LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF THE WOMEN MYSTICS: MECHTILD OF MAGDEBURG
In-Person or Virtual with Colette Lafia
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 from 7-9pm EST at Mount Saint Mary House of Prayer in Watchung, NJ
Spiritual Journaling as a Practice of Deep Renewal
A Two-Part Webinar Series with Colette Lafia and Jenée Johnson
December 4 & 11, 2024 from 10 – 11:30AM PST
Advent Women’s Retreat: The Way of the Heart
In-Person Retreat with Colette Lafia & Michelle Francois-Walsh
December 13, 2024 at San Damiano Retreat
Listen to Your Life: Growing Spiritual Intuition Through Art & Embodiment Practices
In-Person Retreat with Colette Lafia & Mary Loebig Giles
February 21 - 23, 2025 at Mercy Center Burlingame
Workshops, Retreats & Days of Prayer
I am happy to offer a book presentation, a day of prayer, or an online retreat to your parish or group!
I look forward to hearing from you. Please email me.
Colette facilitates seasonal online retreats. The topics range from finding comfort and joy in everyday life to living a life overflowing with Divine love. Read more about Online Retreats here.
Please join my newsletter email list for invitations to upcoming workshops & retreats.
Reviews from Past Online Retreat Participants:
"Colette and Michelle both did an amazing job creating community, sisterhood and a space for grace and healing. Never been to a retreat with so much laughing and crying and caring for each other with lots of hugs. It was my first experience of a women’s only retreat. What a difference! I loved the contemplative dimension."
— Participant in San Damiano Women's Retreat, Spring 2024
"I had a wonderful dance with this faith community and a big thank you, Colette, for making this online retreat such a success. Your reflections, prayers, deep questions and visio divina were all so rich that I am sure this retreat will continue on its own course for a long time to come. THANK YOU!"
— Participant in “Being Love, Becoming Whole.”
"I have loved being a part of your retreat! I think I have found what I have been searching for! I know that my ’spirituality’ had changed some time ago, and not knowing which ‘road’ to take, I was unable to move forward. Now, during this retreat I have discovered all that I couldn’t find when I was searching on my own."
— J.G., participant in “Being Love, Becoming Whole.”
"From this retreat experience, I came to realize that I can take God anywhere, anytime and anyplace. I was reminded that God is always a breath away. Thank you, Colette for presenting a beauty-filled and beautiful retreat."
— N.J., participant in “Being Love, Becoming Whole.”
"Thank you Colette for your leadership with this retreat during these days with numerous challenges. I appreciated it so much."
— H.D., participant in “Being Love, Becoming Whole.”
"This has been an incredible, awesome retreat. Your presentations have included a gentle, feminine touch. Shalom, my friend."
— M.M., San Jose, participant in “Being Love, Becoming Whole.”
Past Workshops, Events and Presentations
March 14, 2021
The Divine Heart: Living in God's Love
St. Ignatius Parish, San Francisco
February 22 - March 7, 2021
Surrendering to Love Online Retreat
San Damiano Retreat Center, Danville, CA
February 12 - 26, 2021
Becoming the Loving Presence of God Online Retreat
Mercy Center Burlingame
December 11, 2020
Advent Morning of Prayer
Mercy Center Burlingame
December 6, 2019
Advent Day of Prayer
Sponsored by Mercy Center
June 17 – June 27, 2019
Being Loved, Becoming Whole Online Retreat
Sponsored by Mercy Center
Good Friday: Broken and Whole Presentation 2019
Saint Ignatius Church San Francisco, CA
Tuesdays Jan. 8, Feb. 5, Mar. 5, 2019
3 Sessions: Exploring Prayer: The Key to Spiritual Growth
Friday, December 7, 2018
Saying “Yes” to the Invitation of Love: Advent Day of Prayer
Mercy Center Burlingame, California
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Way Opening, Way Closing: Praying with Change
Saint Ignatius Church, San Francisco, Fromm Center
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Day of Prayer: Saint Sabina Center
San Rafael, CA
Friday, December 8, 2017
Advent Day of Prayer: It’s All About Love
Mercy Center, Burlingame
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
The Transformative Power of Surrender
