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Programs and Retreats at the OSH Convent in Augusta GA |
Telephone: 706-798-5201
Fax: 706-796-0079
Email: augustaconvent@comcast.net
Sisters of the Order of St. Helena have maintained a convent in Augusta since 1962. Everyone is welcome at all services of worship and at all St. Helena programs. The Eucharist is celebrated daily (except Wednesdays) at the convent: Mon., Tues., Thurs., and Fri. at 7:30 a.m.; Sat. and Sun. at 8:00 a.m.
Costs for Guest Services and Programs
Ellen Stephen earned an MA in Creative Writing at Stanford University where she held a poetry fellowship. A professed sister with OSH since the 70’s, she has served in the Order’s leadership in a number of different roles. ES is a spiritual director, a SUPERB retreat and conference leader, a consultant on spirituality and community, as well as a poet and playwright. Residing in the Vails Gate convent, her retreats are always a sellout. Don’t miss her and our good fortune in having her visit Augusta!
$160 full weekend program, meals, lodging; $80 commuters, some scholarship funding available.
$60 includes program and lunch.
Cornelia is from our Vails Gate NY convent, and she led the Making Prayerful Choices retreat in Augusta in 2005. Cornelia very actively participates as a spiritual director with guests in NY and with seminarians at the General Theological Seminary in Manhattan. She is a wise and experienced guide along the Ignatian path of spirituality. She is also a leader, mentor, teacher and staunch supporter of the role of women in our society.
$450 for the full program; $100 deposit. Includes residence, meals, program, daily group spiritual direction with Cornelia and an individual session with one of the sisters.
Come and relax; learn a few new things about the God who loves you so much; the world God creates and enjoys; and yourself, Beloved Child of the Beloved One.
We may feel that in the process of surviving life, we abandon our intimate and present connection with self and God. The future and past become our homes away from home, and we spend our time trying to argue with what is, rather than live in what is. This experiential workshop will present tools to safely bring us back into presence, to accept the reality of what is, with graciousness.
$60 includes program and lunch.
The Hagioritic Tome, a 13th century manifesto of the monks of Mount Athos, is widely recognized as expressing the very heart of Hesychasm, the mystical path of the Christian East. Anyone wishing to penetrate to the center of the Christian heart will appreciate knowing about and plumbing this demanding but rewarding text (to be provided in advance). Dr Cutsinger will lead the group in a Socratic conversation, guiding the group into the depths of this classic work.
A Responsive Heart: Dr Schwartz will present a combined Tibetan Buddhist and mystical Jewish perspective on the heart of responsibility and responsiveness. He will demonstrate simple practices for exercising and deepening our call to grow evermore into the responsive heart of love. These two paths, when taken up in earnest, are complementary in helping us grow into authentic compassion that we may love the neighbor as self.
$60 includes program and lunch.
This is a unique opportunity to be creative, unwind and reflect in the beauty and quiet of the Convent of Saint Helena. Lynn, Selly and Pam will facilitate this retreat centered on the spiritual side of the ancient creative craft called knitting. All three of these ladies are very involved in the Prayer Shawl ministries in their respective churches, and they will also introduce that ministry to anyone interested.
This weekend is not for beginner knitters seeking instruction, although all three teach and will leave references for that instruction at the convent. Come explore your spiritual growing edges through contemplative knitting. Please bring yarn and needles. Maximum number of guests for this retreat is 12.
$80 includes program, meals and lodging.
| Matins (morning prayer) | 7:00 a.m. | We are silent from Vespers until Compline on all nights except the first night a group arrives. |
| Holy Eucharist | 7:30 a.m. | |
| Breakfast | Follows Eucharist | |
| Diurnum (noon prayer) | 12:00 noon | |
| Lunch | 12:30 p.m. | |
| Vespers (Evening Prayer) | 5:00 p.m. | ** We serve supper in the dining room when large groups are present. Otherwise, please help yourself to supper items in the guesthouse. |
| Supper ** | 6:15 p.m. | |
| Compline (prayer at close of day) | 7:00 p.m. | |
| Saturday / Sunday / Monday changes in schedule | ||
| Matins | 7:30 a.m. | Silence is observed all day/eve on Monday. |
| Eucharist | 8:00 p.m. | |
| Breakfast | Follows Eucharist | |
| Wednesday is the sisters' Sabbath. There are no Offices, Eucharist, or served meals on Wednesday. | ||
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2
It is the privilege and joy of the Sisters of St Helena to offer hospitality to women and men of all faith traditions. We have two guest facilities, the guest house, part of the main convent complex, and Ascension House, a separate house, a very short walk from the chapel.
