Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Retreats refreshes and revitalizes, it gives the opportunity for more time spent

in prayer and contemplation, and rekindles and deepens one’s relationship with God.

One may take this opportunity to more clearly hear God’s call and to seek God’s

healing grace and thereby attain a degree of spiritual renewal (Lichtman, 2005).

A retreat is a romantic term for setting aside time to think, plan, ponder, and

bond in a remote setting. Retreats are useful for individuals as a way to evaluate their

life’s direction. Retreats are also useful for groups.

The first key to a successful retreat is to physically go to a place that you do not

frequently go. The basement of your church does not count. New surroundings aid in

new thinking especially if you can get out into nature.

Another key is impromptu community. Gathering your group together, eating

in fellowship, sharing special lodging arrangements, experiencing things as a group,

greatly strengthens your community. Quality time is a function of quantity time, and a

weekend retreat gives your group both.

The third key is programming. Programming can be as simple as free time with

a gathering for prayer in the morning and evening, or a full schedule of worship services

and seminars.

The last, and most important key is to make God an integral part of the process,

the program and the experience. Remember, Jesus went out in to the wilderness to

speak to His Father, and to prepare for the next step in His ministry.
 2

Spiritual direction explores a deeper relationship with the spiritual aspect of

being human (Ellmann, 2005). A spiritual direction is helping people tell their sacred

stories everyday. It is an encounter between God, the directee, and the spiritual director,

for the purpose that the directee may grow in their relationship with God. It is often

offered as a one-to-one or group experience in private sessions with spiritual mentors

who have most likely completed extensive formation for the ministry and service of

spiritual direction. A spiritual director (Norris, 2017) is a person whom a directee have

chosen after prayerful consideration to accompany, to hold accountable, to encourage,

to challenge and, when necessary, engage them in fraternal correction along their way

of discipleship.

The meaning of a spiritual retreat can be different for different religious

communities. Spiritual retreats are an integral part of many Hindu, Buddhist, Christian

and Sufi (Islamic) communities.

In Hinduism and Buddhism, meditative retreats are seen by some as an intimate

way of deepening powers of concentration and insight.

Retreats are also popular in Christian churches, and were established in today's

form by St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), in his Spiritual Exercises. Ignatius was

later to be made patron saint of spiritual retreats by Pope Pius XI in 1922. Many

Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox Christians partake in and organize spiritual retreats

each year.

Meditative retreats are an important practice in Sufism, the mystical path of

Islam. The Sufi teacher Ibn Arabi's book Journey to the Lord of Power (Risālat al-

Anwār) is a guide to the inner journey that was published over 700 years ago.
 3

A retreat can either be a time of solitude or a community experience. Some

retreats are held in silence, and on others there may be a great deal of conversation,

depending on the understanding and accepted practices of the host facility and/or the

participant(s). Retreats are often conducted at rural or remote locations, either privately,

or at a retreat center such as a monastery. Some retreats for advanced practitioners may

be undertaken in darkness, a form of retreat that is common as an advanced Dzogchen

practice in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Spiritual retreats allow time for reflection, prayer, or meditation. They are

considered essential in Buddhism having been a common practice since the Vassa, or

rainy season retreat, was established by the founder of Buddhism, Gotama Buddha. In

Zen Buddhism retreats are known as sesshin.

Most retreats are held on weekends, because it is easier for people to attend, but

there is a significant advantage to retreats that last longer. Primarily, that you can teach

more, do more, bond more and experience more together. It takes at least 24 hours for

a group to really come together. After that, is when the real experience begins.

In the Philippines, the Holy Week calendar and Filipino tradition have decreed

this break as a non-working holiday, enough time for family bonding or a planned

vacation. Whether spending it on the beach, in the cool mountains, or in retreat gardens,

the Holy Week break provides Filipinos an occasion to pause in spiritual retreat

(Inquirer, 2011).

Spiritual retreats are an integral part not only of the Christian faith, but also of

Buddhist and Sufi Islamic groups. The religious, the secular, as well as the irreverent

can get as much rejuvenation from a frenzied vacation as the bliss one gets from coming
 4

out of a spiritual encounter – but minus the guilt. In this instance, the retreat becomes

simply a sacred act to clear the mind, open the heart and revitalize the spirit within the

confines of the body (Inquirer, 2011).

The purpose of a spiritual retreat, as an addition to daily spiritual activities, is

to temporarily leave behind the usual distractions people face for a time long enough

to allow relaxation and for an inner change to occur: the ongoing conversion of heart

that is critical to deepening faith. Therefore, the major concern is to provide a facility

that would accommodate religious activities and to house workers from different

shelter within the province.

Most retreat centers are affiliated with a religion. Some requires people adhere

to their faith, others are open to all faiths. Some centers require to participate in services

and activities even if they do not adhere to their faith.

