May 5-7, 2023

 "... God began to fill my soul with grace in those days, grace that sprung from deep within me, I could not know how or where."
This is what Thomas Merton had to say about what happened after he began to pray the Divine Office, also known as the Liturgy of the Hours.

At other Future with Hope Women events, some of you have expressed a longing to incorporate this tradition of praying into your own faith practice.

So that's what we'll be doing at the Holy Cross Abbey retreat center in Berryville, VA, in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley May 5-7.

• Attendees will have the opportunity to join the Cistercian monks at their nearby chapel for the Vigils, Lauds, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline prayers and Mass.
• Father Paul M. Grankauskas from nearby St. Bridget parish will join us to talk about the Divine Office (which priests do every day) and how it has blessed his faith journey--and can bless yours as well.
• A Cistercian brother may join us (tentative) to talk and answer questions about the call to the monastic life.
• You'll receive a signed copy of lay Franciscan and Catholicmom.com Editor Barb Szyszkiewicz's new Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours.
• Every retreatant will have a single room with private bath, and meals Friday night through Sunday lunch.
• You'll have time for prayer and contemplation; for glorying in the retreat center vistas like the photo above; and, if you choose to participate, small-group discussion.

Please note: The Cistercians ask that all retreatants confirm verbally that they have been vaccinated against the corona virus. At this time, there are no masking requirements.

At this point, we are sold out. If you are interested in joining the wait list, please email info@futurewithhopewomen.com with "Wait List" as the subject line.

Should we have a larger gathering (100-150 women, with speakers) again this fall for the first time since 2019? Please provide your thoughts via this survey, or email us.