Spring Discernment Retreat | March 12 – 14, 2021

Praised be Jesus Christ! Welcome to the Chosen – For Greater Things virtual discernment retreat, prepared for you with love by the Carmelite Sisters!

Even though you are not physically here, we are deeply united with you spiritually, most especially through our union with Jesus in prayer and in the Blessed Sacrament! So, really and truly, you are here with us!

We are all home right now due to this pandemic and our lives have stopped or slowed down from the normal hustle and bustle of the day. It is very obvious that God our Lord has called us to focus on the most important aspect of our life…that is our Faith. You might be experiencing anxiety, isolation, and maybe a little anger from not being able to go to Holy Mass, to receive Him in Holy Communion or the sacraments. These emotions are natural and normal.

Our mother Foundress, Venerable Mother Luisita would say to you:

“Humble yourself, asking Him to do everything for you
and with tranquility continue working for the good of your own soul
which is the most urgent thing for you to do.
See God, your soul, and eternity, and for the rest, do not preoccupy yourself.
For greater things you were born.

This is the time to give God the space to speak to your heart and for you to share with him all your experiences. Here, now, in this room He meets you, not just at the Church or adoration chapel, but in your heart and in the hearts of your loved ones right next door.

God will bless you for giving Him this time to speak, for allowing Him to share His deep and abiding love for you. As you receive each email, we encourage you to stay in the present moment and assure you of our prayers, all 130 of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles!

Tips for your Retreat

Prepare a Prayer Space

  • Listen in a room inside or outside set apart from others, not where there is a television or computer screen on. Try to pray in this space consistently.
  • Make sure that you are comfortable, but not too comfortable. ?
  • Give yourself a solid 45-60 minutes of time to listen and then pray and reflect after the conference.
  • Have a journal with you and write down any key points that struck you or any questions that you would like to bring to our live Q&A sessions or to your one-on-one meeting with a Sister. The Holy Spirit will move in your heart as you listen to the conferences.

Stay Recollected

Although silence might be difficult if you live with others, share with them that you are on a virtual retreat (you don’t have to tell them what kind ?) so that they can respect your time and space.
You can also take the talks and prayers outside on a walk but try to stay away from unnecessary conversation. The most important thing is that you keep your interior peace of soul.
Stay on Schedule

You will receive links to the next conference according to a specific schedule
You will be given a good range of time to listen and pray. Try as much as you can to stay on schedule and to listen to all the talks and in the order you receive them.
We also understand that many of you are jumping in on this retreat amidst the many other commitments of life and work and THAT IS FINE! The most important thing is that you are joining in.

Sign Up to Meet with a Sister

*Please sign up no later than Saturday at 1:00 PM PST. The link will no longer be available after 1:00 PM.

Our Retreat Sisters

Sister Maria Goretti, O.C.D.

Sister Joseph Francesca, O.C.D.

Sister Grace Helena, O.C.D.

Sister Regina Marie, O.C.D.

Retreat Schedule

This is a suggested retreat schedule. We have included suggestions for prayer time throughout the retreat. However, feel free to listen and schedule quiet prayer time at your own pace. The conferences will remain accessible to you so long as you keep the links.

For each conference there is both:

  • A LIVE option through Zoom where you will join one of our Sisters and the other retreatants for the conference. Please note that all times listed for the live Zoom conferences are in Pacific Standard Time.
  • A pre-recorded conference video if you are unable to be present for the live Zoom conference

Friday, March 12, 2021

Before 5:00 PM [PST] | View all intro videos

Before 5:00 PM [Your Time] | Conference 1: Foundations of Discernment

7:00 PM [PST] | LIVE Zoom Conference 1: Foundations of Discernment

Suggested Prayer Time
Take at least 15 minutes of quiet time to pray through Conference 1

4:45 PM [PST] | Zoom Q&A + Retreatant Sharing

30 Minutes Before Going to Bed | Night Prayer 

Saturday, March 13, 2021

6:30 AM [PST] | Livestream: Morning Prayer with the Sisters followed by Holy Mass

Before 10:00 AM [Your Time] | Conference 2: Religious Life

9:00 AM [PST] | LIVE Zoom Conference 2: Religious Life

10:15 AM [PST] | Zoom Rosary with Exposition and Reflections

11:15 AM [PST] | LIVE Zoom Examen Prayer

Between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM [Your Time] | Virtual Tours and Interviews

Suggested Prayer Time
Take at least 30 minutes of quiet prayer time before listening to the Examen Prayer

