We invite you to join us for a retreat at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree, Arizona. The sessions will equip those who are approaching or in the third chapter of life to journey further down pathways of purpose and meaning for life today and tomorrow.

Through active participation in reflection on our lives, the retreat offers space for contemplation and connections with other Oles and like-minded participants in similar places along life’s journey. We’ll create a vision for our vocation beyond occupation that we can take with us and bring value to the communities that matter to us (including, if it’s right for you, St. Olaf).

Sunday, November 6
Make your way to Spirit in the Desert and check in. (See the bottom of the itinerary for contact information for the retreat center)
4:30 pm Welcome and introductions. All of our meetings/sessions will take place in the Bash Board Room
5:30 pm Dinner
7:00 pm Evening gathering – Reflection: Your Path to Where You are Today

Monday, November 7
Morning Prayer Pathway/Labyrinth in the Desert is available for private reflection
8:00 am Breakfast
9:00-10:30 Session I – Vocation: Deep Gladness and Deep Sadness in our Vocations (debriefing about insights gained through the Nourishing Vocation Lectionary for those who’ve used it: https://wp.stolaf.edu/nourishing-vocation/home-page/nourishing-vocation-lectionary/)
10:30-11:00 Break
11:00-12:00 Session II – Coming to Terms with Vocations We Don’t Choose
12:00 pm Lunch
2:15-3:30 Session III – Mapping My Present
3:30-4:00 Break
4:00-5:30 Session IV – The Intersections of Vocation with the Gospel of Irresolution
5:30 pm Dinner
Evening Optional Social Time

Tuesday, November 8
Morning Prayer Path/Labyrinth in the Desert
8:00 am Breakfast
9:00-10:30 Session I – Hopes and Concerns for the Next Chapter
10:30-11:00 Break
11:00-12:00 Session II – Core Commitments for the Next Chapter
12:00 pm Lunch
Longer break – walking/resting/reflecting
3:30-5:00 Session III – Possible Pathways for the Next Chapter
5:00-5:30 Break
5:30 pm Dinner
Evening Optional Social Time

Wednesday, November 9
8:00 am Breakfast
9:00-10:30 Final Session: Blessed to be a Blessing, Our Paths Forward
10:30-noon Break – packing/resting/reflecting
12:00 pm Lunch
Individual departures

Deanna A. Thompson is Martin E. Marty Regents Chair in Religion and the Academy and Director of the Lutheran Center for Faith, Values and Community at St. Olaf. An award-winning teacher and author of five books on topics ranging from Martin Luther and feminism to practicing hope in the face of life-threatening illness, Thompson is dedicated to drawing on resources from Lutheran tradition as well as from contemporary insights that can enhance our understanding of what it means to practice faith, hope, and love for ourselves, our families, and our neighbors. Before moving to St. Olaf to direct the Lutheran Center in 2019, Thompson was Chair and Professor of Religion at Hamline University, where she taught for over 20 years. When she’s not writing, speaking or teaching, Thompson can be found hiking in a national park with her husband and two adult children.

This program takes place at Spirit in the Desert in Carefree, Arizona. Lodging, meals, and discussions will all be held on the comfortable campus about 35 miles north of Phoenix.

In addition to the meeting, dining and sleeping facilities, the center also features a worship space, meditation labyrinth, reflective walking path, fountains, the striking desert landscape, heated pool and spa, 24-hour coffee, tea, water, ice, and laundry access, and Wi-Fi access throughout the site.

Covid Information

Program Fee

Inclusions and exclusions vary from program to program. Please read the following information carefully.

The program fee is $1,290 per person. Based on double occupancy, the fee includes guided discussions • a St. Olaf host • three nights’ accommodations at Spirit in the Desert • all meals from dinner on Thursday, Feb. 10 through lunch on Sunday, Feb. 13.

There is no supplement for single occupancy, but there are a limited number of single occupancy spaces. You may also register without a roommate if you are willing to be paired with a same-sex participant.

The commuter fee is $845 per person and does not include overnights or breakfasts.

Exclusions: Transportation to and from Spirit in the Desert is not included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the program fee. Examples of excluded expenses are: Transportation to and from Spirit in the Desert • Baggage insurance • Trip cancellation insurance • Gratuities • Laundry • Dry cleaning • Phone charges • Room service or other items of a personal nature • Expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities • Meals not specifically included on program itinerary • Items not specifically listed above as included.

Payment and Refund Schedule

This schedule is based on payments St. Olaf College must make to program vendors to guarantee group rates. We highly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the program.

Because of ongoing uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, it is possible that a program could be postponed. In such a case, while we will strive to make full refunds when we can, there are certain expenses that may not be refunded to either St. Olaf or the participant.

Deposit due:                  $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel:   $400 until August 31, 2022. If the deposit is made after August 31, 2022 there is no refund.

Final payment due:      September 1, 2022
Refund if you cancel:  None, unless the program is full and your place can be resold

Cancellations must be in writing.

Make a Payment

Make Your Travel Plans

This program is an official GO. As a condition of participation in this program all attendees must have have received a COVID-19 vaccine and booster at least 2 weeks prior to attending. Because changing conditions may result in additional or different participation restrictions, we will strive to keep you promptly informed of any changes resulting from the ongoing pandemic.

Registered and confirmed participants may purchase flights or start planning your drive to Carefree. We strongly recommend you consider adding flight cancellation insurance to a flight purchase. Here are some additional notes:

• The closest airport to Carefree is Phoenix (PHX).
• The retreat center does not have a shuttle, so if you fly to Arizona, you’ll need to rent a car, take an Uber or Lyft, or book a spot on the Blue Shuttle to Carefree.
• You should time your travel to arrive by late afternoon on Sunday, November 6. The program starts with introductions and a group dinner.
• You may depart the retreat center any time after lunch on Wednesday, November 9.

Take a look at the following documents:

Trip Information Sheet
Resource List
Release and Waiver
Terms and Conditions