Schedule of Retreats
Welcome!
Our eighteenth year of Silent Meadows, A Place of Prayer is here!
All retreats start at 8:00 a.m. and last until 4:00 p.m.
If your group prefers any retreat on a different day than scheduled, please call
and we will try to accommodate your request. This is only possible for retreats presented by Mary Ann. The minimum number for a group is 5 people and the maximum is 10. We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you on
your retreat.
Silent Meadows is happy to announce the opening of an apartment attached to
our house for Overnight Retreatants. It can be for a day and night, several days,
or a week. It is a fully furnished kitchen, living room, 2 bedrooms, and new bathroom. Call for more information 970-759-2833.
2026 RETREAT SCHEDULE
Lenten Retreat
This retreat is offered two times during Lent in order to accommodate more people.
Humility, a Daily Battle Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.” How do we find this way? It is through the virtue of humility. Do we really know what it means to be humble? Join us during this Lent to discover how we can nurture our spiritual journey by conquering pride to follow Jesus who is “meek and humble of heart.”
Presented by: Mary Ann Maslak
Dates offered: Saturday, February 21, 2026 and
Saturday, March 7, 2026
The Beauty and Richness of Mercy
The mystery of God’s merciful love for humanity is enkindled by truth that leads to the desire to reflect God’s mercy in our own hearts to others. But, what are the principles of mercy? How does divine mercy reflect in our spiritual journey?
Note: Presented the day before Mercy Sunday
Date offered: Saturday, April 11, 2026
St. Teresa of Avila
In this retreat we will meet this sixteenth century woman of faith who went through many obstacles on her way to a loving relationship with God. She was a mystic and Doctor of the Church. Her writings and her life are an example of how we can live very much in the world and at the same time be intimately connected to a loving God who guides our way.
Date offered: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Sharing in Christ’s Three-fold Mission
“The Second Vatican Council has reminded us of the mystery of this power and of the fact that Christ’s mission as Priest, Prophet-Teacher, and King continues in the Church. Everyone, the whole people of God, shares in this three-fold mission” St.John Paul II. Baptism is both a gift and obligation through which the disciple may join in Christ’s mission of Priest, Prophet, and King. A rich and intimate relationship with Christ is realized through sharing in his three-fold mission.
Presented by: Phil Wiley, MD
Date offered: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Surrender and living the Sacrament of the Present Moment
Each moment of life makes up our spiritual journey, but are we willing to surrender to the moments God gives us? The holiness if creation and our lives are a gift from God. How willing are we to yield to each moment as a living sacrament? Join us to explore living in the presence of God in our daily life.
Date offered: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Reading the Icon of San Damiano
As a young man looking to discern God’s will, Saint Francis sought refuge in the wilderness of Mount Subasio, in caves of solitude, and the presence of the risen Christ in the ruins of the Chapel of San Damiano. In that chapel Francis heard Christ speak to him from the cross, “Francis, rebuild my church for as you see it is falling down.” That cross is named the Icon of San Damiano – one of the most characteristic icons of the Franciscan order whether it be the Friars Minor, the Poor Clares, or the Secular Franciscans. In this retreat, we will explore reading the imagery of icons, but most importantly, we will delve into the risen Jesus Christ speaking to us as to how we too are to do the will of God. In exploring the images we will seek how those images point to the message of Jesus in the gospels, and in prayer we will listen to how Jesus speaks to us and calls us to do the Father’s will in our life. George will use a PowerPoint that was developed by Father Vincent Nguyen, OFM that was used in a presentation by Father Vincent and George on Reading the Icon of San Damiano at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, AZ, March 2023. That PowerPoint provides an illustration of “reading” an icon and also close-up details of the San Damiano icon for our study and reflection.
Presented by: George Sabol, OFS
Date offered: Saturday, September 12, 2026
The Four Transcendentals: One, True, Good, and Beautiful
Mt 5:48 “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” The four transcendentals are present in all of God’s creation. However, original sin inhibits man’s ability to see the world as God intends. Discipleship based in the transcendentals opens the mysteries of faith to promote a meaningful and a purposeful life.
