Retreats & Programs

Saint Charles Center Registrations - Click Here!

Saint Charles Center
2151 Sam Houston Jones Parkway
Lake Charles, LA 70611
(337) 855-1232

JUNE

Quo Vadis Retreat 2019
Friday, June 7th – Sunday, June 9th
Fearing persecution from the Roman emperor, an ancient tradition says that St. Peter decided to flee for his life. After leaving the walls of Rome, he encountered Jesus carrying his Cross in the direction of the city, St. Peter asked Jesus, “Quo Vadis, Domine?” (Where are you going, Lord?) Jesus answered, “I am going to Rome to be crucified again.” With that, St. Peter turned around and followed Jesus as he led him to Rome where he continued his apostolic ministry and faced his martyrdom with courage. Come discover where the Lord is leading you in your life during the Quo Vadis Days Vocation Retreat. Open to all Catholic young men ages 15 to 25, you will learn about the priesthood and how to discern your vocation. There will be priests, seminarians, and other young men like yourself gathered together in fellowship, recreation, prayer, and discussion to help you explore our Lord’s call in your life. Please contact Fr. Jeffrey Starkovich at (337) 725-3719. The cost is covered by the Diocese of Lake Charles.

“Understanding Our Mass Liturgy”
Sr. Diane Depwe
Tuesday, June 11th 6:00pm – 9:00pm
The Book of Revelation is a book of hope and gives us insight into our Heavenly Liturgy. The example of our Heavenly Liturgy is what our earthly liturgy is based upon. St. John gives us a glimpse of what takes place. Chapters 4 and 5 lead us into the fine characteristics of the Liturgy. This Evening of Reflection will be uplifting and inspiring as we learn more about the Word of God and our beautiful, spiritual Mass. To register please call the Center at (337) 855-1232 or go to our website at stcharlescenter.com. Please register by Friday, June 7th so that adequate arrangements can be made for supper. Suggested donation is $20.00 per person.

“Do Not Let the Sun Set on Your Anger:
Understanding and Reducing Anger for Women”
Presented by Deacon Brian Soileau
Monday, June 17th 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Who says women don’t struggle with anger? Of course, they do! If you are one of those women; come and spend the evening at Saint Charles Center and begin to understand, not only where your anger may be coming
from, but how to effectively manage it. As a little added bonus for those ladies who are married, we will talk about where male anger comes from. Deacon Soileau recently spent the last two years of his twenty-six-year correctional career helping some of the angriest men and women in society cope with their anger. If you seem to be angry more than you’re happy; if you have frequent or occasional outbursts at home; if work, news, society, family and friends sometimes bring you to the boiling point or even if you have the slightest bit of anger come, have a relaxing meal and put your anger to rest. No sharing or role playing necessary! To register please call the Center at (337) 855-1232 or visit our website at stcharlescenter.com. Please register by Thursday, June 13th so that adequate arrangements can be made for supper. Suggested donation is $20.00 per person.

Private Directed Retreat
Msgr. Ronnie Groth, Fr. Whitney Miller, Fr. Marshall Boulet, Deacon Brian Soileau,
Judy Savoie and Gloria Villegas
Monday, June 24th - Sunday, June 30th
A directed retreat is a form of silent retreat based on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola focusing on the personal prayer of the individual. There are no group activities or conferences other than the daily Eucharist and an individual daily meeting with the director. The retreatant spends about four hours in contemplative prayer each day of the retreat. The retreatant may choose to do three or five days. For more information or to register, call the Center at (337) 855-1232. For this retreat, you must call the Center to register and cannot do so online at our website. Suggested donation is $350.00 for three days, and $475.00 for five days. Scholarship information is available upon request for those in need of assistance.

Introduction to the Directed Retreat
Msgr. Ronnie Groth, Fr. Whitney Miller, Fr. Marshall Boulet, Deacon Brian Soileau, Judy Savoie and Gloria Villegas
Thursday, June 27th - Sunday, June 30th
The directed retreat is prayerful silence tailored to the individual needs of the retreatant. Based on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the retreat consists of the retreatant’s meeting with a
director once a day and praying on assigned passages from the scriptures. This weekend introduction helps the retreatant learn the prayer technique and prepares the person for a longer retreat. Call the
Center to register at (337) 855-1232. For this retreat you must call the Center to register and cannot do so online at our website. Suggested donation is $350.00 per person. Scholarship information is
available upon request for those in need of assistance.

