My Snowmass Retreat

The retreat center and monastery are about a mile from each other on the spacious fields surrounded by hills and snow covered mountains. It’s a beautiful place with comfortable weather for the ten days I was there in September, 1995. This was my first meditation retreat, lucky to be there as the waiting list dwindled until my name appeared.

I traveled by train coach, sleeping adequately, stretched out on a couple of seats. The dining car especially is enjoyable, seated with strangers with whom one quickly bonds, sharing information you wouldn’t tell others because you’ll surely never see these people again. Arriving at Glenwood Springs a couple of days early I enjoyed sightseeing at the souvenir shops, the hot springs complex and restaurants. Even saw a Green Bay Packer game at a bar where I was obliged to drink a couple of beers as my admission price.

Then, as prearranged, I was picked up at my Ramada Inn by Pat and her tragically disabled daughter who lay in the back of the van, unable to communicate or to move. Pat carried her into the retreat center when we arrived and where she silently lay during our activities. I’m posting a picture of her showing how we tried to be of some small comfort in her disability

The accommodations were luxurious, the vegetarian meals imaginative and tasty. But three of us men chose not to accept a room there with a room mate, but instead slept at the original monastery where we each had our own room, even though this required getting up at four o’clock in order to reach the center for breakfast.

Meditation was not as arduous as I experienced later at Buddhist retreats and we sat in chairs instead of on cushions for an hour at a time, preceded each morning with scripture read by one of the retreatants. Silence was mandatory except at the evening meal. Between sits we did walking meditation and in the afternoon watched Father Keating’s lectures by video. And there was time each afternoon to hike the hills that surrounded us.

Snowmass is located south of Glenwood Springs, Colorado and north of Aspen. The link on this blog shows the monastery and the monks as they worship and work raising cattle, making cookies for sale.

But hey, I’m not selling anything here. Just wanted to give some of my gigantic crowd of readers the opportunity to follow up on this or the link to Contemplative Outreach which has groups closer to you.

If you choose to visit my blog you’ll find quotes from Father Keating, who I find to be a remarkable man.




“Contemplative Outreach is a spiritual network of individuals and small faith communities committed to living the contemplative dimension of the Gospel in everyday life through the practice of Centering Prayer.

Our purpose is to share the method of Centering Prayer and its immediate conceptual background. We also encourage the practice of Lectio Divina, particularly its movement into Contemplative Prayer, which a regular and established practice of Centering Prayer facilitates.

We identify with the Christian Contemplative Heritage. While we are formed by our respective denominations, we are united in our common search for God and the experience of the living Christ through Centering Prayer. We affirm our solidarity with the contemplative dimension of other religions and sacred traditions, with the needs and rights of the whole human family, and with all creation.”




SNOWMASS RETREATS
Cost
8-Day: $550 Double, $600 Single
10-Day: $650 Double, $700 Single


2007
October 9-18, 2007 10-Day Intensive
November 2-9, 2007 8-Day Post Intensive
November 12-19, 2007 8-Day Post Intensive
December 4-13, 2007 10-Day Post Intensive
2008
January 8-17, 2008 10-Day Intensive
February 5-14, 2008 10-Day Advanced
March 4-13, 2008 10-Day Post Intensive(Amarillo)
April 15-24, 2008 10-Day Post Intensive
June 17-26, 2008 10-Day Intensive
July 29-August 7, 2008 10-Day Post Intensive
September 9-18, 2008 10-Day Intensive
October 7-16, 2008 10-Day Intensive
November 7-14, 2008 8-Day Post Intensive
November 17-24, 2008 8-Day Post Intensive
December 2-11, 2008 10-Day Post Intensive

All retreats are held at Snowmass unless otherwise noted. We encourage you to consider being on a waiting list for any of the retreats, since we reguarly have cancellations and some retreatants do get into every session from the waitlist. To include your name on any waitlist please contact Carol DiMarcello, 3550 Capitol Creek Road, Snowmass, CO 81654, 970-927-9376, or email coc@sopris.net.

St. Benedict's Monastery
Ph:970-927-3311

Retreat Center: 970-927-1162
Bro. Chuck, Retreat House Guestmaster
Best time to call: between 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
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