Do you need a retreat?

Yesterday I attended a retreat for the teachers, DREs and other catechists of our Archdiocese. I have led many retreats over the last several years but until yesterday it had been almost 8 years since I had attended an official retreat. I was so excited to be the person sitting in the chair listening, talking with others, praying, and reflecting.
It was a different experience being on the other side of the room, not the one speaking and leading it. I listened to the leaders' thoughts and connected her ideas to my own. I enjoyed the reflective time for prayer and walking around the campus and being in nature as well as a silent church. I experienced a peaceful feeling while praying without so many distractions.

It made me realize I should go on a retreat weekly. After thinking about it I came to the conclusion that I do go on a retreat weekly. I go to Mass every Sunday. I listen to the word of God, I listen to the priest connect the word to my everyday life. I am given time to pray with others, silence to pray alone, and the sacrament of the Eucharist to grow in my relationship with God as well as with my community. It is an hour away from the world that I take every single Sunday with my family. We all need that time away from all the distractions of the world to sit with God.

Try going on retreat (to your local church) this weekend and you may discover what I did!