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About the Retreat
What is a Men’s Emmaus Weekend Retreat?
An Emmaus Men’s Retreat is a spiritual retreat for men. It is organized and given by laymen who are your peers in the community and who face the same challenges—and successes—that you do on a daily basis. The weekend begins on Friday evening and ends on Sunday afternoon; its purpose is to give you the opportunity to ponder and reflect upon your life and your individual relationship with Jesus Christ. The men who attend Emmaus are ordinary men who come from all walks of life and all faith backgrounds.
Do I have to be Catholic?
No, you do not need to be Catholic to take part, although the retreat originated as a Catholic retreat. Over the past several years many Christians—Catholics and non-Catholics alike—even non-church goers, have attended the retreat. It has proven to be a rewarding spiritual experience and in fact life-changing for many.
Will I have to do anything?
You will not be forced to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable the entire weekend. If you choose, you can just sit back and listen.
Will anyone try to convert me?
No, you will simply hear men sharing stories of personal experience. And while some reference a very strong faith in God, no one is preaching or will attempt to convince or convert you to any particular way of religious thinking. For the most part, all you need to do is listen with an open mind and an open heart.
How much does it cost?
The all-inclusive cost for the weekend is $175 per attendee. This includes a private room and all meals (including snacks) Friday evening through Sunday lunch. Accommodations will be made if you require special dietary needs or have any health-related issues.
Cost is never an obstacle to attendance. If you are experiencing financial hardship at this time, arrangements can be made for deferred payments, or even none. Emmaus is a non-profit organization. The entire cost of the weekend goes to pay for the room, meals, and items you receive.
Please contact CDS East Emmaus Ministry Head Santos Hernandez at (412) 427-2302 or [email protected] with questions.
Are you looking to deepen your relationship with God and our Faith Community? Based on the Gospel of Luke 24:13-35, the Emmaus Retreat allows men to step away from everyday life and focus on their relationship with God, family, and friends. Hundreds of men from our community have discovered the impact it can have on faith, marriages, parenting, and other aspects of our lives. The Men’s Emmaus Retreat occurs in April and October each year at the Christ Our Shepherd Center in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The cost of the retreat is $200 per retreatant, including meals and lodging. No men are turned away and assistance is available. Registration is open through the retreat weekend.
Registration will be at: www.christthedivineshepherd.org/mensretreatRetreat DetailsLocation
St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center - the Congregation of the Passionists
148 Monastery Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
What to bring and wear- Bring casual clothing and personal items sufficient for a two-night stay. Dress comfortably. Some go business casual, but most dress as they would at home on a typical Saturday afternoon - jeans or sweats are common attire.
- You will have a private room.
- Towels are provided.
- Public restrooms with separate showers are available.
History of the Men's EmmausIn 1985 a group of men at the St Louis Catholic Church in Miami, Florida, shared a vision of creating a ministry that would bring others to a closer walk with Jesus Christ. Their focus was on men who were “Sunday Catholics” not living their faith. The goal was to raise their level of spirituality by reintroducing the healing nature of the sacraments to their lives and to help them look inwardly at their faith walk. The belief was that by increasing the faith and fellowship of the men, the spirituality and vibrancy of the St. Louis Parish community would follow.
A few years earlier the women at St. Louis Parish started a retreat called “The Emmaus”. After prayerful review of the women’s Emmaus Retreat, the group of men recognized it clearly contained all the basic spiritual elements the group was searching for. After much contemplation and discussion, the women’s Emmaus Retreat was reworked and built upon to bring about a retreat more in tune to the spiritual needs of the men of the parish.
In 1985, with grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit, a team was formed and they went to work evangelizing others to attend the Emmaus weekend. The first men’s Emmaus was held at the Dominican Retreat House at St. Louis Parish. The fruits of the first retreat were beyond expectations. Men from other parishes attended the weekend and soon afterwards they, with help from the St. Louis Parish men, started an Emmaus retreat at their own churches. The Emmaus ministry quickly spread throughout Florida eventually spreading throughout the United States and many foreign countries notably South America and China in 2011.
Growth of the Emmaus in Western Pennsylvania
The Emmaus ministry came to Pittsburgh in the same way it has touched other parishes around the world. The retreat weekend was introduced to two men from St. Thomas More Parish who were invited by others to attend the Emmaus at St. Louis Parish in Miami. Having experienced the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, they invited other men to attend the retreat in Miami. Groups of two or three men traveled together to attend the Miami Emmaus. Eventually, this growing group of “Emmaus Men” approached the pastor of St. Thomas More Church seeking permission to host an Emmaus retreat in the South Hills.
In August 2006, the first Emmaus team was formed with nine men from Pittsburgh and thirteen men from Miami’s St. Louis Parish. The Pittsburgh and Miami teams met through conference calls once a week for eight weeks. The group from Miami guided the team from Pittsburgh through the original formation. In October 2006, the first Emmaus retreat in the Pittsburgh diocese was held at the Spiritan Center in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
With prayerful guidance and trust in the Holy Spirit, the Emmaus retreat was a success. Since that first retreat, the Emmaus weekend has attracted men from the Pittsburgh diocese, Greensburg diocese and other dioceses throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New York.
As in Pennsylvania and surrounding states, the Emmaus ministry has maintained its mission of an intimate encounter with the Holy Spirit through the sharing and service of Emmaus brothers …. spreading the same spiritual light and mission of the first Emmaus retreat at St Louis Parish in 1985.
Testimonials“Emmaus has been the biggest blessing for me to truly know Christ and the brothers who love Christ deeply. I am active in other communities but find immense joy with Emmaus.”
“I felt like I was among modern day Apostles.”
“I have attended a number of Catholic events many for men. I can say, without a doubt, the Emmaus Retreat was the most powerful and impactful. It was like nothing I had ever experienced. Simply put: Emmaus is life-changing!”
"At the Emmaus Retreat, I experienced the love and mercy of God in a profound manner. It was the next best thing to meeting Him face-to-face and it was by far the best 48-hour investment I've made in my lifetime!"
"Emmaus was the right thing for me a the right time of my life. I met men who were an inspiration to me and put me on the right track. I now consider these guys to be lifelong friends."
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