Journeys to Assisi offers 3 week-long immersion retreats
in the glorious Umbrian landscape of Assisi, Italy.
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Channel of Your Peace: A Recovery Retreat with Francis of Assisi May 19-25, 2019 |
Live the Questions: A Journey with Francis & Clare September 1-7, 2019 |
Through Beginner's Eyes: A Photography Retreat September 15-21, 2019 |
This is a retreat exclusively for those in 12-step recovery, of any kind. Take this unique opportunity to contemplate your 12-step journey in companionship with St. Francis - a model of willingness, surrender, gratitude and conscious contact. Join us for morning meditation followed by talks that interweave his life stories with recovery themes. We visit Assisi’s sacred sites and eat lunch at local restaurants. There are "all-12-steppers" meetings each day. |
“Live the Questions” is an immersion experience in Assisi, Italy - a unique opportunity to contemplate your spiritual path while learning about Saints Francis and Clare. The retreat highlights their life events and writings, explored through morning talks and questions for contemplation, such as: “Where do we turn in those ’in-between’ times of transition?” “How might attachments block our spiritual development?” Our morning talks are followed by visits to Assisi’s sacred sites and lunch at local restaurants. |
“Through Beginner’s Eyes” is an immersion retreat in Assisi, Italy - a unique opportunity to refresh your photography practice in this glorious medieval town. Like the Zen concept of “beginner’s mind”, beginner’s eyes allow us to see the world anew – with openness, eagerness and freedom from preconceptions. We expand our openness with exercises based on playful imagination, guided visualization, and mindfulness practices, coupled with photographic field trips. |
Interested? Get in touch! Use the response forms, below.
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What others have said...
"...the week was amply structured with a lot of space for self reflection and downtime. I especially enjoyed the afternoon thought sessions. I think you did a great job keeping us on course and allowing enough space so we each could personalize the experience."
Rose Deats, 2018
"...it was the realization of a dream, and the pace was perfect. I appreciated the camaraderie and group chemistry. The places we visited were a gift. The restaurants and eating experiences could not have been better, and blended into the whole experience. The open and honest discussions were meaningful and thought provoking."
Rev. Wilfredo Benitez, 2018
"We found the morning sessions, the visits to churches, the fabulous lunches and the afternoon reflections very meaningful and well paced. Thank you so much for a wonderful retreat."
Helena Lee, Richard Klapper, 2018
"This was a life changing experience!! Paul is a gifted retreat leader; the group provided a wonderful context for exploring the questions we were given to consider. Assisi is breathtakingly beautiful and palpably spirit-filled. My hope is to go back next year."
Ellen Oler, LCSW, 2016
"The morning talks & evening reflections were wonderful - far superior to any meditations I had been offered before. I continue to ask the questions that you posed to us, and I am very grateful."
Millicent Browne, 2016
“Paul Kimmerling is a fine teacher and guide, leading us to a deeper understanding of how photography can capture and focus our view of the world. Observing just one narrow, meaningful space (through the limited view of the camera) within the chaos of the world around us calms the mind and stirs the soul.”
Deb Nelson Kmetz, 2016
"Paul…guided us to look for and appreciate beauty in the simple, ordinary things around us. Things that one doesn’t always notice, or take for granted, because they seem insignificant. I learned to see the “sacred in the ordinary” through a new “lens”. I came away with far more than I ever expected, thanks to Paul and our group work."
LeAnn Gannon, 2016
"Overall, it was a wonderful experience to go deeper into my Franciscan vocation. ..I found the talks to be very beneficial...
a good way to "frame" what were doing each day. Site visits were organized...we had plenty of time to explore.... "
Br. David Rutledge, OSF, 2015
"Paul was excellent at balancing his program with our needs and taking advantage of being in Assisi. It was great having his experience...The retreat had the perfect tone for Assisi...going to the spots where the lives of St. Francis and St. Clair were lived...
made the retreat come alive."
Larry Quirk, 2015
“... I needed to look beyond the trees, flowers, and skies that I usually focus on and seek out new subjects. So thankful to Paul...for guiding & expanding my creative spirit into a more open-eyed and thoughtful place."
Katherine L. Aul Cervoni, 2015
Landscape Designer http://www.staghornnyc.com
Rose Deats, 2018
"...it was the realization of a dream, and the pace was perfect. I appreciated the camaraderie and group chemistry. The places we visited were a gift. The restaurants and eating experiences could not have been better, and blended into the whole experience. The open and honest discussions were meaningful and thought provoking."
Rev. Wilfredo Benitez, 2018
"We found the morning sessions, the visits to churches, the fabulous lunches and the afternoon reflections very meaningful and well paced. Thank you so much for a wonderful retreat."
Helena Lee, Richard Klapper, 2018
"This was a life changing experience!! Paul is a gifted retreat leader; the group provided a wonderful context for exploring the questions we were given to consider. Assisi is breathtakingly beautiful and palpably spirit-filled. My hope is to go back next year."
Ellen Oler, LCSW, 2016
"The morning talks & evening reflections were wonderful - far superior to any meditations I had been offered before. I continue to ask the questions that you posed to us, and I am very grateful."
Millicent Browne, 2016
“Paul Kimmerling is a fine teacher and guide, leading us to a deeper understanding of how photography can capture and focus our view of the world. Observing just one narrow, meaningful space (through the limited view of the camera) within the chaos of the world around us calms the mind and stirs the soul.”
Deb Nelson Kmetz, 2016
"Paul…guided us to look for and appreciate beauty in the simple, ordinary things around us. Things that one doesn’t always notice, or take for granted, because they seem insignificant. I learned to see the “sacred in the ordinary” through a new “lens”. I came away with far more than I ever expected, thanks to Paul and our group work."
LeAnn Gannon, 2016
"Overall, it was a wonderful experience to go deeper into my Franciscan vocation. ..I found the talks to be very beneficial...
a good way to "frame" what were doing each day. Site visits were organized...we had plenty of time to explore.... "
Br. David Rutledge, OSF, 2015
"Paul was excellent at balancing his program with our needs and taking advantage of being in Assisi. It was great having his experience...The retreat had the perfect tone for Assisi...going to the spots where the lives of St. Francis and St. Clair were lived...
made the retreat come alive."
Larry Quirk, 2015
“... I needed to look beyond the trees, flowers, and skies that I usually focus on and seek out new subjects. So thankful to Paul...for guiding & expanding my creative spirit into a more open-eyed and thoughtful place."
Katherine L. Aul Cervoni, 2015
Landscape Designer http://www.staghornnyc.com
Sacred SitesYou will visit the major spiritual landmarks of Assisi, such as the Basilica of St Francis, pictured above. |
Glorious Surroundings You will be immersed in the verdant landscape of Umbria, called the "Green Heart of Italy". |
Food and FellowshipYou will have many opportunities to savor local cuisine in the company of fellow travelers. |