Our Mission
The Vita Retreat works to create an environment for people to encounter the Holy Spirit and reignite their lives of prayer and ministry. The Vita Retreat is available in a half-day, two day, or three day format. The core of the retreat is to introduce people to contemplative and creative prayer practices, provide time to reflect on their experiences, and begin and end with the daily office and worship of the Anglican tradition.
"I came to the retreat hoping to deepen my spiritual experience with the Holy Spirit. From the first moments of the weekend to the final ringing of the bell, I felt safe, welcome and enriched."
Upcoming Vita Retreat events
March 4-5, 2022
St. Catherine's Anglican Church, Capilano and via Zoom
Register here
The Vita Retreat will begin on Friday March 4th, 5:30 - 9:30 pm at Saint Catherine's Church (1058 Ridgewood Drive, Edgemont, North Vancouver) and continues on Saturday March 5th, 9 am - 5:30 pm.
It is open to all interested in enriching their spiritual life.
We are offering a hybrid retreat, in person (with Vaccine Passport) and on zoom (those who are not yet able to gather in person).
Cost: $25.00
Note if COVID restrictions allow: Dinner on Friday will be offered. Please make your own arrangements for breakfast on Saturday and bring a mug and bag lunch.
For questions about the retreat please contact Linda Robertson: lindakrobertson@shaw.ca
For questions related to registration contact Natasha Stegemann: scadmin@shaw.ca or 604 985 0666
Online registration available here: The VITA Retreat NV Registration Page
Recent Vita Retreat events
The last retreat was held online via Zoom and hosted by the Centre for Spiritual Renewal at St. Dunstan's, Aldergrove.
The overarching concept of the retreat is an expanded understanding of the spiritual practice of lectio divina. Lectio divina (holy reading) is an ancient, meditative, and devotional way to read scripture. The retreat takes the basic form of lectio and applies it to many things such as art, being in nature, music, cooking, daily tasks, relationships, and conversation – the stuff of daily life. Participants come away with a sense that prayer can be a continual activity in all aspects of their lives. Life can be lived as a prayer, and God is the one who prays within us. And the depth of conversation and community that grows is remarkable.
Date: November 20, 5:30pm – 9pm and Nov. 21, 9am – 4pm, 2020
Fee: $20.00
Registration: https://www.st-dunstans.ca/events/vita-retreat/2020-11-20
Place: Online via Zoom
Manuals for Leaders and Participants
The Vita Retreat steering committee oversees the development and design of manuals to detail and share how to put on a Vita retreat. These manuals are available to groups, parishes, or dioceses to purchase and use with additional coaching on the ethos and ethic of the Vita Retreat. For more information, you can contact the Reverend Eric Mason: ericmason@saintlaurence.ca
These manuals include all the details to successfully plan and deliver a Vita retreat. Every participant receives a take-home guide and every leader gets an enhanced guide to help lead small groups, set-up the space, offer Anglican liturgy, and have additional materials for prayer stations and activities.
In the News
This is an article on the last Vita Retreat held in February 2019: https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/news/the-vita-retreat-a-spiritual-formation-weekend
This is an article on the pilot program of the Vita retreat, formerly entitled “Pro Vita Mundi - For the Life of the World”. It was published on the website of the Anglican Church of Canada in January 2018. https://www.anglican.ca/news/lay-spiritual-renewal-pilot-project-earns-positive-feedback/30020639/
Contact
If you would like to put on a Vita retreat event, please contact the Reverend Eric Mason.
If you would like to attend the next retreat, email the Missioner for Christian Formation, Reverend Jessica Schaap: jschaap@vancouver.anglican.ca
The Vita Retreat is an initiative of the Diocese of New Westminster. The pilot program was generously funded by the Anglican Foundation, the Anglican Church of Canada, and the Anglican Initiatives Fund of the Diocese of New Westminster.
The Steering Committee members are:
Reverend Eric Mason
Pamela McElheran
Sylvia Wallis
Reverend Jessica Schaap
Reverend Dr. Sharon Smith