The guest house has eight single rooms with separate bath facilities for women and men, plus a suite of two single rooms with connecting bath. One additional bath accessible for persons with handicaps can be made available with advance request. The guest house also has a comfortable sitting room and small adjoining kitchenette.
Ascension House has four bedrooms, three with twin beds and one with a single bed, and three full bathrooms. This house is often used as a meeting space as it has a living room that seats 20 to 25 people and a complete kitchen.
Overnight accommodation in both houses includes room and board, and we ask $60 per person per night. Because this income supports our ministry of hospitality and we do not turn away anyone because of their inability to pay, we are grateful to all who can give more than this to help us provide hospitality for those who cannot give as much. Anyone who is unable to pay $60 a night should speak to the guest office manager or to a sister to make special arrangements. Scholarship funding may be available.
All bath and bed linens are provided.
Reservations for guest accommodations may be made through the guest office, open Monday through Friday, 9:00-2:00. At other times, please leave a message on the guest office voice mail: 706-798-5201 ext 1, or e-mail augustaconvent@comcast.net.
Reservations require a non-refundable deposit in advance; see below. Registration deadline for programs is three days prior to the program.
INDIVIDUAL OVERNIGHT:
Overnight accommodation in both houses includes room and board, and we ask $60 per person per night. Because this income supports our ministry of hospitality and we do not turn away anyone because of their inability to pay, we are grateful to all who can give more than this to help us provide hospitality for those who cannot give as much. Anyone who is unable to pay $60 a night should speak to the guest office manager or to a sister to make special arrangements.
An advance deposit covering your first night’s stay is required to hold a reservation. The deposit may be made by cash, check, or credit card (VISA or MasterCard).
Because of the high demand for accommodations during the week of the Masters Golf Tournament, space is limited. All rooms are $75 per person per night during Masters Week and must be reserved and paid for in advance.
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION AND HEALING TOUCH
Spiritual direction and healing touch sessions may be available while you
are staying with us. When possible, please arrange these sessions at the time you make
your room or program reservations or in advance of your visit.
GROUP BOOKINGS:
The cost for accommodations for groups is the same as for individuals except when a group wants a Friday night only, in which case the cost is $75 per person. If a group reserves the entire weekend (Friday night and Saturday night), the group is financially committed to $120 per person for the weekend, even if people decide to leave early.
If a group wishes to have a sister lead a program for them, the sister’s honorarium is in addition to the accommodations charge. We ask $50 honorarium per participant with a minimum of $300.
A deposit covering the first night’s stay for the entire group is required to hold the reservation. This may be made by cash, check, or credit card (VISA or MasterCard). A complete list of names of attendees needs to be provided three days before the group’s arrival.
PROGRAMS:
Many weekends include events sponsored by the convent, with outside speakers or sisters offering special programs. Often, programs begin on a Friday night and continue through Sunday morning or they may be offered as Saturday only. Occasionally programs are offered mid-week.
The typical cost of a full weekend program is $160 for Friday through Sunday (includes all program activities, accommodations, and meals Friday evening through Sunday lunch). For commuters, the cost is $80 (includes all program activities and the midday meals on Saturday and Sunday).
For Saturday programs, the usual cost for participants, including residents, is $60. Lunch is included.
DAY OR EVENING USE OF FACILITY:
With advance booking, groups are welcome to use the convent facilities for evening or day programs, with or without meals. Typical day use is between the hours of 9:00 and 5:00. Evening use is typically between 7:00 and 10:00.
The convent will provide AV equipment and a flip chart for your use if requested in advance. The chapel may be used if not needed by the sisters and if prior arrangement is made.
The garden and grounds are always available.
The guest house reception room with adjoining small kitchenette will accommodate 8 to 10 people for a gathering.
Ascension House has a full kitchen and will accommodate 20 to 25 people for a gathering.
Use of guest house, with lunch provided $ 15.00 per person (or minimum $ 90.00)
Use of guest house, without lunch $ 10.00 per person (or minimum $ 60.00)
Use of guest house in the evening $ 5.00 per person (or minimum $ 30.00)
Use of Ascension House, w/lunch $ 20.00 per person (or minimum $ 120.00)
Use of Ascension House, w/out lunch $ 15.00 per person (or minimum $ 100.00)
Use of Ascension House in the evening $ 8.00 per person (or minimum $ 50.00)
A non-refundable non-transferable deposit of 50% of the calculated fee is required when the reservation is made; the balance is due upon arrival.
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