Retreat Primer

Sometimes when I ask parishioners if they are coming on the retreat, the answer is that they don’t know if they/my spouse/my family would like it. Or they don’t know enough about the weekend/Shrine Mont/the activities/the sleeping arrangements.

Here is a St.Thomas Retreat Primer so everyone knows what the retreat is all about!

Parishioners leave home sometime Friday afternoon and drive out 66 West in the traffic. Then we get on 81 South with the trucks. Before long, we exit the highway and drive through mountains, past fields and farms, streams and hillsides. The pressure of Northern Virginia melts away! Finally we reach a quaint town at the end of the road and bottom of the mountains. Welcome to Shrine Mont, the Cathedral of the Diocese of Virginia.

First thing on the agenda is settling into our rooms. We have a variety of rooms in a variety of buildings. The area where we stay are old houses that have been modified into hotel-like rooms, each with a private bathroom. The rooms are modest, but comfortable, but you don’t spend much time in your room! I recommend that you bring along your own towels for the adults, as I find the ones provided are small and thin. There aren’t any locks or keys for the rooms. No need here in the mountains at the end of the road.

Friday dinner is buffet. We usually wait for most people to arrive (anyone we are expecting by dinnertime) and walk down to the large dining room together. Later in the evening we play family games and ice breakers, have a brief prayer service and then go out to the field for our bonfire, marshmallow roasting, s’mores and singing. Each family heads back to their rooms as their children get tired.

Saturday morning sometimes starts a little chilly. A loud bell rings to signal wake-up. Just throw on your clothes and head to the dining room. A second bell tells everyone that breakfast is about to be served. When the doors open, we find our tables and remain standing. Mr. Moomaw says a short grace and the food is served. Meals are served family style and sometimes the kids gather together at one table. Families mix up for each meal and it is a wonderful social time for all of us. After breakfast we have Morning Prayer and make plans for the day. Morning usually includes a walk to the candy store, a hike up the mountain (beautiful scenery at the top - a structure to climb with a white cross at the top to see over the treetops - fossils to find in the rocks!), everyone travels at their own pace.

Saturday afternoon includes free time and a hayride. The kids like to play at the lakes catching newts. Older kids might hit the basketball court; Graham is at the tennis court; Jeff is fishing; Cleta goes for her long walk.. Moms might be napping; kids are at the playground; many visit the wonderful bookstore for souvenirs or gifts. We meet again later in the afternoon for a social hour on the porch of one of our buildings. The kids play out front, everyone snacks on and the adults enjoy a drink. Then we go to dinner together. (When you hear the meal bells, head to the dining room to arrive in time for grace). The kids often leave the meals ahead of the parents and go to the playground, the older kids watching the little ones, while the parents drink their coffee and chat.

After Evening Prayer, everyone rests for a bit and then we have our dance. More food and drinks and fun for the entire family. Everyone sleeps well Saturday after a wonderful day in the mountains.

A few words about our prayer services. We follow a service in the prayer book and include a reading, a psalm and a song. We share our Thanksgivings. The children typically lead and read. We are very casual, sitting around a living room in one of the buildings. We have a theme for the weekend and we tie together our readings from each gathering.

Our Sunday morning Eucharist is in the Shrine. We sing our favorite hymns and share Eucharist together, bringing our relaxing, wonderful weekend to an end. Some head back to DC early, others enjoy a calm morning wandering the grounds, visiting the bookstore for the last time, enjoying another cup of coffee in the gazebo while reading the Sunday paper. Lunch is included and those of us who stay gather for our last meal together for this year at Shrine Mont.

If you come once, you will come again and again.