A Weekend Retreat in Sacred Silence
Step Away from the Noise. Enter Sacred Silence.
St. Mary’s Sewanee invites you to an Introduction to Centering Prayer Weekend Retreat, led by The Rev. Margaret Caldwell.
Whether you are new to contemplative prayer or longing to deepen an existing practice, this weekend offers a gentle and welcoming space to encounter God in stillness.
Centering Prayer is a receptive method of Christian silent prayer that deepens our relationship with God, the Indwelling Presence, a prayer in which we experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself.
— Contemplative Outreach
Silence is God’s first language. Everything else is a poor translation.
~ Thomas Keating
What This Retreat Offers
This weekend is intentionally designed as an introduction to Centering Prayer. No prior experience is required.
Throughout the retreat, you will:
Learn the foundations of the Centering Prayer method
Participate in guided periods of silent prayer
Receive teaching rooted in the wisdom of Thomas Keating
Rest in extended sacred silence
Enjoy the quiet beauty of the South Cumberland Plateau
Share in community with others seeking deeper spiritual grounding
For experienced practitioners, the weekend offers renewal and refreshment.
For beginners, it provides clarity, structure, and a safe place to begin.
Retreat Leadership
The Rev. Margaret Caldwell & Rev. Tom Ward
Rev. Caldwell will serve as the primary priest and retreat leader for the weekend, offering spiritual guidance, teaching, and pastoral presence throughout the retreat. Rev. Tom Ward will lead an introductory workshop.
Supporting Retreat Leaders
The weekend also includes experienced facilitators in contemplative practice and spiritual formation, bringing decades of leadership in Centering Prayer, spiritual direction, and embodied spiritual disciplines.
Together, they create a prayerful, grounded, and welcoming environment for all participants.
Who This Retreat Is For
This retreat is especially suited for:
Those curious about Centering Prayer
Beginners seeking structured introduction
Clergy and spiritual leaders longing for renewal
Anyone feeling spiritually weary or distracted
Practitioners wanting to refresh their contemplative rhythm
If you are longing for deeper stillness, this weekend is for you.
Participants seated in a prayer circle during a Centering Prayer retreat at St. Mary’s Sewanee.
Reduced Rate & Financial Assistance
St. Mary's Sewanee: The Ayres Center for Spiritual Development welcomes spiritual seekers to the quiet beauty of the South Cumberland Plateau. We are deeply grateful for a generous donor who has underwritten this event, allowing us to offer this retreat at a reduced cost, extending an invitation to all who might not otherwise be able to join us.
Additional discounts available for clergy and seminarians
Scholarships are available for those needing further assistance
For scholarship inquiries, contact:
Reservations@stmaryssewanee.org
931-598-5342
After 72 hours of registration, a $100 cancellation fee applies. There are no refunds within 7 days of the program's arrival date.
Scholarships are available. Contact Reservations@stmaryssewanee.org for application.
*A minimum registration is required for retreats to take place. If the program does not meet the minimum registration within 2 weeks of the event, there is the possibility of cancellation. If St. Mary’s Sewanee cancels a retreat for any reason, any registered guest will receive a full refund of all payments.
Reserve Your Place in Sacred Silence
This weekend is an invitation to slow down, to listen, and to rediscover God’s presence within.
Register today to secure your space.
Lodging in Anna House (motel style rooms, private bathroom), meals (lunch on Sunday included), program fees & materials.
Lodging in St. Mary's Hall (dorm style rooms, shared bathrooms), meals (lunch on Sunday included), program fees & materials.