Serving the Spiritual Needs of Our Neighbors

St. Joseph Spirituality Center advances the Sisters’ mission of bringing all people into deeper union with God, one another, and all creation through experiences that blend ecology, art, spirituality, and justice. It’s a loving, welcoming space for all!

Upcoming Experiences

Feet in the Forest: Encountering Creation

Join Jarrod Kinkley, founder of the Cooperative for Integral Ecology, for a series of immersive hikes at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve this Fall!

Find community, experience the connection between nature and spirituality, and create a reflective practice of your own.

10:00 – 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays, Sept 21, Oct 19, Nov 16, Dec 21 

$15 per hike; $50 for all four. Rain or shine!

Register for Feet in the Forest

Good Women, Better World Book Club

The Mystics Would Like a Word: Six Women Who Met God and Found a Spirituality for Today

Is there a Christian spirituality that embraces the entire reality of womanhood?

Book club facilitator Megan Murray dreams of a world made better in the hands of good women. Join her, Sisters, and other local women of all ages for meaningful conversation.

7 – 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Sept 26, Oct 17, Nov 7 at Annunciation Convent, 2603 Norwood Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15214.

Register for Good Women, Better World

Walking into a Holy Year as Pilgrims of Hope

Pope Francis has declared the year 2025 to be a Jubilee Year under the theme of “Pilgrims of Hope.”

Often confused with optimism, hope is borne out of suffering and longs for the transformation of what causes suffering.

Join Dr. Maureen Crossen, Ph.D., to enter into the mystery of hope and explore it as the path to creating something new.

Oct 23, 30, Nov 6, 13 (Wednesdays) from 1-3 p.m. or 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Trinity Retreat House in Baden. $25.

Register for Pilgrims of Hope

Spirit Companions: Weekly Virtual Prayer Group

Enjoy faith-sharing, prayer, reflection, and connection with women and men searching for a deeper experience of God. 

This virtual community of kind, caring neighbors from around the country is facilitated by Sister Christine Kresho. You do not need to attend every session to participate!

Weekly on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. EST

Register for Spirit Companions

 

Fall Ignatian Retreat

What are the whispers in the depths of your heart these days?

Come to the quiet for this directed retreat weekend at Trinity House Retreat Center on our peaceful grounds.

Rooted in the spirituality of St. Ignatius Loyola, retreatants enjoy scriptural-based prayer in a contemplative mode, daily liturgy, and individual spiritual direction in an atmosphere of silence and quiet prayer.

Friday evening, November 8 – Sunday morning, November 10. $175 includes meals, lodging and individual direction.

Contact Kathy Wray at 724-869-6585 or kwray@stjoseph-baden.org to register.

Advent Day of Reflection

Join us for a prayerful start to a fruitful Advent season

Following a brief prayer service together, you’ll have the option of some private reflective time or with soft music, some wine and cheese!

Bring your Christmas cards and addresses and write away! We’ll even have some Christmas cards designed by the Sisters of St. Joseph for you to purchase on site.

Sunday, December 1 from 1-4 p.m. There is no cost to attend, but registration is appreciated!

Register for Advent Day of Reflection

Advent Retreat with Sister Margie Kelly

How can we come to appreciate more deeply the meaning of the Incarnation in our life of faith?

Advent is a time to reflect on the gift of the Incarnation – God becoming human in Jesus. Julian of Norwich, a 13th century laywoman, wrote about her experiences of God’s love.

These mystical experiences, which she called “Showings”, set her on fire to share that love with all she met. Julian’s wise and spirited telling of the Christ story will help us to appreciate more deeply the meaning of the Incarnation in our life of faith.

Wednesday evenings (6:30-8 p.m.) on December 4, 11, 18 via Zoom with Sister Margie Kelly. Cost: $50.

Register for God’s Gift of Love in Jesus: An Advent Retreat

Blue Christmas Prayer Service

This service of comfort where we can be there for one another is for anyone experiencing hurt of any kind this holiday season.

Blue Christmas is a contemplative church service of peace, healing and hope for anyone who is mourning a lost loved one or experiencing hurt of any kind.

This service includes hymns, scripture readings, candle lighting and quiet reflection to help process feelings that the holidays may be a difficult time of year.

