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How It All Works
The journey through the Spiritual Exercises can begin at any time of the year that your schedule permits. It is customary that the retreatant and the guide begin the formal part of the Spiritual Exercises no later than early Autumn of the year to complete the retreat by mid-April of the following year. This schedule allows the retreat to proceed in parallel with the liturgy of the Church year. However, beginning the Exercises can occur at any time.
Contact us by email with questions about starting the retreat.
The Preparation Days
Three to four weeks before the start of the formal Four Weeks of the Exercises are the Preparation Days when you and your guide get to know one another, and when you establish disciplines you will use throughout the retreat. You will be introduced to the Principle and Foundation and the Examination of Conscience, known also as the Examen Prayer, that helps you begin to discern movements in your life. You will develop the discipline of learning to pray for a significant amount of time each day, for approximately 45 minutes to an hour.
Conferences
You and your retreat guide meet weekly via a digital video conference link such as Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, WebEx, or other online application. While Waypoints Spiritual Direction is based in the US, these applications allow for retreatants from other continents to take the Exercises.
Conferences last 50 minutes to an hour each and are scheduled at an agreed-upon time suitable to you and your guide. Adjustments to the schedule do occur, usually around Christmas and the New Year, and as needed. But the goal is to maintain a discipline to complete the retreat in about 8 months, or by no later than mid-April for those beginning the retreat in the early fall.
At Waypoints Spiritual Direction, your first two conferences are provided at no charge.