JULY

Beginning/Intermediate
Icon Writing Workshop
Monday, July 22nd - Sunday, July 28th
Instruction is in the Byzantine-Russian
Tradition of the Prosopon School of
Iconograph (www.prosoponschool.
org) Beginners - $1,199.00 includes
36 hrs. of studio instruction, all art supplies, meals and room with private bath. Intermediate/advanced students include same but does not include board or supplies. Students provide own board and supplies for $1,020.00.

Commuter Rates – Beginner - $924, Inter/Adv. - $744. Prior art experience is helpful but not required. A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $200.00 is required to reserve a
space in the class. Class size is limited, and reservations are on a first come, first serve basis. Deposits will only be refunded in the case of workshop cancellation. Please make checks payable
to: Prosopon Icon Workshop-Lake Charles. Mail your deposit and registration form to the workshop coordinator Sylvia Marcantel: 91 Chartres Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605 or call
Sylvia at (337) 304-2911. Email Sylvia with any questions at: smarcantel@suddenlink.net.

“Gift of Internal Faith
in the Eternal”
Presented by Mr. Kevin Miller
Tuesday, July 16th, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Ever wonder about eternal life? And what does our beliefs regarding life AFTER death have to do with how we live BEFORE death? These are some of the questions and
considerations Kevin Miller will explore with participants for this Evening of Reflection. Kevin is the nephew of Fr. Whitney Miller, the Director of the Saint Charles Center, and he received
a special gift of internal faith on the afternoon of April 16, 1980 that changed the rest of his life from that day forward. Come hear Kevin’s story of amazing grace and be strengthened in
your beliefs about eternity, spirituality, service and unconditional love. To register please call the Center at (337) 855-1232 or go to our website at stcharlescenter.com. Please
register by Friday, July 12th so that adequate arrangements can be made for supper. Suggested donation is $20.00 per person.

“Let the Children
Come to Me”
(And Bring Your Parents Too)
Family Eucharistic Adoration
Presented by Fr. Whitney Miller and Deacon Brian Soileau
Tuesday, July 30th 6:00pm – 8:00pm
The family that prays together, stays together. Imagine how true that becomes for the family who prays together in front of Our Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Parents,
this is the perfect opportunity to spend time in the Adoration Chapel and bring the little ones along without concern for disturbing others in prayer. The night will begin with an introduction and explanation
of Eucharistic Adoration for the children followed by adoration for the family as well as Confession. There will also be a special time in the evening for the children to make arts and crafts while the parents have quiet time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. To register please call the Center at (337) 855-1232 or visit our website at stcharlescenter.com. Please register by Friday, July 26th so that adequate arrangements
can be made for food and refreshments to be provided. Suggested donation $25.00 per family.

“Understanding America,
the Republic for Which
It Stands, One Nation Under God”
Sr. Diane Depwe
Tuesday, July 9th 6:00pm – 9:00pm
The majority of Americans find it difficult to separate Christianity from patriotism, and that is good. Our nation is a Republic. Our heritage is based on Biblical principles as well as patriotism. We love our country because of freedom of religion. It is imperative that we restore our Judea Christian origin as well as our Republic. It is necessary to return to God’s hand of protection from what we have lost.
This Evening of Reflection is the first step in doing so. Please come and join us to restore our Christian nation. It begins with you, the individual Christian who loves America! To register please call the Center at (337) 855-1232 or go to our website at stcharlescenter.com, Please register by Friday, July 5th so that adequate arrangements can be made for supper. Suggested donation is $20.00 per person.

AUGUST

Men’s D.E.E.P Retreat
Fr. Keith Pellerin, Fr. Whitney Miller,
Deacon Brian Soileau & Team
Sunday August 11th – Tuesday August 13th
Men who have attended an ACTS Retreat in the past have been asking for a renewal retreat experience. They have been asking for a retreat that would help them go deeper in their faith walk. Thanks to a committee
of men who have been working on developing such a retreat, the Saint Charles Center and the Diocese of Lake Charles are proud to announce our first D.E.E.P. retreat for Men. D.E.E.P. is an Acronym for Discipleship, Eucharist, Evangelization and Prayer. Check-in for the retreat time will be 4-5pm on Sunday, August 11th and the retreat ends around 1pm on Tuesday, August 13th. The cost of the retreat is $195. Registration forms are available on the Saint Charles Center website at stcharlescenter.com or by contacting Denis Husers at (337) 302-6711 or denishusers@gmail.com or calling the Saint Charles Center at (337) 855-1232.

