2025 US Retreat
Retreat Resources
Fall Reports 2025
October 20-23, 2025
Wilderness in the Gospel of St. Luke
Guest Speaker: Dr. Karl Kuhn
Dr. Kuhn is the Grace Chair of Religious Studies at Lakeland University in Madison, WI. He has written two books on Luke: Luke: The Elite Evangelist (Liturgical Press, 2010) and The Kingdom According to Luke and Acts: A Social, Literary, and Theological Introduction (Baker, 2015).
We will gather at Mercy Conference and Retreat Center in St. Louis, MO. Mercy offers us comfortable places for worship and gathering indoors, as well as Stations of the Cross, a Grotto, an 11-circuit labyrinth, and a walking path, all outdoors.
There are a variety of rooming options at Mercy: 38 double rooms, 7 singles, and 16 singles that share bathrooms. Prices for the retreat, including all meals, plentiful snacks/coffee, and all programming are as follows:
Double room (shared with a roommate) – $432
Single room (with shared bathroom) – $462
Single room (with private bathroom) – $495
Commuter price (for those staying elsewhere) – $290
Register here: 2025 US Fall Retreat Registration
The retreat will be held at
Mercy Conference and Retreat Center
2039 North Geyer Road
St. Louis, MO 63131-3332
https://www.mercycenterstl.org/
Br. Scot Bontrager has stayed a week at Mercy Center, read his overview.
Schedule
Monday, October 20
Retreat attendees arrive / check-in between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. We are not guaranteed access to our rooms until 3 pm. We can use the lounges assigned to us (to store our luggage until then, if we arrive early.
4:00 pm Retreat Begins – A Service of Word & Table (Chapel)
5:30 pm Dinner
7:00 pm Group Check-in / Orientation
8:30 pm Compline (Chapel)
9:00 pm Convivium: Chats, Pilgrimage, Rest (as participants choose)
Tuesday, October 21
7:30 am Breakfast
8:15 am Morning Prayer (30 min.) (Chapel)
9:00 am Introduction of our speaker / Presentation 1 – Karl Kuhn
“Wilderness and the New Exodus to God’s Kingdom”
Focus texts: Luke 3:1-20; Luke 4:1-3
10:30 am Break
11:00 am Mid-morning Prayer (Assembly Room) / General Chapter Meeting – Book
of Reports Review
12:00 pmLunch
1:00 pm Guided outdoor walking with Dr. Kuhn / self care time
2:00 pm Mid-afternoon Prayer (Assembly Room)
2:15 pm Presentation 2 – Karl Kuhn
“The Importance of Nature in Jesus’ Ministry and Spirituality”
Focus texts: Luke 6:12-16; 9:28-36
3:45 pm Break
4:00 pm A Service of Word & Table with memorial rite (Chapel) –
5:30 pm Dinner
6:30 pm Self-care time (meditate, rest, chat)
7:00 pm Corporate Silence
7:30 pm Festive Vespers on the eve of the (transferred) Feast of St. Luke
(chapel)
9:00 pm Convivium: Chats, Pilgrimage, Rest (as participants choose)
Wednesday, October 22
7:30 am Breakfast
8:15 am Morning Prayer (30 min.) (Chapel)
9:15 am Presentation 3 – Karl Kuhn
“The Importance of Nature in our Ministry and Spirituality”
Focus texts: Acts 8:26-40; Acts 16:11-15
10:45 am Break
11:00 am General Chapter Meeting – Book of Reports Review
(ending with Mid-day Prayer)
Noon Lunch
1:00 pm Testimony of Candidate for Life Vows / Reflection
1:30 pm Service of Word & Table – Feast of St. Luke (transferred)
3:00 pm Hors d’oeuvres of Saint Luke
4:00 pm Self-care time (prayerful outdoor walking time – trail or labyrinth,
meditate, rest, chat)
5:30 pm Dinner
6:30 pm Self-care time (meditate, rest, chat)
7:00 pm Corporate Silence
7:30 pm Compline / Healing Service
9:00 pm Convivium: Chats, Pilgrimage, Rest (as participants choose)
Thursday, October 23
7:30 am Breakfast
8:15 am Morning Prayer (30 min.) (Chapel)
9:00 am Reflection on the Rule of Life
10:00 am Assemble for Solemn Procession (as directed)
10:30 am Word & Table with Profession of Vows
Noon Retreat ends