Group Retreat Day — Quietly Returning to Ourselves, Together

At Emmausvillage, we believe that silence is not just for solitude. When elders gather in a peaceful space, they don’t just rediscover themselves — they rediscover each other.

A group retreat is a special occasion: no phone calls, no packed schedules. Just gentle glances, slow steps, and stories shared with sincerity.

🧭 The Purpose of a Group Retreat

• To create space for each person to listen — to themselves and to one another
• To help seniors release invisible pressures from old expectations
• To reconnect with values that once guided their lives but may have been forgotten
• To nurture community bonds — not through words, but through presence

🧘‍♀️ A Gentle Day of Shared Stillness

Morning
🌤 Gentle warm-up: deep breathing, stretching, walking in the garden
📖 Group journaling: each person shares one thought they’re reflecting on

Midday
🍵 Silent tea: enjoying tea together in a space without words
🪞 Small group discussion: “What do I want to keep in my life?”

Afternoon
🎨 Creative expression: painting, poetry, or writing a letter to oneself
🌳 Outdoor prayer: sitting beneath the trees, reading Scripture, and meditating

Evening
🕯 Closing reflections: each person chooses one intention for the week ahead
💬 Final sharing circle: “How did it feel to be truly listened to?”

✨ Values That Emerge

• Presence is the greatest gift we can offer one another
• No one is ever too old to begin something gentle and new
• Healing happens quietly when we pause together
• A group retreat doesn’t require many words — only true presence

📆 Gentle Commitments After the Retreat

• One silent tea gathering each week
• One kind act per person for someone in the community
• A shared “quiet corner” where anyone can go to reflect
• A group journal titled “Things Worth Remembering” — one line per person each week

A group retreat is not an activity — it’s a state of being.
When we pause together, listen deeply, and simply show up, the community becomes a place of healing.
And often, the most profound things arise from shared silence.