sturdy shoes for outdoor activities
Medications you usually take
Reusable water bottle
Meals
All meals are provided. When you register, please indicate any allergies or dietary accommodation needed.
Fee
FREE. Registration fee will be waived for all Spring 2023 attendees and covers all your costs for the retreat.
Registration
Register here by March 22.
'Lenten Surrender, Easter Expansiveness: an eco-spiritual retreat'
"Less is more": this is both an apt approach to the Lenten season and an insight underlying our attempts to live more sustainability in an age of special concern for our planet. Please join us as we weave these two themes together for an "eco-spiritual" retreat open to participants of all spiritual and religious backgrounds. Led by guest facilitator Nicholas Collura.
To read more about Nicholas' work, visit his webpage here: https://nicholascollura.com/about-nicholas/
Villanova Employees, with approval from their supervisor, may attend this one half day with no loss of pay or charge to vacation time. If you have any questions about this process, please contact Human Resources at ext. 7900.
Registration link here.
Location: Corr Hall Lounge and Corr Chapel.
Time: Check-in open from 9:00-9:30am, retreat program from 9:30am-11:45am.
Cost: Free
Date & Time
Start: 5 p.m., Friday, April 14
End: 4 p.m., Sunday, April 16
Location
Gretna Glen Camp and Retreat Center
Transportation to and from campus provided
Audience
Sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students
Description
Explore how unconditional love, especially God's love, is present in your life. This retreat focuses on agape, a selfless and unconditional form of love.
Although grounded in the Christian and Augustinian tradition, Search is designed for and open to students of any or no faith tradition. It is hosted by the Campus Minister for Retreats and Graduate Resident Ministers, and is led by juniors, seniors and grad students who have participated in Search.
What to Expect
Testimonials shared by student leaders
Considerable social activity, including sitting and talking in small groups and one on one
Moderate physical activity, including group activities inside and outside
Time for Individual reflection, reflection activities and relaxation
Sleeping in bunk rooms
Hall-style bathrooms and showers; single-user options also available
What to Pack
Comfortable, casual clothing for two nights and days (check the weather before leaving; bring layers for temperature changes)
Sturdy shoes for hiking
Medications you usually take
Reusable water bottle
Sleeping bag or sheets/blanket and a pillow
Towel and toiletries
Meals
All meals are provided in the camp cafeteria. When you register, please indicate any allergies or dietary accommodation needed.
Fee
Registration fee is $25 and covers all your costs for the weekend. Registration fee becomes non-refundable after April 4. Apply here for scholarship assistance for the fee.
Registration
Register by April 4 by completing the registration form and paying the $25 fee.
Thank you for your interest, this retreat has passed.
Date & Time
Start: 5 p.m., Friday, January 20
End: 12 p.m., Sunday, January 22
Location
St Raphaela Center
Transportation to and from campus provided
Audience
Graduating seniors
Description
Between college and graduation, "you are at a crossroads ..."
This weekend retreat allows graduating senior students of any or no faith tradition to consider what has guided them on their journeys and what will light the way ahead. It is full of opportunities for prayer, conversation and shared reflections on our paths with Villanova faculty and staff.
What to Expect
Considerable social activity, including sitting and talking in small groups and one on one
Moderate physical activity, including group activities inside and outside
Time for Individual reflection, reflection activities and relaxation
Sleeping in shared retreat rooms
Hall-style bathrooms and showers; single-user options also available
What to Pack
Comfortable, casual clothing for two nights and days (check the weather before leaving; bring layers for temperature changes)
Sturdy shoes for walking outdoors
Medications you usually take
Reusable water bottle & coffee or tea thermos
Sleeping bag or sheets/blanket and a pillow
Towel and toiletries
Meals
All meals are provided in the retreat center cafeteria. When you register, please indicate any allergies or dietary accommodation needed.
Fee
Registration fee was waived for all this year. To ask about scholarship assistance for the fee, email Kiva Nice-Webb.
Registration
Register here - open through Tuesday, January 10.
Thank you for your interest, this retreat has passed.
Date & Time
Depart: 1:00 PM Friday, February 3, 2023
Return: 5:00 PM, Saturday, February 4, 2023
Location
Transportation provided to and from Villanova University campus.
