Weekend Retreats at the Community of Jesus

2026 Monthly Retreats

Every year we offer an invitational weekend retreat with a scriptural theme each month, from January through December. The themes are inspired by the seasonal significant events. The retreats focus on our relationship with Jesus, for this is the key to everything else. When we are following, abiding in, communing with, and seeing Jesus, then that relationship becomes the source—HE becomes the source—for everything else that follows.

Please check back for the themes for each of the following retreats. We warmly welcome you!

Trust in the Lord: Living with True Confidence

July 24-26

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5–6

What does trusting in God mean? What does it not mean? What happens when our hearts and our minds are in “disagreement” with one another? What “understandings” do we rely on that may be hindering us in our walk with Jesus. On this retreat we will face these questions and more, in order to increase our trust in God and learn how to walk both humbly and confidently in His ways.

Growing Old with God: Bound Hands and Free Hearts

August 21-23

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.
John 21:18

What does the Bible have to say about aging? How do we age with grace and with confidence in God? How do we deal with both the limitations and the liberties of growing older? In a culture that elevates youthfulness, what divine significance can be seen in the value of age? On this retreat, as we stand at the doorway to autumn, we will look at some of the Biblical examples and principles of growing older with God.

The Life-Giving Power of God’s Word

September 25-27

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4

God spoke, “and it was so.” We know that words have power, and especially when spoken from the mouth of God. If God’s word creates life, if it carries the very authority and life-giving power of God, then shouldn’t we be listening to it more eagerly and speaking it more fervently? On this, the first of our autumn retreats, we will ask ourselves: is our ear open to hear the word of God? And, is our tongue ready to declare it? Answering these two questions every day, with a confident “yes,” is the goal of this retreat.

The Stability of Wisdom

October 23-25

Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding.
Proverbs 3:13

In an age when unlimited information is at our fingertips, and the accumulation of knowledge is made as simple as clicking a button, why is there still so much chaos and disorder—both around us and within us? The purpose of this retreat is to learn a new way—the way of wisdom. What is wisdom, and why does the Bible say that happiness depends on finding it? How do we find it? And how do we come to know the peace that accompanies it?

Trust and Obey

November 13-15

Happy are those who make the Lord their trust. Happy are those who keep my ways.
Psalm 40:4; Proverbs 8:32

Two things are particularly challenging to the human heart: trusting in God more than in anyone or anything else; and, obeying God, especially when what he asks of us seems so difficult, even impossible. Is the path before you clouded by fear and anxiety? What is God asking of you? What steps of trust and obedience is he asking you to take? The purpose of this retreat is to learn how to increase our trust in God and how to strengthen our obedience to his direction.

A Wonderful and Generous Exchange

December 4-6

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9

Mustering up the faith and energy to serve God each day can be exhausting and, eventually, self-defeating. But God does not expect us to live that way. On this retreat, during the season of Advent, we will explore the meaning of a wonderful and mysterious exchange—God gives his own life to us; we give our lives to him; and he gives us back even more. And, we will look at the practical questions that it raises—What are you holding back from God? What are you keeping him from giving to you? The coming of Jesus tells us that God’s generosity to us is limitless. What does that mean for us?

Retreats include:

Teaching and discussion sessions as we explore these rich and promising themes
Lovely meals and accommodations on the shores of Cape Cod Bay
Morning and afternoon breaks with refreshments
Liturgies in the Church of the Transfiguration, including Sunday Eucharist and the Divine Offices sung in Gregorian Chant
Personal time for prayer and meditation in the church and in the beauty of these surroundings
The retreat fee is $400 — $100 non-refundable deposit and $300 before or at registration. (* Due to the number of applications, your $100 non-refundable deposit will secure your spot on the retreat. $300 payment due in full before or at the time of registration) Cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance of the retreat date.
The fee includes lodging and meals beginning with dinner on Friday and ending after lunch on Sunday
For the Registration Fee, please call the Guest Mistress at 508-255-1094, or send a check to Community of Jesus, 5 Bay View Drive, Orleans, MA – 02653, Attention -Guest Mistress.

Schedule

Registration begins at 4pm (If you arriver earlier, we can meet you.)
Vespers at 5:30 (optional)
Retreat begins with dinner (following Vespers)

Retreat Leaders

Mary French is known as a strong and well-studied Scripture teacher and advocate for learning to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. Over more than six decades her love of the Bible, and her ability to convey that love to others, has taken her to countless churches, women’s groups and conferences in the U.S., Canada, and abroad. She has been hostess to a network television talk show in Canada (Let’s Face It), and a Christian program in the U.S. (What Makes You Tick?). Among her various ministries at the Community of Jesus, Mary serves as the Ecumenical Visitor, which has led her to build new relationships throughout the wider church, a task for which her energy and natural curiosity make her well suited.

Fr. Martin Shannon is an Episcopal priest and author of several books and articles on scripture and spirituality. During his time as a parish pastor (M. Div, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary), he pursued further graduate work in the areas of monastic studies, church history and Eastern Orthodox spirituality. He also holds a PhD in liturgical studies from the Catholic University of America. Fr. Martin and his wife, Mary, are long-time members of the Community of Jesus, where he has worked in the areas of liturgy and formation.

Register for Retreats Below:

If you have any questions about the retreats or accommodations, etc.
Please Email: guestmistress@communityofjesus.org or Call: 508-255-1094 X3501