Drive just a little further south than you are accustomed to for your staff retreat day, and you will come upon a treasure: St. Benedict’s Abbey in Benet Lake, Wisconsin. Home to a Swiss/American congregation of Benedictine monks, the abbey is a welcoming, spiritual oasis grounded in community prayer, and featuring a natural lakeside setting, clean and beautifully furnished buildings, and an awe-inspiring Abbey Church. Indoors and out there are many places of quiet serenity and opportunities for prayer such as the outdoor stations, Marian shrine and small grotto. In nice weather your group can use the screened in pavilion to grill a picnic meal. In addition to the larger facility, the cottage hermitage can accommodate a small staff overnight.
Location:
12605 224th Avenue
Benet Lake, Wisconsin 53102-0333
262-396-4311. Ext. 125
email:benetlakeretreatcenter@msn.com
http://www.benetlake.org
Facility:
Main building has large conference rooms, breakout rooms, retreat chapel, sleeping accommodations for 74 people (some rooms with twin beds), hospitality center with coffee/fridge/microwave, outdoor pavilion, grill, a separate year round cottage (sleeps 7), outdoor stations, and Abbey Church.
Meals:
Delicious home cooked meals made by the monks and lay personnel are served in the dining room (not a commercial food service). There is a hospitality center which offers coffee, tea, and juice 24/7. During warm weather an outdoor pavilion with grill is available. Groups using the Cottage may prepare their own food in a full service kitchen or eat in the retreat center dining room.
Facilitators:
A group facilitator is available upon advance request. Tours are available for prospective and first-time retreatants. Reconciliation is available upon request with advance notice for a large group.
Equipment:
CD players, simple keyboard, white board, flip chart, TV/VCR/DVD are available at no extra charge. There is an extra charge to use the Powerpoint projector.
Cost:
Daytime accommodations:
Without meals: $17/person
With lunch menu $27.50/person
With dinner menu $30.50/day
Overnight accommodations :
One night (includes 3 meals) $75/person
Two nights (includes 5 meals) $150/person
Cottage: $65/person/night (no meals)
Contact:
Denise Moczulewski, Co-Director at 262-396-4311, Ext. 105
e-mail:benetlakeretreatcenter@msn.com
Other info:
All retreatants are invited to participate with the monks in the Divine Office and Eucharistic Liturgy in the Abbey Church. Ideally, book your group one year in advance, but do not hesitate to call as there may be an opening on your desired date, especially weekdays.