By creating an architectural building that serves not only as a catalyst, but as a

channel for conversation between human soul and universal energy, the built

environment can carry occupants to a greater spiritual existence. Architecture that is

spiritually connected to the earth it occupies will then transfer the energy of the

universe into the soul of the occupant, and vice versa, creating spiritual wholeness,

which results in internal peace within their mind, body, and soul.

The objective of having an Ecumenical Retreat Center is to focus on spiritual

growth, allow time for reflection, prayer, or meditation. It can be developed by an

individual or by a team within a group. Ecumenical retreat center not only focusing on

spiritual growth but there are lots of other kinds of retreats that fit into our mission.

These include, but are not limited to kinds of Retreats Planning, Health, Leadership
 5

development, Ethics, Community service, Social justice, Social justice, Education,

Visioning, Re-creation, Family bonding, Trust development, Nature appreciation.

With the growing number of the youth in Region III, who suffer from stress and

depression, the need of a central place to hold retreat and other activities is needed, as

venue for the retreats is made magnified inspite of the presence of existing ones. This

proposed study attempts to build new and complete facilities for enlightenment both

spiritual and physical aspect.

Statement of the Problem

Introducing a new method in retreat center is hard to achieve because of its

nature that retreat centers only focus on spirituality and religion. Promoting an

Ecumenical retreat center is a challenging accomplish but as the time ventures other

religion are being introduce, there is no facilities that can accommodate spiritual and

other activities at the same time so an ecumenical retreat center had to be introduce to

the community where interfaith and other activity can be facilitate.

The lack of facilities such as venue for retreats is made, attempting to build new

and complete facilities for the youth who need to be guided. Building a new place of

paradise, spiritual and recreational together in one place and reunite with the nature but

not compromising the laity of the facility.

Significance of the study

Retreats allow time for reflection, prayer, or meditation. The researcher decided

to pursue this study to enhance the spiritual and physical, and emotional aspect of
 6

youths as well. The need of a retreat center that will provide the development as part

of spiritual growth with respect to different religions and community that surrounds it.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This study is of having an ecumenical retreat center is a way not only helps the

spiritual needs of a human being it can help physical, emotional, and social needs of a

person just for example mental health experts in the Philippines have voiced alarm

about the number of young people committing suicide at least six individuals commit

suicide every day in the predominantly Catholic country of more than 100 million

people. While the numbers may appear small, if not insignificant, one life lost is

precious enough," said Carmelita Ericta, a former government statistician From 2012

to 2016, there were 237 suicide cases among children aged between 10 and 14,

according to Ericta Of 2,413 suicide cases recorded in 2016, more than 2,000 were

male and the rest female, according to the Department of Health if only people were

aware that there is a facility that can help them we can reduce the numbers of suicide

in our country.

The study “Proposed Ecumenical Retreat Center in San Clemente Tarlac”

shall be designed to provide a facility that would accommodate religious activities

within the province. However, the study focuses on development as part of spiritual

growth with respect to the church and community that surrounds it.

Definition of Terms

To facilitate the understanding of the study, certain terms are hereby

operationally defined.
 7

Community. A unified body of individuals: such as a group of people with a

common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society (Merriam-

Webster Dictionary).

Directee. A person who receives direction (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

Ecumenical. It is defined as the idea of representing a number of different

Christian Churches (Oxford Dictionary).

Meditation. Is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as

mindfulness, or focusing their mind on a particular object, thought or activity – to train

attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable

state (Wikipedia).

Religion. Is a cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals,

worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that relates

humanity to supernatural, transcendental, or spiritual elements. However, there is no

scholarly consensus over what precisely constitutes a religion (Wikipedia).

Retreatant. A person on a religious retreat

Retreat. A period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, or study (The

Free Dictionary).

Retreat Center. In this study, it can serve various purposes, where it can be a

place for quiet reflection and rejuvenation, an opportunity to regain good health, and/or

it can mean a time for spiritual reassessment and renewal, either alone, in silence or in

a group (Retreats Online, 2007)”.

Spiritual Direction. The practice of being with people as they attempt to

deepen their relationship with the divine, or to learn and grow in their own personal

spirituality (Wikipedia).
 8

Tradition. Is a belief or behavior passed down within a group or society with

symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. Common examples

include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes (like lawyers' wigs or

military officers' spurs), but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as

greetings (Wikipedia).

Yoga. Is a physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in ancient

India. It became popular in the West in the 20th century (Yogapedia).

 9

Chapter 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter presents a review of reading materials related to the present study

that will provide background information, better insights and understanding about the

topics covered.

Related Literature

Retreat originates from a religious and spiritual pursuit practiced among various

traditions around the world as a way to deepen in one’s spiritual practice from

Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Mormonism, Baha’i, Secularism and

more. To understand and know oneself truthfully and to bring about transformation,

retreat has been traditionally understood and continues to be regarded to not only

benefit participants’ personal wellbeing, but also post retreat related to work,

community and family, thus extending benefits to society. These retreats can be solitary

or practiced in groups, such as commonly practiced in monasteries and other purposeful

religious and spiritual establishments. The root and original form of retreat continues

to be practiced in this way today. (Josée-Ann Cloutier, 2015).

