Original Franciscan "Third Order" -- Confraternity of Penitents
Make Every Day a Path to Holiness
Confraternity of Penitents Catholic Weekend Retreats
CfP Retreats
Scripture tells us that Jesus rose early in the morning and spent time in solitary prayer and even spent entire nights in prayer. He took solitary respites to make time for prayer even though He had many important matters to tend to. By doing so, He demonstrated the essential need to make time for prayer. He instructed His apostles and followers to go away by themselves to a deserted place and rest, and to go to their room and close the door to pray. Jesus “had no place to rest,” according to the Bible, but the words of the psalms and gospels became His favorite resting places in the Heart of God.
St. Francis took this practice of the Lord very seriously. He and his brothers spent hours each week alone with God in prayer. He was often seen praying alone in the woods, in caves, on cliffs, and in abandoned churches. Just as St. Francis and the early penitents got together and spent much time alone with God, we also take this practice very seriously and “leave the world” to contemplate the Word and lift our hearts to the Lord in the many retreats offered through the Confraternity of Penitents.
Beyond meals and lodging, our retreats offer:
* Time for Holy Mass or Divine Liturgy where we leave the world for that “deserted place,” hear the Word of God, lift our hearts to Him, and receive from Him the spiritual nourishment of the Eucharist
* Time before the Blessed Sacrament and the Monstrance where we become absorbed in intimacy with Him Who is eternal Truth
* The opportunity to pledge to live the Rule and Constitutions together with the support of the Minister General and other members of the Confraternity
* Time for spiritual direction and confession where we share, reflect, receive support, and the healing graces of the Lord
* A series of presentations from a religious, experienced retreat master where we learn to grow in holiness, and deepen our faith and relationship with God and each other
* A sharing together in song and the communal recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours where we make the hours holy in our praise and thanksgiving to the Lord
* A “deserted place” in nature where we enter into the quiet, in contemplative prayer, the rosary, private prayer, or spiritual reading, and rest our heads on His Heart and listen
* Time for sharing with other retreatants privately or in groups where we give of ourselves to each other and become more of one mind and heart
* The opportunity to purchase spiritual books, media, recordings of retreat presentations, and many other religious items from our Confraternity of Penitents Holy Angels Gift Shop
The Confraternity of Penitents strongly encourages you to rest on the Heart of Jesus by making an annual spiritual retreat together with your brothers and sisters, because in no other place is the same Love, and there; enjoy a return to Love.
Please indicate your intent to make an annual retreat and check all that apply, then copy and paste into form and email to us. :
______ I intend to attend the annual retreat in the year_____________________
______ I cannot attend the retreat this year.
______ I would like to purchase a recording of the retreat presentation (when available).
Comments:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Information on upcoming retreats is listed below:
Confraternity of Penitents Retreat, Reunion, Conference
2021 Talks recorded on this link.
Confraternity of Penitents East Coast Retreat 2023
Thursday, July 6 through Sunday, July 9, 2023. St. Mary's Abbey Retreat Center, 230 Mendham Road, Morristown NJ 07960-5089. Father Joseph Tuscan, OFM Cap, and CfP Spiritual Guardian, will be the Retreat Master.
Commuter fee (no overnight stay): $125
Overnight Guests: $359
$50 deposit required to reserve your place at this retreat.
Use Buy Now button.
Schedule and other details forthcoming.
Confraternity of Penitents Retreat/Reunion/Conference 2023
October 11 to October 15, 2023 at St. Felix Catholic Center, Huntington IN USA. Fr. Joseph Tuscan, OFM Cap, and CfP Spiritual Guardian will be the Retreat Master. Father Vit will be joining us as well. Mark your calendars and plan to attend! Bring your own towels, wash cloth, body wash, and water bottle. Other linens and all meals provided.
This will be a joint retreat with other lay Franciscan groups (Tau Maria and Third Order Franciscans) who are striving to return to the original Franciscan vision for the laity.
$200 plus $25 worth of food and/or paper goods or $25 additional payment. Day to day and commuter rates accepted.
Each attending group will have joint sessions of common prayers and retreat talks. Each group will meet individually in break out sessions for their own groups.
Meals will be as follows: Lunch--eat with other members of your group. Dinner--mingle with whoever you wish.
A six hour silent hermitage experience will be part of this retreat.
$50 deposit required to hold your place. 60 rooms available.
Use Buy Now button for retreat deposit.
Talks will be posted as they are formulated:
Pepe Ventosa, TOF: "The Admonitions of St. Francis: A Blueprint for Living the Gospels."
LIFE PLEDGED RETREAT 2024
The CfP Life Pledged Retreat is for CfP members who have made a pledge to live the CfP Rule for life or who are at the end of Novice 3 formation and are considering such a pledge. CfP Life Pledged Retreat 2024 will be held at Mount Saint Francis Hermitage, Endicott NY, from Wednesday, April 24, to Sunday, April 28. Fr. Joseph Tuscan, OFM Cap, will be retreat master. The CfP Council meeting will be held on Saturday, April 27, as part of this retreat. $35 per night plus $25 for food or $25 worth of food plus a stipend of your choice for Fr. Tuscan. Limited to 16 overnight rooms. Day commuters welcome
Preliminary Schedule
Wednesday, April 24
Arrival -- 4 - 4:30 p.m.
5 p.m. Evening Prayer followed by Dinner
Sharing 7 p.m.
Mass 8 p.m. followed by Evening Prayer and retire for the night.
Retreat Theme: To Be Announced. Confession available throughout retreat.
Thursday: April 25 will contain Mass, Divine Office, CFP Prayers, CFP Updates, first talk by Fr. Joe Tuscan.
Friday: April 26 will contain Mass, Divine Office, CFP Prayers, two talks by Fr. Joe Tuscan.
Saturday: April 27 will contain Mass, Divine Office, CFP Prayers, CFP Council meeting. Afternoon Zoom meeting with other CfP members.
Sunday: 7 a.m. Mass and depart.
Confraternity of Penitents Retreat, Reunion, Conference 2024
September 11 - 15, 2024 at St. Felix Catholic Center, Huntington IN USA. Fr. Joseph Tuscan, OFM Cap, and CFP Spiritual Guardian, Retreat Master. Mark your calendars and plan to attend! Bring your own towels, wash cloth, body wash, and water bottle. Other linens and all meals provided.