Open Hands, Open Heart

Summer Retreat Day

Saturday, July 25th, 2026 (9:30 -3:30)

at the beautiful Monastery of Mount Carmel in Niagara Falls

Join me and my friend and colleague Sharon Soderholm for a restorative Summer Day Retreat. Through story, poetry and song, you will be invited into the gentle practice of receiving the gifts and holy surprises life offers.

Inspired by the story of the Irish St. Kevin — who with hands open in prayer, welcomed a blackbird to nest there – we will explore what it means to live with radical hospitality and patient expectancy.

Together we’ll practice welcoming our full selves with love and compassion, and opening our hands and hearts to all that Divine Love longs to give.

This day will offer space for stillness, personal reflection, conversation with kindred souls and options for creative collage expression, walking the labyrinth and/or a contemplative walk outdoors.

Cost: $70 (includes a delicious lunch)

Come with open hands and an open heart. Discover the quiet grace of a life ready to receive. 

Coming in the Fall…

Grief and Gratitude Retreat

November 13th-15th, 2026

at the Monastery of Mount Carmel
in Niagara Falls

“The work of the mature person is to carry grief in one hand and gratitude in the other and to be stretched large by them.”

— Francis Weller

A transformative weekend designed to guide us through the tender landscape of loss and the profound beauty of appreciation. We will create a sacred and supportive space to acknowledge, honour, and integrate our experiences of grief, while simultaneously cultivating a deeper connection to gratitude.

 During our weekend together we will create a handmade gratitude & grief journal using a simple book binding technique and collage. 

Weaving together reflection and ritual, music and poetry, guided journaling, time for individual contemplation and conversation with kind souls, this will be a slow paced and restorative retreat.

Come stay at the beautiful Monastery of Mount Carmel. All rooms are single occupancy and feature private en-suite facilities. Delicious meals are provided!

Cost: $350 + Creative materials fee $15

To save your spot, call 905 356 4113 or email reservations@carmelniagara.com