How To Host A Retreat At The Monastery Guesthouse

A retreat at the guesthouse of Mother of the Redeemer Monastery can give a small group space to pray, listen, study and rest away from ordinary demands. The Olivetan Benedictine community in Plaisance, Louisiana, welcomes visitors seeking a prayerful setting, while the daily rhythm of the monks helps guests move beyond a busy schedule.

For Australians travelling from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne or another city, preparation matters. Allow time for international travel, check current United States entry requirements, arrange suitable travel insurance and consider the effect of the AUD–USD exchange rate on accommodation, meals and transport. Begin by reviewing the monastery website and contacting the community about availability, group size and the kind of retreat you hope to arrange.

Planning The Visit

Start by defining the purpose of the gathering. A parish group may want a weekend of silence and the Divine Office, while a youth group may need guided discussion, outdoor time and carefully planned prayer periods. Individuals, couples and small Christian communities can also use the guesthouse for a quieter retreat with fewer scheduled activities.

Choose dates that suit both your group and the monastery’s liturgical calendar. Australian school holidays, public holidays and long weekends can make flights and accommodation more expensive, so booking well ahead is sensible. Louisiana’s summer can be hot and humid, while winter is generally milder; ask about suitable clothing, mosquito protection and indoor arrangements before travelling.

A retreat coordinator should act as the main contact. Provide the proposed dates, number of adults and young people, dietary needs, accessibility requirements, denominational background and whether guests hope to attend Mass or other liturgies. Clear information allows the monastery to advise whether the guesthouse is appropriate for your plans.

Shaping A Prayerful Programme

A good retreat programme leaves room rather than filling every hour. You might include morning prayer, a period of personal reading, a shared meal, spiritual direction if available, a walk, evening prayer and a nightly time of silence. The monks’ pattern of prayer can become the centre of the visit without turning the retreat into a conference timetable.

Groups from different church traditions should discuss expectations beforehand. Explain the customs of the monastery, how guests participate in worship and which activities are optional. If your gathering involves churches in several locations, a resource on Baptist networks may offer useful context for communicating across congregations, although the retreat itself should be planned directly with the monastery.

For Australians accustomed to early coffee, informal conversation and active weekends, a sustained quiet period may feel unfamiliar at first. Tell participants that silence is a practice, not a test. Encourage them to bring a journal, Bible or prayer book, and establish a simple agreement about phones, conversation and shared spaces.

Organising Travel And Guesthouse Needs

International visitors should confirm passport validity, ESTA or visa requirements, flight connections and transport from the arrival airport. Plaisance is in south Louisiana, so a group may need a hired vehicle or pre-arranged transfer rather than relying on public transport. Keep arrival times realistic, especially after a long journey from Australia and possible connections through Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston or another United States hub.

Ask the monastery what is supplied in the guesthouse before packing. Confirm bedding, towels, kitchen access, laundry arrangements, internet availability, parking, heating and cooling, and whether meals are provided. Dietary requests should be stated in writing, including allergies, coeliac requirements or vegetarian preferences.

It is also wise to agree on a communication plan. Visitors can check practical instructions online before leaving home, including autoplay guidance if a preparation page contains audio or video. Once at the monastery, place phones on silent and use them only when necessary. Australian mobile plans may charge substantial international roaming fees, so compare an eSIM, local SIM or travel add-on before departure.

A Thoughtful Packing Guide

Bring items that support quiet prayer and comfortable participation:

Prepare these practical details before the group leaves Australia:

Comparing Retreat Formats

The best format depends on the group’s size, spiritual maturity and reason for visiting. A first retreat may benefit from a gentle schedule, while an established prayer group may be ready for longer silence. Ask the monastery whether a chaplain, monk or other approved guide can provide talks, spiritual conversation or an orientation to the liturgy.

Online preparation can help participants arrive with shared expectations. A youth leader might arrange one online prayer meeting before departure, drawing on a prayer partnership example to connect members who live in different Australian suburbs or cities. Keep the online meeting brief, since the guesthouse experience should be grounded in presence rather than constant screen use.

Retreat format Suitable for Possible rhythm Planning consideration
Silent individual retreat One person or a couple Personal prayer, liturgy and reading Confirm privacy and spiritual support
Small parish retreat Six to twelve adults Shared prayer, discussion and silence Agree on group etiquette beforehand
Youth or young adult retreat Supervised church group Prayer, teaching and structured activities Confirm safeguarding and supervision duties
Oblate or vocation retreat People exploring Benedictine life Liturgy, conversation and reflection Ask what meetings or talks may be available

If young people attend, Australian organisers should check their church’s safeguarding policy and the requirements that apply to their organisation. Depending on the state or territory and the adults’ roles, working-with-children screening may be relevant before travel. The monastery should receive a responsible-adult list, emergency contacts and consent documentation well in advance.

Entering The Monastic Rhythm

Guests should expect the monastery to be a working religious community rather than a hotel or tourist attraction. Liturgical times, silence, modest dress and shared spaces deserve respect. Ask where visitors may go, when conversation is appropriate and whether photography or recording is permitted during services.

Gregorian chant may be unfamiliar to some participants, yet it can provide a calm way into the prayer of the Church. Reading a short Gregorian chant guide before arrival can help guests listen attentively rather than worry about understanding every musical detail. A retreat leader might offer a few minutes of background without turning the liturgy into a lecture.

Meals can also become part of the retreat. Invite guests to eat slowly, observe the house customs and avoid assuming that a shared meal should become a long social event. If the group needs restaurant food or supermarket supplies, plan ahead: Louisiana distances, opening hours and transport options may differ from everyday arrangements in Melbourne or Adelaide.

Returning Home With Purpose

A retreat becomes more valuable when its insights continue after departure. Reserve time on the final day for each participant to identify one prayer practice, act of service or change in routine to carry home. This might mean attending weekday Mass, setting aside ten minutes for silent prayer or joining a parish prayer group.

Build in a practical debrief before everyone scatters. Ask participants to share what helped, what was difficult and how the group can support one another. Keep the conversation respectful and avoid pressuring anyone to disclose private spiritual experiences.

Financial planning should be transparent. Set out the expected cost of travel, accommodation, meals, insurance, local transport and any group contribution. If participants wish to support the monastery beyond their stay, direct them to the community’s approved giving channels. Australians should remember that a payment to an overseas religious organisation may not receive the same tax treatment as a gift to an Australian deductible gift recipient, so professional tax advice is appropriate before claiming anything.

Contact Mother of the Redeemer Monastery with your preferred dates, group profile and retreat aims, then allow the community to help shape a schedule that respects its prayer life. With thoughtful preparation, a visit from Australia can become a genuinely restorative time of worship, silence and shared faith at the guesthouse.