The concept and understanding of retreat is not a simple linear one, as the

meaning is subjective and has transformed and continues to shift, and reflect present

societal issues and needs as to how much and in which way one retreats. A basic and
 10

common understanding is that retreats convey “a sense of respite, refuge and rest”

(Kelly, 2010).

Taking time away from daily life and pulling back can look and mean

differently based on the individual; as a result there are various retreat offerings from

spiritual, lifestyle, holistic, eco, health and wellness, work, digital detox, weight loss,

with plenty of themes to address needs. An online Google search on “retreat” posts

159,000,000 results showing that people are seeking to retreat. With numerous guides

placing retreats in virtual platforms making them easier to access and find, organized

by location, date and type. Retreats Online classifies retreats as “yoga, spiritual-

religious, health-wellness, personal creativity, destination-getaway, outdoor-

adventure, business executive, and meeting space (Retreats Online, a Worldwide

Directory).

In the West, residential group retreats are the most common form of meditation

retreat. In these, community is important to the overall retreat practice, especially as

much of the day is spent with others. Meditation, meals, and some of the work

assignments are done in community. In retreat centers without single rooms, even

sleeping is done in a room with others (Gil Fronsdal, 2014).

“Yoga retreats are like feeding yourself good food instead of junk food” (Sue

Wiederspahn, 2002) who has relied on the recharging energies of yoga retreats for

nearly five years. There are as many types of yoga retreats as there are styles of yoga.

Some retreats blend yoga with other activities (horseback riding, kayaking, etc.),

classes and personal-care treatments, so the actual yoga practice becomes just one part

of the overall experience. Other yoga retreats include modalities like meditation and
 11

chanting, which some people enjoy, but others may find disorienting (Jonathan Foust,

2002).

Spiritual retreats come in all varieties. Some are long, some are short. They can

be held just about anywhere; retreats in churches, retreat centers, a conference room, a

monastery, even a prison. Some have very few participants, some have many. Some

are highly structured, others loosely organized. No matter what the format, retreats can

be highly rewarding because they allow participants to focus on the goal of becoming

more spiritual (Retreat Day, 2015). Retreats can be solitary, or shared with family,

friends, as a couple or in groups with strangers. Solitary retreats tend to be associated

with spiritual and religious purposes both historically to the present day. Group spiritual

and religious retreats are also longstanding traditions that continue today among monks

and nuns. Spiritual group retreats have expanded to lay practitioners and to secular

people among the various traditions holding their own unique retreat evolution stories

(Kelly, 2012).

The personal retreat permits far more flexibility in scheduling the retreat date

and in pursuing relaxation, prayer, contemplation, and study in accordance with one’s

own preferences. It may be undertaken especially to aid in making an important

personal decision and to devote extra time for prayer for healing of oneself or others. A

retreat can help one recuperate from stressful events; we may turn to scripture for a

good example of this: Jesus, upon hearing of the death of John the Baptist “withdrew

in a boat to a deserted place by himself.” (Matthew 14:13)

Group retreats frequently center about a particular theme, perhaps a

presentation by a guest speaker, and have the advantage of providing guidance and
 12

structure for a portion of the retreat. Group retreats (RetreatFinder.com, 2002) often

focus on classes or events, and are therefore more suitable for groups of people. Some

retreat centers require that each person retreat as an individual; others allow couples

and groups to share accommodations; still others separate people based on gender.

Lama Thubten Yeshe (1983) suggested that a retreat center should be situated

in a very nice, isolated, tranquil location and any buildings constructed there should be

in harmony with the surroundings and the intent. In this way, the environment will

support the meditation and spiritual growth of anybody doing retreat there. In other

words, it’s important that the retreat center be peaceful, simple and clean so that it is

conducive to mental integration and satisfaction.

A retreat center can serve various purposes, where it can be a place for quiet

reflection and rejuvenation, an opportunity to regain good health, and/or it can mean a

time for spiritual reassessment and renewal, either alone, in silence or in a group

(Retreats Online, 2007)”. According to (Kelly (2010) explains how “some visitors may

choose to seek refuge, peace and rest; whilst others may seek learning, education or the

honing of an established practice.”

Synthesis

In the development of our research, different method were used to attain the

effective result. The proposed study will be a venue for retreats and spiritual activities

of all who will enter the facility. In our present time, going on a retreat or retreat camps

finding an enlightenment for our soul and body in union with nature combines to give

a powerful influence, relaxing and refreshing both the spiritual and physical aspect of
 13

one’s life. In this place of leisure and relaxation where local, tourist and visitors are

continuously seeking and welcoming for a new place of paradise, spiritual

enlightenment are together in one place.