Audience
Open to graduate and undergraduate students
Description
Making Meaning Together – An Interfaith Retreat
Build community with other VU students while learning more about the spiritual practices of our religious neighbors. This retreat offers the opportunity for an overnight together at a nearby retreat center, prayer/worship experiences at 2-3 different local faith communities, and dialogue with one another about questions of faith and meaning.
What to Expect
This retreat balances time among the following activities: visiting area faith communities (including dialogue with community members), conversation/activities with other retreat participants, and time for personal reflection and relaxation.
Sleeping accommodations will be rooms inside the retreat center.
Bathrooms and showers are hall-style with single user options also available.
What to Pack
Comfortable, casual clothing for 1 night and 2 days.
Any medications you usually take.
Reusable water bottle.
Towel and toiletries.
Meals
All meals are provided in the retreat center dining room. Please indicate any allergies or dietary accommodations needed during the registration process.
Fee
There is no registration fee for this retreat; however, we do count on your registration as a firm commitment. We request that, once registered, you only withdraw in the case of illness or a personal/family emergency.
Registration
Registration is first-come, first-served, and will be closed by January 20. Register here.
Questions? Contact Rev. Julie Sheetz, Director of Multifaith Ministry.
This section will be updated as retreat planning progresses.
Please visit the Connections Retreat page for more information and to register.
“Sports contribute to the love of life, teaches sacrifice, respect and responsibility, leading to the full development of every human person.” - Pope Saint John Paul II
The "Joy of Sports" looks at how our love for sports, either as athletes or as fans, can lead us to joy, fulfillment, and holiness. This retreat will include time for playing sports, prayer and reflection, and conversation.
The retreat is grounded in a Christian and Augustinian tradition. It is open to students of all faith backgrounds and those who do not identify with a religious tradition.
Applications are now closed.
Check back for updates.
Want to make a retreat but don’t have time to go away for a weekend? Want to pay more attention to how life and spirituality go hand in hand?
This retreat is about learning to “find God in all things.” Join us for three days of reflection. Each day, on the basis of your schedule, you will meet one on one with a spiritual companion from the Catholic tradition for 30 minutes. You also commit to 30 minutes of prayer on your own.
The retreat is open to students, staff and faculty.
Cost: Free
Contact: Michelle Sherman
Check back for updates.
Campus Ministry invites rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, graduate students and alumni to Continuing Transformation: A Retreat for the Everyday. Retreatants will receive an electronic booklet with readings and reflection prompts for personal prayer, study and actions.
Participants can opt in to meet one on one with a spiritual guide two or three times and/or with another retreatant twice. The Campus Ministry Instagram page will feature optional prayer sessions live each day.
Retreatants will need a zoom account to participate, as we will be offering two communal times for prayers and breakout sessions.
Cost: Free
For questions, please reach out to Michelle Sherman.
Check back for updates.
Do you wonder how to respond to conflict, to hate, to disrespect and incivility in our community and our world? This one-day training will help unleash the power of active nonviolence.
Using storytelling, interactive exercises, small- and large-group discussions, and individual reflection, this training will explore the nature of violence, the vision of Gospel nonviolence, and concrete tools for nonviolent change.
We welcome students from any or no faith tradition.
This training is co-sponsored by Center for Peace and Justice Education, Campus Ministry, the Office of Intercultural Affairs, the Office of Student Life, and the Office of Service Learning.
Check back for updates.
This retreat is focused on developing a deeper relationship with Christ and witnessing to the diversity within the Catholic tradition. We invite you, wherever you are on your journey, to spend this weekend asking what it means to be a Catholic college student and what joys, struggles and questions press upon your mind and heart.
Pope Francis has encouraged us to build a "culture of encounter." What might this mean to you in your life? We will invite you to explore this question through talks, liturgies, small-group sharing, fellowship and quiet reflection.
We will leave campus Saturday morning and return Sunday afternoon. Space is limited.
For more information, please contact Mathew Verghese.
Campus Ministry will never turn away students due to financial difficulty.
Check back for updates.
This retreat invites you to learn firsthand about the beliefs and practices of different religious traditions through site visits to area faith communities. Participants will also begin to develop skills in interfaith dialogue.