School of Applied Theology, Bay Area
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
God Calls Me by Name
St. Simon Church, Los Altos
Tuesdays, September 12, 19 & 26, 2017
Radical Hospitality Retreat Series
Ignatian Spiritual Life Center, San Francisco
May 12, 2017
Awakening the Gifts of the Holy Spirit During a Time of Transition
Mercy Center: Burlingame, CA
May 7, 2017
Presentation on Spiritual Direction
Saint Ignatius Church, San Francisco
May 2, 2017
The Transformative Power of Surrender
School of Applied Theology, Oakland, California
April 10, 2017
Comfort Circle: Sacred Space for Cultivating Compassion & Connection
School of Applied Theology, Oakland, California
December 9, 2016
Advent Day of Prayer
Mercy Center: Burlingame, CA
November 29, 2016
The Transformative Power of Surrender
School of Applied Theology: Oakland, CA
October 19, 26 & November 2, 2016
Living Mercy: A 3-part Retreat in Daily Life
Saint Agnes Spiritual Life Center: San Francisco, CA
October 5, 2016
Day of Prayer: Surrendering into Grace
Santa Sabina Retreat Center: San Rafael, CA
May 3, 2016
The Transformative Power of Surrender
School of Applied Theology: Oakland, CA
April 22, 2016
Women in Transition: The Art of Waiting
Mercy Center: Burlingame, CA
March 18, 2016
Deepen Your Intimacy with the Sacred through Spiritual Art
Mercy Center: Burlingame, CA
March 16, 2016
Comfort Circles: A Sacred Space for Cultivating Compassion & Connection
School of Applied Theology: Oakland, CA
Dec. 11, 2015
Joyful Surrender: Advent Retreat Day
Mercy Center: Burlingame, CA
Oct. 18, 2015
Journey Into the Heart of Surrender
Saint Ignatius Adult Faith Formation/Fromm Center: San Francisco, CA
Sept. 13, 20 & 27 2015
Seeking Surrender: Mini-Retreat
Saint Agnes Spiritual Life Center: San Francisco, CA
July 14, 2015
The Art of Listening in Spiritual Direction
Institute for Health & Healing, California Pacific Medical Center:
San Francisco, CA
July 13, 2015
Journey Into the Heart of Surrender
The Sequoias: San Francisco, CA
June 5-7, 2015
Love Me Into Being (Retreat)
Villa Angelica: Carmel, California
June 2, 2015
Journey Into the Heart of Surrender
Calvary Presbyterian Church: San Francisco, CA
May 24, 2015
Seeking Surrender: Book Signing
Mercy Center: Burlingame, CA
May 22, 2015
Women in Transition
Mercy Center: Burlingame, CA
May 13, 2015
Life Lessons from a Trappist Monk
Santa Sabina Center: San Rafael, CA
May 11, 2015
Journey Into the Heart of Surrender
Mindfulness Care Center: San Francisco, CA
May 7, 2015
Seeking Surrender: Book Signing
BookShop West Portal: San Francisco, CA
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Retreats:
Every morning during a 7-day retreat (and every other morning during longer retreats), you’ll receive an email that will send you to our retreat website, where you’ll find a new: reflection on the retreat’s theme, contemplative prayer practice, journal prompt, and invitation to share any thoughts, experiences, or realizations you’re inspired to in the online discussion group. Contemplative practices may include: breath awareness, audio guided meditations by Colette, Visio Divina (praying with images), and listening to music.
The online retreat is not live, but participants move through the retreat together over the 7 or 14 days, so there’s a sense of community to the experience. The prayers and reflections are in a written and pre-recorded format that can be accessed at any time that’s convenient for you. If a retreat has a Zoom gathering built into it, we’ll let you know in the retreat description.
Not at all. It’s really as simple as opening an email and clicking a link. We use a platform called Ruzuku, which you will receive access to after registration. Ruzuku offers amazing technical support, so we are always available to help.
You might spend anywhere from 20-30 minutes on each reflection and prayer practice. Any level of engagement has something to offer you. You can go online whenever it’s convenient for you—as a way to start your day, at your lunch hour, or at the end of the day. If you want to go at a slower pace, the retreat material will remain available after the official retreat time ends.
I encourage you to always do what’s right for you. Sharing is always optional and will happen in a safe space that’s facilitated by Colettte.