Presented by: Phil Wiley, MD
Date offered: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Prayer and the Holy Eucharist
“Prayer is as necessary to us as breathing,” said St. John Paul II, but prayer is not always easy, even for the most devout. “The Spirit helps in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought.” Rm 8:26. “Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood you have no life in you.” This is a hard saying.”Jn 6:53,60. Belief in the true Presence has proven difficult for many Catholics. “Will you also go away?” Jn 6:67
Presented by: Mike Foutz
Date offered: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Advent Retreats
The same retreat will be offered two different times
Dates offered:
Saturday, November 7, 2026 and Saturday, November 14, 2026
Topic to be announced.
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
We offer the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. You will have to register before September as the Scriptures follow the liturgical year with the program lasting 36 weeks. The cost is $50.00 a month. This includes 5 presentations and meeting with each retreatant every other week for the duration. For more information call Mary Ann at 970-759-2833.
FEES
The fee for each One Day Retreat is $50.00. This includes a light breakfast and full luncheon. The only other expense would be if you wish to make a donation to help the facility upkeep. We also have a small bookstore with spiritual books for sale. We accept credit cards, cash or checks.
- Individual Spiritual Direction (1 hour) by appointment only.
No charge - donations are welcome. - All One Day Retreats include light breakfast and lunch.$50.00 per person
- Spiritual Book Store and Gifts Call 970-759-2833 whenever you wish to shop.
- Be Our Guest for Overnight Retreats. Five Day Silent Retreat, $375.00.
Call 970-759-2833 for more information.
Retreats given by Mary Ann can be specially scheduled for your private group by appointment. The minimum number for a private group is five people and the maximum is ten. We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you on your retreat.
PRESENTERS
All retreats will be presented by Mary Ann Maslak unless otherwise specified. She and her husband were active in Marriage Encounter, the Charismatic Renewal and taught CCD. She is a retired elementary school teacher. She has 30 hours of study in Spiritual Formation and Self Direction from the Diocese of Hartford, CT, a BA in Elementary Education and a Masters in Community Leadership and Spiritual Direction. She and her husband Terry are founders of Silent Meadows, A Place of Prayer. She is the author of "Gentle Whispers, Meditations for a Journey."
George Sabol, OFS, has engineering degrees from St. Louis University and Colorado State University. He was professed into the secular Franciscan order in 1997 serving as fraternity minister and formation director and has studied at the Franciscan Institute of Saint Bonaventure University in Olean, NY. For more than 20 years, he has served the Franciscan mission in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, as a retreat leader and as a member of the board of directors for the mission outreach based at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. He is a parishioner of St. Columba in Durango and lives with his wife, Joyce, in New Mexico and part time in Arizona.
Philip Wiley, MD is a convert to the Catholic Church. Since that time he has been active in St. Columba parish including middle school ministry, young adult mentoring, and RCIA. He has facilitated small groups including Brothers Bound in Christ. Phil takes a special interest in viewing secular challenges facing young adults and their parents through a Christian lens. He is married to Michelle Wiley, and they have three children. He has been a Durango resident since 1996 and is in private practice. He is a founding member and chairs the Governing board of Animas Surgical Hospital. He also has extensive experience as a sinner.
Mike Foutz is a cradle Catholic and spent most of his life living out only the bare minimum requirements of the Catholic Church. He would spend one hour in Mass on Sundays, a couple of confessions a year, and maybe giving up sweets for Lent. Mike’s failure to live out his Catholic faith caused others around him to be hurt in their lives and faith. In 2015 a crisis presented itself and Mike started reading the Bible for twenty minutes a day every morning. This began a change that is ongoing and helped Mike to realize how important his Catholic faith is and how important a real and meaningful relationship with the Holy Trinity is. Mike holds a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He is continuing his spiritual journey with ongoing religious education from the Augustine Institute.
