The men of St. Lawrence parish go on retreat each year during Lent at Loyola Retreat House in Southern Maryland, just south of La Plata, MD, about a one- hour drive from the parish.   St Lawrence men have been attending retreats at Loyola since it was opened in 1958.

The retreat is held in silence and is based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola and includes generous amounts of time for prayer, personal reflection, and the cultivation of a deep relationship with God.  Each year the retreat focuses on a different theme.  It begins Friday evening with the Sacrament of Penance and closes with Holy Mass on Sunday.

Each retreatant is free to structure the weekend to suit his own personal needs. Everyone has a private room with a half bath.  Loyola is situated on a bluff overlooking the Potomac River and is surrounded by 235 acres of rolling woodland.   The retreat house itself is air-conditioned, with 2 Chapels, comfortable lounges and sitting rooms.  There is also a small fitness room, bookstore, and hiking trails.  There are two outdoor Stations of the Cross pathways for prayer on the property.    Internet access is available in the main retreat house.

Take some time to “Come Away and Rest Awhile” and spend some prime time with God during the Lenten season to prepare wonderfully for the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus on Easter Sunday.

Loyola also provides weekends for women’s retreats, and women are strongly encouraged to attend, even though there is not presently an organized group of women from St Lawrence that attends on a regular basis. For more information on this weekend experience or Retreat dates and opportunities please contact Mark Krause at 703-971-4378 or via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..