New Year's Meditation Retreat for Beginners 2027

Friday, January 29, 2027 at 4:00 PM through
Sunday, January 31, 2027 at 2:00 PM
at Benet House Retreat Center, 2200 88th Avenue West Rock Island, Illinois, 61201 United States

Start your New Year 2027 in a meaningful, life shifting way. Experience a spiritually empowering weekend meditation retreat in the peaceful environment of Benet House Retreat Center at St Mary's Monastery in Rock Island, Illinois. Enjoy guided meditation sessions and practical teachings that present effective tools to incorporate positive ways of thinking into your day-to-day life.

Theme: How to Stop Negative Thoughts and Cultivate Positive State of Minds.
Year after year we seem to fall into the same bad mental habits of thought. It's not a wonder, as the world around us continuously forces negative talk and images in our direction. In this retreat we will learn simple, effective mental techniques to turn our mind away from negative atmospheres towards positive states. Like developing muscle in the gym, the muscle of our mental attention needs to be trained to turn in a positive direction, instead of defenselessly succumbing to the current of negativity around us. As we train in these mental techniques, we grow stronger and our thoughts will remain longer in positive and beneficial states of mind. As a result, feelings of happiness and satisfaction will remain in our mind influencing our daily activities and relationships in a positive way. Furthermore, we will discover we have developed the mental strength to help others move in this positive direction, bringing new meaning and fulfillment to our life.

During your retreat, explore nature trails, enjoy meaningful conversation and relax amidst the beauty and tranquility of the Benet House Retreat Center's natural surroundings.

Whether you're a beginner or simply want to enjoy retreat in ideal conditions, this weekend will help you renew and return to daily life with tools to keep a positive, happy mind.

Everyone is welcome, no experience is needed. We sit in chairs.

Registration and payment in full by January 15, 2027:

• Private Room, meals and materials: $350.00
• Shared Room with 2 twin beds, meals and materials: $320 per person

If you are interested in adding an extra night stay before or after the retreat, please contact registration after you have booked your retreat.

About Benet House Retreat Center

Benet House Retreat Center at St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Illinois offers a place apart to seek the Holy One for persons of all faiths. Benet House Retreat Center is situated atop a hill overlooking 90 acres of prairie restoration, woods and a lake. Walking paths provide quiet and solitude. Private guest rooms provide sanctuary. Come for guided retreats, silent retreats, personal retreats‍ ‍and a variety of ongoing prayers‍ ‍and spiritual programs or host your own group retreat. Benet House Retreat Center is an anchor of our Midwest region’s spiritual community, and well worth the trip.

Benet House Retreat Center is located less than three hours from Chicago, IL and Des Moines, IA and just one hour from Iowa City, Iowa.

By flight: Quad Cities International Airport is 15 minutes from Benet House Retreat Center.
There are also bus options available from Chicago and other major transportation hubs. Moline, IL and Davenport, IA are the closest major ground transit stops to Benet House Retreat Center. ‍

Rideshare & Taxi Service:

Uber and Lyft services and local taxi companies are available in the area.