Spring arrives softly, silently. A fiddlehead fern peeks out. A daffodil tip appears. Grass greens up. (A friend once told me he was curious enough as a child to watch grass grow. Consider the patience it takes to watch silent grass grow.)
But does Spring come upon us silently? Not the noisy Canadian geese and trumpeter swans, melodious robins, pounding pileated woodpeckers, and crooning sandhill cranes amidst many birdsongs.
The cacophony of daily life pierces the peace and quiet we long for.
Christmas cards marketing connection and rest during the busiest, most wonderful season of all startle me. Advertisements depict people lazing on the water with feet dipped in the coolness or sitting at outdoor barbecues with friends. Even the Catholic liturgical season of Lent presents itself as a time of deeper prayer and listening to God. Where is all this rest actually promoted?
On retreat.
For years, women have asked Dunrovin to offer retreats designed for women. A retreat called “The Seven Sacred Pauses” debuted in February 2026. It received wonderful reviews from our guests. Retreats offer the rest, silence, and connection with God that women crave.
Seven sacred pauses mimic the seven liturgical hours designed to keep a person tuned in to prayer over a 24-hour period. Translated into six prayer times – because Dunrovin omits the traditional 3 AM hour – the Seven Sacred Pauses retreat arrives on the scene in time for Lent.
Perhaps this is the greatest gift of a silent retreat. Women, often thrust into caregiving by career or vocation, need a place for this inward journey. Throughout the retreat, women are guided to listen for the whisper of God’s love and encouragement. It takes time to slough off the noise of outside life. In the retreat center, women slowly settle in. Their spirits relax. Their bodies rest. Their minds respond to the quietness, and it becomes a new rhythm.
Explore the sample sacred pause below, then sign up for the retreat or share this opportunity with friends seeking silence and rest.
Dunrovin – you belong here.
mary.meeds@dunrovin.org | 651-433-2486