Wednesday, December 11 at 7:00 p.m. There is no cost to attend, but registration is appreciated!

Refreshments will follow the service.

Register for Blue Christmas or plan to watch it live-streamed on our Facebook page.

Save the Date

Spring 2025

BETTER WORLD BOOK CLUB

“The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World” by Robin Wall Kimmerer

March 11, 25, and April from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Trace Brewing, Bloomfield with Jarrod Kinkley, Founder, Cooperative for Integral Ecology

Cost: $25.

FIVE DAY DIRECTED RETREAT

Based on the spirituality of St. Ignatius Loyola, this retreat offers an atmosphere of silence and quiet prayer, daily liturgy and daily individual retreat direction.

Friday, June 13 at 7 p.m. – Tuesday, June 17 at 12 p.m. at Trinity House Retreat Center. Cost: $400.

Financial aid is available for all programs and retreats listed above. Please contact spiritcenter@stjoseph-baden.org or call 724-869-6525 to inquire about financial aid or ask questions about an upcoming program.

Trinity Retreat House

Are you seeking rest, renewal, or quiet time with God? We host custom individual retreats at Trinity Retreat House, the renovated farm house on our grounds.

Experience rest and renewal among the gardens and pathways on the Sisters’ 80+ acre campus during a custom retreat stay of any length. Rest, pray, journal, or meet with a Spiritual Director.

We look forwarding to hosting you!

Custom Experiences for Individuals and Groups

Individual Five and Eight Day Directed Retreats

Commit to five or eight days of silence and prayer at Trinity House in Baden, PA. Retreatants will experience intentional prayer each day and are welcome to rest, walk, journal, etc. Meet with a spiritual director each day to share the fruit of your prayer and how God is speaking deeply in your heart. We are happy to accomodate individual retreats of any length – contact us to inquire about a night, a weekend or a few days.

Dates: Retreat weeks for individuals are available most months.
Cost: $400 for 5 days or $600 for 8 days includes lodging, meals and stipends.
Retreat Directors: Sisters and staff members as available

The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius (30-Day Retreat)

This individually-directed retreat is for those who wish to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ through the full-time, month long experience of the Spiritual Exercises. The 30-day retreatant is guided by an experienced spiritual director through daily meetings. It is important that the individual who undertakes a retreat of this magnitude is ready for and committed to the undertaking, as it is a major investment of time and energy for both the retreatant and director. Daily Eucharist is available. Individuals interested in making this retreat are expected to have experience with at least one Ignatian directed retreat and to be committed to daily prayer and meditation and regular spiritual direction. A simple application, including a reference from a spiritual director, is required. Please contact the Spirituality Center for more information and availability.

Cost: $2,000 includes lodging, all meals and director’s stipend.

Individual Spiritual Direction

The Sisters of St. Joseph have a long tradition of guiding women and men in their desire to deepen their union with God by offering individual spiritual direction, days of reflection and retreat direction Spiritual direction, a confidential “companioning” of a person who shares his or her ongoing prayer, spiritual journey in daily life and relationship with God, is available to individuals by appointment. Learn more about Spiritual Direction.

Suggested stipend: $50 per one-hour conference.

Programs for Parishes and Clusters

St. Joseph Spirituality Center welcomes parishioners searching for ways to pray together or a welcoming space for open, gentle conversation. We can tailor retreat days or presentations to meet the spiritual needs of liturgical ministers, catechists, those suffering from grief and loss or those seeking to deepen their relationship with God through weekly prayer gatherings.

Our staff of spiritual directors, speakers and facilitators can assist you – or bring your own! Weekdays, evenings and weekends are available throughout the year. Learn more about parish programs.

For More Information

Kathy Fletcher Wray
Director
St. Joseph Spirituality Center
724-869-6585
kwray@stjoseph-baden.org

Virtual Prayer Offerings

Daily Examen

A guide through the five steps of the examen. Learn to ask God to illuminate the ever-so-small movements in the course of your day.

Aging with God’s Grace

Reflecting on the blessings of growing older and wiser, embracing both joy and sorrow with a deep appreciation for God’s faithfulness and love.