National Retreat for Deacons
July 25-29, 2027
Be refreshed and renewed in your ministry.
This four-day retreat with the Institute for Diaconate Renewal will give you an opportunity to join fellow deacons as you step away from the busyness of life and spend intentional time with Jesus Christ. The retreat is lead by Dcn. Stephen Miletic and Dcn. Mark Erste.
You’ll be strengthened through eucharistic adoration, lectio divina, the sacraments, and spiritual direction while listening to the Lord’s still, small voice in the silence of your heart. You’ll come away encouraged and rejuvenated, so you can better witness Christ the Servant to those you serve.
A serene environment for reflection.
Located in Oakville, our peaceful retreat center is nestled on an 80-acre campus overlooking the Mississippi River bluffs. It provides a perfect background for spiritual renewal and growth.
The area features the Way of the Cross and shrines of the Sacred Heart, the Holy Family, Our Lady, and St. Joseph.
Retreat Details
Registration is now open!
Amenities
A private room with A/C and bathroom
Picturesque grounds, serene shrines, and a peaceful chapel
Three meals and beverage service daily
Cost
$1,400 – Early Bird – COUPLE (deacon + wife, $700 each) – register by Feb 28, 2027
$750 – Early Bird – ONE PERSON (deacon or wife) – register by Feb 28, 2027
Covers retreat, room, meals, and beverage service
Note: All travel and related expenses are separate and the responsibility of the retreatant.
Location
Airport shuttle upon request
Note: St. Louis Lambert Airport is 40 minutes away
Why Four Days, Silent, Directed?
Four Days
• to decompress, enter a deeper self-awareness,
• to distinguish between God thoughts, our own, and those of the adversary,
• to track affective movements,to know and experience Christ the Servant’s heart, the source of Trinitarian love.
Silent
• to get comfortable with listening to our hearts,
• to recognize God’s heart,
• to hear God’s wordless message,
• to let his presence and love touch us,
• to let go of our interior noise,
• to allow God to embrace our hearts.
Directed
• orientation provided for silent prayer, interior listening,
• Mass, liturgical and private prayer, adoration, confession,
• two brief orientation sessions per day (morning, afternoon),
• two spiritual direction meetings,
• private and communal lectio divina,
• plus time for rest, relaxation, exercise, spiritual reading.
“My experience here was wonderful. It was such a good thing to just unplug from life and plug into the Lord. One of the most important things that came out early in the retreat week was that you can’t be a good deacon without interiority. Our diaconate has to flow from our interiority. Speaking personally, I can tell you it’s very easy to lose that… So if any of you have not done a retreat… or if you just need some time to plug into the Lord. I would highly recommend this retreat.”
Dcn. Mark Mies
Retreat Participant
Archdiocese of Kansas City