"The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, ‘You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest awhile’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves." Mark 6:30-32

Retreats have their biblical basis in the model of Jesus going off in solitude to pray.  Two major examples are tin the Desert before He begins His public ministry and in the Garden of Gethsemane before His Passion and death. The desert and mountainous regions provided remote areas as places of retreat for the early Christians.  Later, monasteries were established.  By the 16th century, retreat houses became established—a model that still operates today.

In keeping with Church tradition, parish retreats at St. Uriel's offer parishioners the opportunity for an experience like the apostles who went off to a lonely place with Jesus.  Jesus is eager to offer His peace, joy, and healing to those who heed His call to ‘come away’ and be with Him. Parish retreats are offered primarily just before Lent as a means of renewal. 

St. Marguerite's Retreat House of the Community of Saint John Baptist at Mendham, New Jersey, affords a place of renewal and refreshment.  The convent's extensive grounds for walking and meditation provide a peaceful setting for those who gather.  During times of quiet prayer the retreatants may use the Chapel in the Retreat House.  The meals are ample and very good.