Since 1931, Jesuits have been offering the Spiritual Exercises at Manresa Retreat House in Convent, LA.  For over 90 years, men from across the South have been stepping away from the busyness of life in order to pray and retreat.   Local women have often expressed a desire to have the opportunity to make a similar retreat.  They would like to experience what the men in their lives have experienced. Manresa Retreat House and The Cenacle on the Lake have teamed up to make this possible. 

In January of 2023, The Cenacle on the Lake began offering several “Women of Manresa Retreats” where a Jesuit priest will offer the spiritual exercises for women AT The Cenacle on the Lake.  These retreats are NOT hosted at Manresa. The retreats will follow the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola and follow the same schedule and format of the retreats offered for the men.  It will be a silent retreat open to 64 women from either from Thursday evening until Sunday midday OR Monday evening until Thursday midday.

Over 750 women from nineteen states (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts Virginia, Colorado, Montana, and California) and Puerto Rico have registered for these retreats so far. 

Below are the 2023 - 2024 Women of Manresa Retreats dates currently scheduled.

December 7 - 10, 2023
Br. Larry Huck, SJ
(Manresa Retreat House Director)

(5 last minute openings)


March 11 - 14, 2024
Fr. Rich Buhler, SJ
(Manresa Retreat House)


May 20 - 23, 2024
Fr. Greg Waldrop, SJ
(Rector, The Jesuits of New Orleans)


May 30 - June 2, 2024
Fr. Juan Pablo Ruiz, SJ
(Jesuit Vocation Promoter)  


June 3 - 6, 2024
Fr. Stephen Kramer, SJ
(Jesuit High School, New Orleans) 

July 22 - 25, 2024
Fr. John Brown, SJ
(Jesuit High School, New Orleans) 


September 19 - 22, 2024
Fr. Ross Romero, SJ
(Kenrick - Glennon Seminary, St. Louis)


May 22 - 25, 2025
Fr. Penn Dawson, SJ
(Loyola University)
 

February 15 - 18, 2024
Fr. Kevin Dyer, SJ
(FOCUS, National Chaplain)


March 21 - 24, 2024
Fr. Patrick Hough, SJ
(St. Charles College and Our Lady of the Oaks Retreat House)


April 18 - 21, 2024
Fr. Jon Polce, SJ
(Jesuit High School, New Orleans)


June 24 - 27, 2024
Fr. Mark Thibodeaux, SJ
(Holy Name of Jesus Parish, New Orleans)


 August 1 - 4, 2024
Fr. Richard Hermes, SJ
(Jesuit High School - Tampa)

The demand for the Women of Manresa retreats has been overwhelming.  More dates will be added in 2024.   If the above retreat is full, but you would like to be placed on the WAITING LIST, please click here to join the WOMEN OF MANRESA WAITING LIST.
 

1. Fr. Stephen Kramer, SJ (March 30 - April 2, 2023)
2. Fr. Mark Thibodeaux, SJ (May 29 - June 1, 2023)
3. Fr. John Brown, SJ (July 13 - 16, 2023)
4. Fr. Jason Brauninger, SJ (August 11 - 13, 2023)
5. Fr. Rich Buhler, SJ (September 7 - 10, 2023)
6. Fr. Kevin Spinale, SJ (September 29 - October 1, 2023)