The following retreats have been planned in different retreat houses throughout the Diocese of Trenton.

The Upper Room Diocesan Spiritual Center, Neptune, located at 3455 W. Bangs Avenue, Bldg. 2, will hold several retreats and programs throughout April and May.

On April 28, “Celebrating Easter Joy in the Year of Mercy” will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. This evening will reflect on the mercy of Easter, and the mercy of rebirth through faith.  Presenter will be St. Joseph Sister Trudy Ahern, co-director of the Upper Room.  The cost is $25.

“Mary, Mother of Mercy” will be held May 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This retreat will enter into the experience and prayer of Mary, Mother of Mercy, as she embraces the mystery of the merciful love of her God for her.  Presenter will be Charity Sister Fran Lomeo.  Time together will include Liturgy and light lunch.  The cost is $35.

No experience is needed to attend “Knitting and Prayer” May 11 from1:30 to 3:30 p.m.  Learn how to combine knitting/crocheting skills, prayer and compassion to create a prayer shawl.  Free will offering will be accepted.

“Swing into Spring” golf outing will be held May 18 at Eagle Ridge Golf Club, Lakewood.  The day will include registration, 11 a.m., BBQ lunch, noon, shot gun start, 1 p.m. and dinner, 6 p.m.  The donation is $195 for golfers and $55 for dinner only.  To register, call Maria Rogers at 732-922-0550; [email protected].

Learn about and experience the healing power of angels, the spiritual blessings of various groups of angels and ways angels connect with us in our daily life at the “Surrounded by Angels! Healing Angels, Teaching Angels, Guardian Angels” retreat May 25 from 7 to 9:30 p.m.  Presenter will be Mercy Sister Maureen Conroy.  The cost is $25.

A “Six-Day Directed Retreat” will be held May 20 at 7 p.m. to May 27 at 10:30 a.m.  This retreat will include solitude, prayer and daily spiritual direction.  It is offered in the spirit of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola.  The cost is $500 for seven nights.

To register, call 732-922-0550 or email [email protected].

Harvey Cedars, Maris Stella Retreat and Conference Center, located at 7201 Long Beach Boulevard, will hold “The Face of Mercy.”  The overnight session will be held May 21 at 9 a.m. to May 22 at 11 a.m.  The one-day session will be May 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  This retreat will offer the reflection on God’s mercy and the compassion of Jesus.  Presenter will be Charity Sister Anita M. Constance.  The cost for the overnight is $175 with $50 non-refundable, non-transferable deposit and the one-day includes lunch and costs $50 with a $15 non-refundable, non-transferable deposit.  Registration due by May 1.  To register, call Sister Pat at 609-494-2917 or [email protected].

Francis House Diocesan Spiritual Center, Rancocas, located at 30 Springside Road will hold a “Personal Retreat Day” May 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  The day will include silence, personal prayer and optional spiritual direction.  The day begins and ends with a brief prayer together.  Bring a bag lunch.  A donation of $10; $40 with spiritual direction will be accepted.

On May 13 at 7 p.m. to May 15 at 1 p.m. the “Weekend Directed Retreat” will allow the opportunity to experience the graced rhythm of life in which rest restores the body and God revives the soul.  Liturgy, spiritual direction and optional contemplative prayer periods are included.  A donation of $130/$50 non-refundable deposit with registration will be accepted.

“The Labyrinth and the Portiuncula Perfect Together” May 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. will alternate between 20-minute centering prayer periods in the Portiuncula, the outdoor chapel and walking mediation on the labyrinth.  A free will offering will be accepted.

St. Joseph Sister Kathy Duffy will lead a “Five-Day Retreat on Teilhard’s Mysticism” May 15 at 7 p.m. to May 20 at 10 a.m.  During this retreat participants will step with Teilhard along five circles, which will encourage us to open our contemplative hearts to the wonders of our universe and to the Divine Presence that dwells there.  A donation of $350; $60 non-refundable deposit with registration will be accepted and includes meals.

“Retreat Weekend for Deacons” May 20 at 7 p.m. to May 22 at 1 p.m. will be a silent directed retreat to replenish deacons for a more fruitful ministry to the people of God.  The cost is $130; $50 non-refundable deposit with registration.

Outside of the Diocese

The Lumen Center, Caldwell, located at 1 Ryerson Avenue, will hold a retreat based on Luke 24:19-52 “Who walks with you to Emmaus?” April 26 from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m.  A brief meditation practice will be included.  The presenter will be Father Anthony Randazzo, pastoral assistant, Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity, Westfield.  The cost is $25-$35.

“What is True Law of God? Old Testament or Something Else” will take place May 3 from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m.  The retreat will explore some of the things that cause us to question.  The cost is $25-$35.

May 17 from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m. “Adventures in Solidarity with Haiti” will be held.  Presenters Father Jack Martin, founding president of the Haiti Solidarity Network of the North East, and Dr. James Morgan, will share stories of outreach as they continue to search for the best expressions of solidarity with the people of Haiti in the face of desperate and tragic events.  The cost is $25-$35.

“How Transpersonal Journaling Heals Broken Hearts” will be held May 24 from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m.  Presenter Lo Anne Mayer, found that through prayer, meditation, and journaling, she developed a process of healing guilt, anger, and resentment she held after the death of her mother and daughter.  The result has given her a new understanding of God’s love and the fact that mother-daughter love never dies.  The cost is $25-$35.