Since 1931, Jesuits have been offering the Spiritual Exercises at Manresa Retreat House in Convent, LA. For over 90 years, men from across the South have been stepping away from the busyness of life in order to pray and retreat. Local women have often expressed a desire to have the opportunity to make a similar retreat. They would like to experience what the men in their lives have experienced. Manresa Retreat House and The Cenacle on the Lake (formerly the Archdiocese of New Orleans Retreat Center) have teamed up to make this possible.
In January of 2023, The Cenacle on the Lake began offering several “Women of Manresa Retreats” where a Jesuit priest will offer the spiritual exercises for women at The Cenacle on the Lake. These retreats are NOT hosted at Manresa. The retreats will follow the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola and follow the same schedule and format of the retreats offered for the men. It will be a silent retreat from Thursday evening until Sunday midday and open to 56 women.
Over 440 women from fourteen states (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, New York Maryland, and Virginia) have registered for these retreats so far.
Below are the 2023 - 2024 Women of Manresa Retreats dates currently scheduled.
The demand for the Women of Manresa retreats has been overwhelming. More dates will be added in 2024. If the above retreat is full, but you would like to be placed on the WAITING LIST, please click here to join the WOMEN OF MANRESA WAITING LIST.