Before 1:00 PM [Your Time] | Examen Prayer

2:30 PM [PST] | LIVE Zoom Conference 3: Carmelite Spirituality and Our Community

Before 3:00 PM [Your Time] | Conference 3: Carmelite Spirituality and Our Community

3:30 PM [PST] | Zoom Q&A + Retreatant Sharing

5:15 PM [PST] | Livestream: Solemn Salve and Evening Prayer with the Sisters

Suggested Prayer Time
Take at least 30 minutes of quiet prayer time after listening to Conference 3

7:15 PM [PST] | Zoom Recreation with the Sisters

30 Minutes Before Going to Bed | Night Prayer

Sunday, March 14, 2021

7:00 AM [PST] | Livestream: Holy Mass with the Sisters

9:00 AM [PST] | LIVE Zoom Conference 4: Next Steps

Before 11:00 AM [Your Time] | Morning Prayer on your own

Suggested Prayer Time
Take at least 30 minutes of quiet prayer time sometime in morning to pray through the
material received thus far on the retreat before you listen to Conference 4

Before 2:00 PM [Your Time] | Conference 4: Next Steps

Suggested Prayer Time
Take at least 15-30 minutes of quiet prayer time after listening to Conference 4

2:45 PM [PST] | Zoom Q&A + Retreatant Sharing, Closing Prayer

After Your Retreat | Post Retreat Examen

Saturday, March 20, 2021

3:30 PM [PST] | Zoom Post-Retreat Reunion! ?

Retreat Schedule

This is a suggested retreat schedule. We have included suggestions for prayer time throughout the retreat. However, feel free to listen and schedule quiet prayer time at your own pace. The conferences will remain accessible to you so long as you keep the links.

For each conference there is both:

  • A LIVE option through Zoom where you will join one of our Sisters and the other retreatants for the conference. Please note that all times listed for the live Zoom conferences are in Pacific Standard Time.
  • A pre-recorded conference video if you are unable to be present for the live Zoom conference
Friday, March 12, 2021

Before 5:00 PM [PST] | View all intro videos

Before 5:00 PM [Your Time] | Conference 1: Foundations of Discernment

7:00 PM [PST] | LIVE Zoom Conference 1: Foundations of Discernment

Suggested Prayer Time
Take at least 15 minutes of quiet time to pray through Conference 1

4:45 PM [PST] | Zoom Q&A + Retreatant Sharing

30 Minutes Before Going to Bed | Night Prayer

Saturday, March 13, 2021

6:30 AM [PST] | Livestream: Morning Prayer with the Sisters followed by Holy Mass

Before 10:00 AM [Your Time] | Conference 2: Religious Life
9:00 AM [PST] | LIVE Zoom Conference 2: Religious Life
10:15 AM [PST] | Zoom Rosary with Exposition and Reflections
11:15 AM [PST] | LIVE Zoom Examen Prayer
Between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM [Your Time] | Virtual Tours and Interviews

Suggested Prayer Time
Take at least 30 minutes of quiet prayer time before listening to the Examen Prayer

Before 1:00 PM [Your Time] | Examen Prayer

2:30 PM [PST] | LIVE Zoom Conference 3: Carmelite Spirituality and Our Community

Before 3:00 PM [Your Time] | Conference 3: Carmelite Spirituality and Our Community
3:30 PM [PST] | Zoom Q&A + Retreatant Sharing
5:15 PM [PST] | Livestream: Solemn Salve and Evening Prayer with the Sisters

Suggested Prayer Time
Take at least 30 minutes of quiet prayer time after listening to Conference 3

7:15 PM [PST] | Zoom Recreation with the Sisters

30 Minutes Before Going to Bed | Night Prayer

Sunday, March 14, 2021

7:00 AM [PST] | Livestream: Holy Mass with the Sisters

9:00 AM [PST] | LIVE Zoom Conference 4: Next Steps
Before 11:00 AM [Your Time] | Morning Prayer on your own

Suggested Prayer Time
Take at least 30 minutes of quiet prayer time sometime in morning to pray through the material received thus far on the retreat before you listen to Conference 4

Before 2:00 PM [Your Time] | Conference 4: Next Steps

Suggested Prayer Time
Take at least 15-30 minutes of quiet prayer time after listening to Conference 4

2:45 PM [PST] | Zoom Q&A + Retreatant Sharing, Closing Prayer
After Your Retreat | Post Retreat Examen

Saturday, March 20, 2021

3:30 PM [PST] | Zoom Post-Retreat Reunion! ?