Personal Retreats & Labyrinth Walks
Self-Guided Retreats
Individuals who long for a space devoted to renewal, rest, and/or spiritual growth are invited to make a self-guided retreat here at St. Mary-on-the-Lake. Guests may visit for the day, half a day, or choose to spend one or up to five nights as a guest in the home of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. Whether you opt for a private room at the Peace & Spirituality Center for a day retreat or an overnight stay immersed in the serene environment of the sisters’ residence, you are welcome to create a retreat experience that fits your needs and intentions.
What Is a Retreat?
A retreat offers a time and place to step away from the noise of our daily lives and busy world, creating space to reconnect with the source of inner peace and renewed commitment. It is an opportunity to refocus ourselves within the divine loving embrace and rediscover clarity, balance, and spiritual growth.
Here at St. Mary-on-the-Lake, the land itself becomes a companion in your retreat journey. Our eleven-acre grounds feature a prayer labyrinth, peaceful trails such as the Peace Path through the woods, a Meditation Garden, and a serene dock on Lake Washington. For overnight retreatants, additional spaces such as the chapel and library offer sanctuaries for reflection, prayer, and quiet study.
Personal Retreats Options
Individual Day/Half Day Retreats
Schedule a personal day of peace and prayer at your own pace, with access to our sacred spaces and a variety of spiritual resources to support your time of reflection and renewal.
Solo Overnight Retreats
Choose from a themed guide and spend the day in quiet reflection, journaling, and contemplation—with the option to stay overnight in a peaceful setting.
Art as Prayer: Solo Day or Half Day Retreats
This experience invites you to engage art not as performance or technique, but as prayer — a way of listening, noticing, and responding through color, line, texture, and form.
A Personal Wind Phone Grief Retreat
Spend a few hours or a full day in quiet reflection through a self-guided Wind Phone Retreat created for those carrying loss, whether recent or long held.
Retreat Companions & Resources
Prayer or Meditation Walks on our Peace Labyrinth
Visit our sacred outdoor labyrinth for a peaceful, meditative walk in a quiet natural setting. Open to individuals and small groups by appointment.
Spiritual Accompaniment
Meet with a spiritual director or companion as part of a self-guided retreat experience designed to support prayerful reflection, discernment, and spiritual growth.
Self-Guided Retreat Guides
Choose from a variety of themed self-guided retreats designed to inspire reflection, deepen awareness, and help you make the most of your time at the Center.
St. Mary-on-the-Lake Library
Enjoy a quiet space for reading, reflection, and spiritual exploration while browsing a collection of books available to retreat guests.