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Retreat Schedule > The Spiritual Heart of Women

The Spiritual Heart of Women

An Ignatian, Silent Overnight Retreat for Women

June 19 - 20, 2026

Suggested Contribution: $280.00 per person

Groups Attending: Individuals

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Summary

Greet the summer season, tend your spirit and welcome God's love. On this overnight, interfaith retreat we will explore different ways to pray including:

  • Meditation, with the loving-kindness prayer
  • Embodied prayer, with gentle Tai Chi movements, 
  • Lectio Divina, an ancient Christian practice of Scripture reading
  • Sacred writing, allowing your feelings to flow and be expressed

You will have time to breathe in the beauty of creation as we nurture our deepest selves. Mass will be celebrated on Saturday afternoon and the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available. 

Come as you are, to rest in nature’s beauty. Bring a sister, daughter, mother or friends and nurture your soul alongside the women you love.

Description

This retreat includes several presentations, daily mass, 4 meals, the opportunity for one-on-one spiritual direction with a trained spiritual director, and many other opportunities to explore our 80 acres and almost 60k square feet of  interior space. All activities are optional, but we do ask everyone to respect the quiet of the retreat house for everyone to have the opportunity to read, sleep and reflect in the quiet. 

Bellarmine has two libraries, a resource center, two chapels, and many other common areas. Outdoor spaces include a various walking trails, various prayer gardens, a gazebo, stations of the cross, as well as a few patios and outdoor chairs and benches. Each retreatant has their own bedroom. 

You can learn more about what to expect by visiting this page.

Retreat Experience Gallery

Retreat Leaders

Erin Maiorca

Erin Maiorca has been the Executive Director at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House since 2019. She first attended a retreat at Bellarmine as a high school senior making a Kairos retreat. She fell in love with Jesus on that retreat. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois, and a Culinary Arts Degree from the Washburne Culinary and Hospitality Institute. She spent 20 years active in her parish and working in corporate America. She held positions in hospitality management, training, and communications nationally and globally for a fortune 500 company. She had a calling however, to serve the people of God in a different way. In 2012 she began a new chapter at Bellarmine serving as the Associate Director. A long-time student of the Ignatian traditions, she entered the Spiritual Direction internship program in 2016. Erin’s hobbies are cooking, reading, day-hiking, and kayaking. She and her husband Tom reside in Glenview, Il and have two adult sons.

Elizabeth Neubauer

Elizabeth Neubauer is spiritual director and supervisor. Her practice serves individuals of all faith traditions and those who describe themselves as spiritual. She has facilitated programs on prayer, meditation, mindfulness and grief and loss. In addition, Elizabeth leads retreats for recovering alcoholics and addicts and their families in which acceptance, shame and forgiveness are often topics. She has degrees in business and art and is a graduate of the Spiritual Guidance Training Program at Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin. Elizabeth has additional training in grief and loss, mindfulness and self-compassion. Past careers have included Fundraising, Photography, Employee Assistance Programming and Funeral Service. She is a member of Congregation Shalom, a Reform Jewish synagogue in Milwaukee.

Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ

Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ is a retreat leader, poet, story teller and spiritual director at the Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, IL. He holds an MFA from the Yale School of Drama and a Doctor of Ministry from St Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL. He is the founder of Charis, a national Jesuit retreat ministry for young adults in their 20s and 30s. For 10 years he trained spiritual directors at Loyola University-Chicago. 

A prolific writer and speaker, Fr. Michael has published books, poems, CDs, and DVDs on prayer, discernment, and the sacraments with America Media, Franciscan Media, Paulist Press, Liturgical Training Publications and Audible. His latest co-authored book, published by Loyola Press, is What’s Your Decision? An Ignatian Approach to Decision Making. 

Fr Michael is also the President of Heart to Heart Catholic Media Ministry. His weekly video homilies can be seen online at www.HtoH.US.

Listen to a talk by Fr. Michael.
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