Students of all faith backgrounds, as well as those who do not identify as religious but are interested in learning, are welcome to attend.
If you have questions, please contact Julie Sheetz.
Cost: $25*
*Campus Ministry will never turn away students due to financial difficulty.
Check back for updates.
Withdraw from the busyness of life for an overnight experience grounded in solitude, silence, reflection and prayer. Retreatants savor drawing into stillness and meeting one on one with a spiritual director.
Retreat cost: $10*
*Campus Ministry will never turn away students due to financial difficulty. Please email Michelle Sherman for accommodations.
This weekend invites you to experience the roots of the Augustinian traditions and values while reflecting on your spiritual journey and struggles, as St. Augustine did.
Contact: Michelle Sherman
Curious about the life of an Augustinian friar? Wondering if it might be for you? Join other young men discerning a vocation to the Augustinians for a weekend away with the Augustinians at St. Rita Cottage in Ocean City, NJ.
Please contact Fr. Joe Narog, OSA.
For students who desire to deepen their experience of Holy Week, this retreat will offer unique liturgical experiences using the services on campus combined with other events to heighten your understanding of these Christian holy days and the liturgies that help us to celebrate them.
Contact: Michelle Sherman
We all have to make difficult decisions. Come and explore the process of decision making while taking the time to reflect and gain a new perspective on a decision that you are currently facing.
To sign up or for more information, please email Linda Jaczynski.
Looking for a way to invite God into your decision making? Looking for some time to reflect on options before you?
The Life Awareness retreat will include presentations, group discussions, and prayer on the topic of how to hear and respond to these calls. The program will explore discernment as both a tool and way of life. It is designed to help you make a reflective choices and be attentive to the ways that God calls.
A team of vowed religious and lay collaborators will conduct this weekend retreat program, which is open to college students and young adults up to age 24 in the Philadelphia area.
Contact: Michelle Sherman
What are retreats?
The Retreat Program invites you to get away from the hectic pace of college life and focus on different aspects of your life. It encourages you to discover more about yourself and your deepest values through group discussions, talks given by student leaders, meditation, games, fellowship and prayer.
What do you do on retreat?
Relax and have fun
Meet new people
Share and grow in your spirituality
Strengthen your relationships
Explore and reflect on your life decisions
Come to know yourself better
Encounter God
Who is welcome on retreats?
In general, the Retreat Program is open to students of any or no faith tradition.
How do I know which retreat to attend?
You can choose the type and style of retreat you are most comfortable attending. Some retreats are quiet and include lots of alone time, while others emphasize building community through sharing and group activities.
The pace of retreats also varies. Some retreats have lots of activity, while others are more leisurely.
Some retreats are designed for specific students. For example, Escape weekends are for first-year undergrads only. We ask that these students attend an Escape weekend (held once each semester) before attending our other retreats.
How can I serve as a student leader?
Student leaders are an essential part of most of our retreats. If you have experience attending retreats in high school or college, contact Kiva Nice-Webb.
"I have never experienced a group of people more open and willing to accept me as I am. I am grateful, so grateful."
"I had SO. MUCH. FUN. First Year Escape made my year. I made so many new friends and before this weekend, I felt like I would never make friends at Villanova because it seemed like everyone else had it all together and was already in a friend group. I can't wait to join a Get Real Group with my CMI and continue these friendships. Thank you!!!!"
"I am able to see God in people more easily now."
"This weekend has given me a sense of meditation, self love, and contemplation that I haven't experienced in a while. It helped open up my understanding of love."
"The small group discussions were very impactful to me because I was able to share my vulnerability with a safe group and be affirmed."
"Prior to SEARCH, I was someone who would only go to God for the highs and lows in my life. I never sought him in my everyday life. SEARCH taught me that God is a part of everyone and everything, whether or not I realize it. Therefore, I intend on dedicating myself to walk through each day looking for Him, and consciously trying to process where He may appear in those not-so-extreme moments."
"I am more confident in sharing and talking about my faith, and I am left wanting to further pursue my faith and grow in love of others."
Please contact Kiva Nice-Webb if you have any questions.