Rachel’s Vineyard
Retreat for Healing After Abortion
Fr. Rommel Tolentino, Margie Long
& Diocesan Team
Fri., August 16th – Sun. August 18th
If you are struggling with guilt, depression, regret or other difficult emotions from an abortion, you are not alone. Come experience the healing love of Jesus Christ on a Rachel’s Vineyard weekend retreat at the
Saint Charles Center in Moss Bluff. The weekend will combine discussions, spiritual exercises, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a memorial service and a Mass of Entrustment. Participation is strictly confidential, and offers a beautiful opportunity to experience God’s love, forgiveness and compassion. The cost is $220.00 which includes meals, private room with private bath and all retreat materials. If you have a financial burden, assistance is available. For more information or registration contact: Rachel’s Vineyard of SWLA (337) 439-7400 ext. 317 or email: rachels.vineyard@lcdiocese.org.

“I Will Sing of Your Love”
An Evening with
Deacon Brian Soileau In Concert
Tues., August 20th 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Join us in thanksgiving for the love of God as Deacon Soileau performs traditional Catholic hymns along with Praise and Worship music in the beautiful Chapel of the Assumption. Detach
from the noise and stress of the world and come and rest for the evening as we worship our Lord in song. Deacon Soileau sang and performed secular music professionally for many years and
would now like to return that gift to God and share it with His people. Although there will be no fee for this event love offerings would be appreciated in support of the Bear Island project of
Camp Karol. Please register by Friday, August 16th so that we have a confirmed count for seating purposes in the Chapel. For more information, or to register, please call the Center at (337)
855-1232 or visiting our website at stcharlescenter.com.

Technology on Our
Spiritual Lives”
Sr. Diane Depwe
Tuesday, August 6th
Today’s world is full of wonderful technology; smart phones, laptops, TVs, X-box games, Internet, etc. Technology provides many benefits to us, however, we need to know it is affecting and changing our lives and
brains as well as our private and social interactions (or lack thereof). These tools while designed to attain closer relationships are resulting in the opposite causing us to disconnect from one another.
Come and learn how to start disconnecting technology and reconnecting our lives back to God and our loved ones. To register please call the Center at (337) 855-1232 or go to our website at stcharlescenter.com. Please register by Friday by Friday, August 2nd so that adequate arrangements can be made for supper. Suggested donation is $20.00 per person.

“The Art of Discernment:
Knowing God’s Will for My Life”
Presented by Fr. Whitney Miller
Tues., August 27th 6:00pm – 8:30pm
When we become aware of the inner life of spirituality, what do we find? We find God, but we find other movements and impulses and desires too. This was the same for St. Ignatius of Loyola as
well, his heart moved by contrary impulses; some taking him toward God, and some taking him away from God. This is why we need discernment, we need help in sorting out these various spiritual impulses. When we learn how to interpret and understand them, we find the way forward in the spiritual life. This Evening of Reflection will explore the Ignatian pathway to discovering God’s will and refining the art of spiritual discernment. To register please call the Center at (337) 855-1232 or visiting our website at stcharlescenter.com by Friday, August 23rd so that adequate arrangements can be made for supper. Suggested donation is $20.00 per person.

Future Dates of Upcoming Private Directed Retreats for Your Calendar:

Mon. June 24 – Sun., June 30, 2019
Mon., Nov. 4 – Sun., Nov. 10, 2019
Mon., March 16 – Sun., March 22, 2020
Mon., June 22 – Sun., June 28, 2020
Mon., Nov. 2 – Sun., Nov. 8, 2020
Mon., March 8 – Sun., March 14, 2021
Mon. June 21 – Sun., June 27, 2021
Mon., Nov. 8 – Sun., Nov. 14, 2021

Contact

Saint Charles Center
2151 Sam Houston Jones Pkwy
Lake Charles, LA 70611
(337) 855-1232

Facilities

• Tabor Retreat House
  
• Katharine Drexel Conference Center

Center Attractions

• retreats
• days of recollection
• evenings of reflection
• educational workshops and seminars
• meetings and conferences
• programs of spiritual growth and educational development for the Catholic Community and others of good will.