February 26-28, 2027

A Taste of Silence: Weekend Silent Directed Retreat $400

 

Step out of your routine to enter sacred space in a spirit of silence for a weekend.


Register

 A Directed Retreat at Mercy by the Sea provides a peaceful atmosphere of solitude to enter more deeply into relationship with the Divine. This “Taste of Silence” is perfect for those new to directed retreats to start with a shorter experience and for those who may find it challenging to make a longer retreat during the year.  A daily meeting with a trained spiritual director provides space to recognize and respond to the sacred present in each moment.

 

The rest of the time is yours in this Thin Space, Sacred Ground:

  • Contemplate Creation by walking on the beach, exploring the nature path through the woodlands, and witnessing the abundant wildlife that share these grounds.
  • Explore opportunities for creative expression including journaling, painting, poetry, and art.
  • Spend time in prayer and reflection in the Lyons Chapel, Grant Living Room, Seaside Chapel or anywhere on these sacred grounds.

The retreat is unique for each person through the questions, hopes, and desires brought to the weekend, the rhythm of contemplation and action in each day, the accompaniment of the spiritual director, and ultimately the personal encounter with the Sacred.  A weekend is plenty of time for grace, peace, and transformation of heart.

After registering for the retreat you will receive a questionnaire that will help the team pair retreatants with one of the spiritual directors listed below at the start of the retreat. You can express preferences but  we cannot guarantee a particular director. Contact Megan Shepherd, Director of Spirituality and Retreats, with any questions.  

MaryAnne Davey

 MaryAnne Davey is the founder & owner of Body & Soul Ministries, a spiritual companionship ministry through which she offers spiritual direction, retreat facilitation and ministry mentorship. Her spiritual direction training is steeped in the Ignatian tradition. MaryAnne directs retreats at various retreat centers in New England and New Jersey.  She is an adjunct chaplain at College of the Holy Cross where she assists with the Spiritual Exercises Retreats and Marriage Preparation Coordination.  MaryAnne is also a trained giver of the 19th Annotation Spiritual Exercises Retreat in Everyday Life. She serves as an adjunct instructor in the Practice of Spiritual Direction with the Spiritual Direction Internship Initiative (SDII) in Brighton, MA.   MaryAnne holds a Master of Arts Degree in Spiritual and Pastoral Care from Loyola University Maryland and has over 20 years of experience in Catholic higher education with a focus in mission and ministry work. She is passionate about justice, equity and integrated well-being. 

Lisa Irish

Lisa Irish, M.A., MEd, BCC, ministers as a spiritual director, retreat leader and author. She has served as parish staff, school faculty, and in pastoral care. Trained as a chaplain, Lisa understands ministry as an invitation to presence in the space that resides between ongoing human needs and the unending love of God. With a background and training in Bio-Spiritual Focusing, Lisa meets individuals where they are and assists their interior movement through the wisdom of the body. She is the author of "Grieving – The Sacred Art, Hope in the Land of Loss." Lisa finds joy in nature, dance, good sleep and soulful connections.

Brenda McLaughlin

Brenda M. McLaughlin holds a M.A. from Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry as well as Certificates in: Spiritual Direction (Franciscan Spiritual Direction Training Program); The Dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises 19th Annotation Retreat (Boston College); Giving Ignatian Retreats (St. Beuno’s Jesuit Spirituality Centre); and Advanced Biblical Studies (The New England Catholic Biblical School). Brenda’s professional experience includes teaching in public elementary schools and at the university level, as well as a stint in the corporate world. Since the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius guide Brenda’s prayer life, she seeks to find God in all things. Brenda grew up on a dairy farm in Western Massachusetts, which has served as good fodder for finding God in all the rest of her life.

Fr. John Murray, S.J.
John Murray is a Jesuit priest and a spiritual director working with Jesuits in formation and lay students at Boston College and minister at the Faber Jesuit Community, Brighton, MA.  John's work over the years has included being a high school principal, board of trustee member at several Jesuit schools and colleges, teacher of Ignatian spirituality and staff member of Eastern Point Retreat House, Gloucester, MA.  John also assists in the Concord/Carlisle, MA Catholic Collaborative for weekend masses.  John enjoys the beauty and simplicity of companioning others seeking the presence of God in their journeys of life and love.  John is an avid reader of American history and a Scrabble aficionado. 

Megan Shepherd

Megan serves as the Director of Spirituality and Retreats at Mercy by the Sea. A certified Spiritual Director in the Ignatian tradition for over eighteen years, she is a member of the College of Directors at Fairfield University’s Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality. Before moving to Connecticut in 2023, Megan spent fourteen years in South Bend, IN directing the Notre Dame Vision program for young people and those who serve them. Megan is grateful for the opportunity to share her gifts in creativity, spiritual direction, and ministry in service of all who seek to connect with the divine. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Megan has a heart for adopting senior dogs with special needs and currently lives in Madison, CT.

How to Register

Once a retreat has opened for registration, it will remain open until it is filled, and a waiting list will be generated. If possible, please use the Online Registration. Online registration will be available 24 hours per day. If you are unable to register online, please call (203) 245-0401 where staff will assist you between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Please be aware, we have limited staff available to process phone calls and these requests will be processed after all the online registrations are fully processed.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Register

  • Have your credit card available to process your payment. (You will be able to reserve your spot with a deposit of $150, or pay the balance in full.)
  • Click on the button for each retreat to learn more about the directors and to register.
  • To register, click on the button and follow the instructions.
  • If the retreat is full, a waitlist form will appear. Fill in your name and contact info to be added to the waitlist.

Cancellation and Refund Policy for Mercy by the Sea

  • A non-refundable deposit of $150 is required at registration.
  • A cancellation made up to 14 days before the start of the retreat will result in a full refund minus the deposit.
  • The payment balance is due 14 days before a retreat.
  • A cancellation made fewer than 14 days before your scheduled arrival, you will receive a 50% refund of the total amount paid minus the deposit.
  • A full refund would be given in the unlikely event that MBTS would need to cancel the program.
  • Any payments made cannot be held by MBTS as "credit on account" toward a future date.