Fall Silent Directed Retreat I 2026
With Buff Barnes, Sister Mary Carboy, SSJ, Sister Mercedes Rojo, OSF and Sister Kathy Benham, IHM
September 11 - 18, 2026
A directed retreat at St. Raphaela Center is a time of quiet in order to enhance attentiveness to God’s voice within you and in your life. A reverent silence is maintained throughout the Retreat Center at all times including during meals. Each retreatant meets with his/her director daily for approximately 45 minutes. Each director possesses the necessary skills to guide their directees compassionately and peacefully, allowing them to listen to God’s voice and to journey closely with their loving God, both within the retreat setting and going forth into their daily lives. The number, nature and length of periods of formal prayer each day will depend upon the ability and needs of the individual and will be determined in conversation with the director. Retreatants are provided suggested scripture passages tailored to their own prayer. Ideally retreatants will have some experience in meditative prayer, the desire to enter into prolonged silence, and sufficient self-awareness to recognize their own inward movements. All retreatants have the opportunity for daily liturgy and reconciliation.
Date: September 11-18, 2026
Time: Starting at 4:00pm
Cost: $650 – $750 (depending on room choice)
Spiritual Directors
Buff has been offering spiritual direction to individuals and groups since 2004. She completed a certificate training at Oasis Ministries in Camp Hill, PA, and subsequently completed a Master’s degree in Holistic Spirituality and Spiritual Direction at Chestnut Hill College. Buff is part of the spiritual direction ministry at Wayne Presbyterian Church and St. David’s Episcopal Church, both in Wayne. She also offers spiritual direction to folks at Salt & Light Church in southwest Philadelphia. In spiritual direction sessions, she is continually amazed at the ways the Holy Spirit meets folks where they are, blessing them with new insights and…
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Sister Mary has been a Spiritual Director at St. Raphaela Center for many years. Her internship program in spiritual direction began with the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Center for Spirituality in Chestnut Hill, PA. She earned her undergraduate degree in Education at Chestnut Hill College and a Master’s of Arts in Spirituality from Duquesne. She has completed the spiritual direction program at the Jesuit Center in Wernersville, PA. As a Sister of St. Joseph, Mary has served as directress of novices and as a congregational area delegate for her community. She has directed the 30-day and 8-day retreats, and has conducted…
Learn more about Sister Mary Carboy, SSJ
Mercedes Rojo, OSF, is a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia. She is a psychotherapist, spiritual director and retreat facilitator. Sister Mercedes has extensive experience as an educator, retreat facilitator, spiritual director, and mental health counselor, and is passionate about bringing her faith and her experience of God’s PRESENCE in the Here and Now to all her encounters with others helping them recognize that they are loved and cherished by God and called to incarnate the Divine Spark that lives within each one of us.
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Sister Kathy Benham, IHM is a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculata, Pennsylvania. Her experience of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius laid a strong foundation for her spiritual growth and formation as a spiritual director, religious educator and parish minister. Her places of study include Immaculata University, Creighton University, The Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth, Wernersville, Pennsylvania, Ignatius Center, Guelph, Ontario and The Upper Room, Neptune, New Jersey. Sister Kathy has served a diverse population of the People of God in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia and Perú. Although not totally bilingual in Spanish, Sister…
Learn more about Sister Kathy Benham, IHM