Retreats at Glastonbury Abbey
Find Renewal and Quiet
Glastonbury Abbey’s Retreat and Spirituality Center offers time apart for prayer, reflection, and deeper connection. Rooted in the Benedictine tradition of welcoming every guest as Christ, we invite individuals and groups of all backgrounds to step away from daily life and experience peace and spiritual refreshment on our peaceful campus.
Whether you join a guided retreat, plan a self-directed stay, or come for a few days of silence, you’ll find space for listening— to God, to your own heart, and to what is unfolding in your life. Guests are welcome to join the monks for the Liturgy of the Hours or keep a personal rhythm of prayer and rest.
Retreat Offerings
Glastonbury Abbey retreats follow the rhythm of the liturgical year and the Benedictine tradition of prayer, study, and hospitality. Some are silent. Some include conferences or guided reflection. All are rooted in creating space — space to slow down, to listen, and to rest in God.
Programs are offered seasonally and fill quickly. Advance registration is required.
A Day Retreat for Caregivers: Tuesday, September 15, 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM. $70 includes lunch.
From Vigilance to Wholeness: Healing the Caregiver Within. This day long retreat is a restorative experience designed to heal mind, body, and spirit while guiding caregivers from exhaustion toward renewed energy and wholeness. Through music, gentle movement, and mindful presence, participants are invited to settle their nervous systems and reconnect with themselves. Research-informed knowledge circles explore emotional resilience and the caregiver paradox (how to give deeply without losing oneself) while real-life stories normalize stress and restore perspective. Guided imagery, reflective dialogue, shared witnessing, and body-based and relational stress resets replenish the inner well for daily living and crisis moments.
Facilitator: Kathleen Heery RN, MS.
Enneagram 3-Day Event: The Enneagram is an insightful and well-crafted system designed to articulate the core dynamics of personality. It is a powerful tool for developing self-awareness and gaining insight into the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. The Enneagram describes nine distinct intelligences or strategies for navigating the world; each with its own particular point of view and habitual patterns of thought and behavior.
At the end of this workshop series, you will have the tools to identify your habitual Enneagram strategy, as well as the other eight intelligences. You will develop an appreciation for the diversity of internal habits of attention and how each may move in the direction of higher growth. You will be given the resources to continue your exploration of this multifaceted system.
Session One: Thursday, September 17, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Session Two: Thursday, September 24, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Session Three: Thursday, October 1, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Facilitator: Ilona O’Connor. Cost for all three sessions: $250.
Renew & Restore Caregiver Weekend Retreat: September 25 – 27.
The Patrick Roll Annual Caregivers Retreat. This weekend is designed exclusively for family caregivers. Set in a serene, nature-immersed environment, this getaway focuses on deep rest, gentle wellness, and compassionate community, allowing you to step away from your daily duties and finally put your own well-being first. Restful accommodations, delicious meals, gentle yoga, massage, meditation, aromatherapy, self-care, and supportive conversations are some of the offerings for the weekend.
Commuter and Overnight options available. For Information and to register, please contact the Retreat Office, 781-749-2155 ext. 300. (Free for direct family caregivers).
A Day Retreat: Teresa of Avila, Wednesday, October 14, 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM
TERESA OF AVILA: Passionate Mystic, Prophetess and Visionary Transformer
The day will include gleanings from the life of Teresa as well as reflections on prayer as described in "The Interior Castle". Teresa continues to remind us today that "the door to the castle is prayer and reflection" and "Christ has no Body but ours." Come and gift God and your mystical heart time to be with a woman who reminds us that we are called to be the passionate face of God in our world today.
Facilitator: Sr. Maureen Casey, SND. $70 lunch included.
Day Retreat for Caregivers: Thursday, November 12, 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM.
From Uncertainty to Hopeful: Sustaining the Journey When the Path is Unclear. This day long retreat invites caregivers to reconnect with the deeper purpose that sustains them through uncertainty, change, and long seasons of care. Through music, quiet reflection, and meditation, participants pause to remember why they care and what it is that gives meaning to their efforts. Knowledge circles explore caregiving within the broader context of aging, life transitions, and uncertain times, highlighting how meaning-making becomes a vital source of endurance and clarity. Journaling, storytelling, and shared wisdom help participants recognize the lessons and inner strength emerging from their journeys.
Facilitator: Kathleen Heery RN, MS $70 lunch included.
Advent Weekend Retreat: December 4 – 6
Description to follow. Facilitated by Abbot Thomas and Ellie Divine. $250 includes two nights' accommodation and meals.
Retreat Houses & Accommodations
Our retreat houses are simple, comfortable, and designed for quiet. The setting is peaceful. The pace is unhurried. Hospitality is attentive and unobtrusive.
Stonecrest Retreat House
Accommodates up to 23 guests
A mix of private and shared rooms with a Parlor and common areas for reflection and gathering. Ideal for larger groups and hosted retreats.
Whiting House
Accommodates up to 8 guests
A smaller retreat house with shared bathrooms, well suited for individuals or small groups seeking a more intimate setting.
Overnight stays include meals and linens.
The suggested offering is $110 per night. If this offering presents a hardship, guests are encouraged to reach out during registration.
Note: Our retreat houses have stairs and no elevator. If mobility is a concern, contact the Retreat Office prior to registering.