St. Francis
Retreat Center


"The spiritual life does not remove us from the world
but leads us deeper into it." Henri J.M. Nouwen
Suggested donation is listed on retreat description;
Don't let financial hardship keep you from participating.
If you need a partial or full scholarship,
please email mepkinguestmaster@gmail.com to register.

Rebuilding Trust
an in-person and online retreat
with
The Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault
February 21-25, 2022

In-person retreat
suggested donation: $450
The presentations of this retreat will also be shared via Zoom.
Online suggested donation: $150
To our usual psychological way of looking at things, trust must be earned; it is called forth in response to demonstrated trustworthiness. But there is another way of approaching trust, which has always been the way of the great saints and mystics. From this other angle of approach trust is not earned so much as bestowed—from a fathomless strength and freedom which lies latent in every human soul, flowing like a wellspring from the heart of God. Anchored in strength rather than gullibility, and impervious to manipulation, this trust is itself a transformative force, flowing into a broken world to bring courage, healing, and reconnection.
The Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault is a modern-day mystic, Episcopal priest, writer, and internationally known retreat leader. She divides her time between solitude in her seaside hermitage in Maine and a demanding schedule traveling globally to spread the recovery of the Christian contemplative and Wisdom paths. Her roots are firmly planted in the Benedictine monastic tradition, her wings soar in the Christian mystical lineage, and her wisdom is tempered by daily mindfulness and embodiment practice learned through more than thirty years of participation in the Gurdjieff Work. An emeritus core faculty member at The Center for Action and Contemplation, she has been honored as one of the 100 most spiritually influential living people in 2021.