Upcoming Programmed Retreats

Guided Silent Retreats and Retreats on specific themes are regularly held at Rivendell Lodge led by members of the Rivendell Community and partner groups.

Rivendell is committed to making these retreats financially accessible. We ask for a minimum of $80.00 per day to cover food, basic costs and facilitation. You add to that amount what you can afford per night for your accommodation. When you come to Rivendell for your retreat, you can pay by cheque, cash or e-transfer at booking@rivendellretreat.org.

We ask that you choose one retreat pre year to attend; this helps accomodate all who are interested. Thanks for your understanding.

March 6-9, 3 day Silent Retreat

A silent retreat provides space to rest, pray, be in nature and deepen your spiritual journey. While on Retreat at Rivendell you will be provided with: your own room with private washroom, either with a shower or tub, all linens, and healthy yet simple meals.

After an introduction to silence on the first evening, you are invited to shape the day as you are led. Spiritual Direction is offered daily, and there is a group gathering at 5pm.

Meals are shared in silence.

These retreats are individually directed, and the themes for our daily gatherings emerge from the group.

Leadership for the silent retreats is organized by Kathi Bentall and Margaret McAvity, both spiritual directors and experienced retreat leaders.

Cost: $80/day for food and facilitation, + what you can give generously for your accommodation.

We ask that you choose one retreat pre year to attend, this helps accomodate all who are interested, thanks for your understanding.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS RETREAT IS NOW FULL. We hope you are able to find a retreat to attend in the future.

April 13-21, Holy Week at Rivendell

Holy Week is reserved for individuals who wish to step into a time of meditating on the themes of Holy Week and allowing them to speak to us again and anew. During Rivendell’s 5 pm gatherings through the week and additional Good Friday and Easter Sunday gatherings we will contemplate the profound biblical stories and themes that shape this sacred time.  

As individual retreatants you are free to shape the days as you are led and spiritual accompaniment is available.  Please sign up through bookings@rivendellretreat.org for at least 3 nights so you can enter into the flow of the week.  

This is not an organized retreat which means you will need to bring your own food.  You are provided with your own room with private washroom and all linens.

 Leadership is offered by Louise Cummings, Kathi Bentall, Jan Bihl, and Dilly Baker.

Registration for this retreat is open now, please email: booking@rivendellretreat.org to reserve your spot.

THE CONTEMPLATIVE EYE

A retreat exploring presence, invitation and seeing

Monday, April 28 – Friday, May 2, 2025

“In cultivating photography as a contemplative practice, the camera becomes a way to develop our ability to see more deeply, clearly, and truly, beneath the surface realities of the world around us and into the sacred presence shimmering in the world.”

- Christine Valters Paintner

This is not a retreat about cameras, lenses or technology.This is a retreat that uses the camera as a form of meditation, a way of bringing ourselves into presence, an opportunity to learn about and respond to the invitations of grace that are being offered to us always. And in the sacred container of presence and periods of silence, our contemplative hearts are awakened and we open to the grace all ‘round.

Bring your cellphone and we will explore the wonderful possibilities that your phone camera holds as an ever-ready contemplative, reflective tool.

This 4-day retreat will be both spacious and directedas we rest in the beauty and invitation of Rivendell Lodge and Bowen Island.Spirit stands still for the photographer it has chosen.- Minor White

This retreat provides space to rest, reflect, be in nature and deepen your spiritual journey. While on retreat at Rivendell you will be provided with: your own room with private washroom, either with a shower or tub, all linens, and simple meals.

Cost: $320 ($80/day) for food and facilitation, plus what you can give generously for your accommodation. (it costs us aprox $75/per room per night to run our facility)

Leadership: Lorne Braun and Sharon Salomons. For more information please email: registration@rivendellretreat.org

This Retreat is Now FULL if you would like to be placed on the wiatlist, please fill out the above registration form

Creative Expression Retreat

May 9-11th

We are excited to be offering another creative expression retreat at Rivendell. During this retreat we will explore our imagination our inner landscape and wisdon through different art modalities.

Opportunities will be provided for embodied practices such as visual art, writing, movement and group interaction. There is absolutely no skill level required. Along with creative expression, there will be times of silence. The invitation is to come away with us and rest, be curious, and connect both with yourself and others.  The invitation is to come away with us and rest, be curious, and connect both with yourself and others.
Leadership provided by Jen Sneller and Laura Brook, Certified Expressive Art
Therapists and Kathi Bentall, Spiritual Director.

Cost: $240 ($80/day) for food and facilitation PLUS what you can give generously for your private room accomodation. (It costs us Aprox $75/night to run our facility). In addition $40 for art supplies.

Arrival would be before between 3-5pm May 9, departure on Sunday after dinner May 11.

During our retreat we will explore the theme of "mother", whatever this means to you; the divine feminine; including God as mother, mother Earth, relationships with our mothers and caregivers and being a mother/nurturer. Opportunities will be provided for embodied practices such as visual art, writing, movement and group interaction. There is absolutely no skill level required.

Along with creative expression, there will be times of silence. The invitation is to come away with us and rest, be curious, and connect both with yourself and others.

We ask that you choose one retreat pre year to attend, this helps accomodate all who are interested, thanks for your understanding.

This retreat is now Full, if you would like to be placed on the waitlist please fill out the registration form above.

registration for this retreat will open Feb 12th at 10am

HERMITAGE RETREATS

New offerings for 2025:  

3 day silent retreats at Rivendell’s Hermitage Site 

A silent retreat provides space to rest, pray, be in nature and deepen your spiritual journey. These particular retreats are an opportunity to experience silence at the Forest House of Prayer. Please read about the hermitage site on this web site to determine whether this is an appropriate retreat space for you.  You will be staying in one of our small cabins nestled in the trees.    The cabins are non-serviced but you have access to the main house with living room, kitchen, full bathrooms and a gathering space in the loft.  You need to bring your own bedding and towels.  Healthy yet simple meals will be provided. This is an opportunity to experience the hermitage along with a small group of 5 retreatants and 2 directors.  The dates, registration details and directors are listed below.  

The format for this retreat is similar to what is offered at the lodge.  Following an introduction to silence on the first evening, you are invited to shape the day as you are led. Spiritual Direction is offered daily, there is a group gathering at 5pm and meals are shared in silence.  These retreats are individually directed, and the themes for our daily gatherings emerge from the group.

Cost: $240 ($80/day) for food and facilitation PLUS what you can give generously for your private cabin accomodation. (It costs us Aprox $75/night to run our facility).

July 24-27- Registrations open April 24 at 10:00 am.  Leadership:  Kathi Bentall and Denise Haskett

August 14-17 - Registrations open May 14, at 10:00 am. Leadership:  Nancy Talbot and Sharon Brain 

September 18-21- Registrations open June 18 at 10:00 am Leadership Kathi Bentall and Melissa Rahme 

October 16-19 - Registrations open July 16 at 10:00 Leadership: Nancy Talbot and Sharon Brain