Faculty Writing Retreat

To highlight our academic mission and to support faculty holistically as well as professionally, the Garaventa Center for Catholic Intellectual Life and American Culture is offering these days of reflection, study, and community.

Overview: 

This program is for University of Portland tenured and tenure track faculty and instructors to have concentrated time for writing and research on a topic of their choice. Participants are welcome to work on a current project, begin a new project, or develop a new course to be offered in 2025-2026. 

We will meet for common meals and have a short time of reflection and optional social time each evening. Otherwise, the day and evening will be unstructured to allow faculty to work at their own pace. 

For those wishing to participate, Mt. Angel Abbey offers many opportunities for liturgical celebration and spiritual reflection throughout the day. The monks gather in the Abbey Church each day for the celebration of the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours. Guests are welcome to join. The beautiful Guest House and surrounding Abbey grounds provide ample, peaceful spaces for personal reflection, prayer, and contemplation. 

Application Process: 

Space is limited for this pilot program. A link to the online application can be found here: RETREAT APPLICATION. Review of applications will begin Wednesday, March 12, 2025 with preference given to applications received by this date.  

Priority in selection will be given to pre-tenure and recently-tenured faculty, as well as any scholars for whom access to the Abbey Library collection may provide unique benefit to their scholarly work.  

Retreat Dates: Wednesday, June 11 – Friday, June 13, 2025 (3 days/2 nights) 

Location: The Guest House at Mt. Angel Abbey, Mt. Angel, OR 

Accommodations and Meals: 

Individual accommodations at the Mt. Angel Abbey Guest House include a bedroom with a private bath, desk, and chair. Sheets, towels, and free WiFi access are provided. Bring any other items that will make your stay more comfortable. 

Meals are included (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and will be enjoyed in common in the Mt. Angel Guest House dining room. Meals will be available for Wednesday lunch through Friday lunch. Coffee and teas are available throughout the day. The Abbey also has a coffee shop attached to their bookstore, which is open during the daytime. 

The Guest House has several indoor quiet study common areas available for study/writing. We will also have a small conference room available for group work and discussion. Retreat participants also have access to the beautiful Abbey Library.  

What to Bring:  

Anything you need to do research and write. Please bring your own laptop, research materials, etc. 

Opportunities for liturgical celebration and spiritual reflection: 

People of all faiths are welcome to the Abbey to seek peace, take time for prayer, and make space for quiet reflection. 

The Abbey offers many opportunities for liturgical celebration and spiritual reflection for those wishing to participate. The monks gather in the Abbey Church six times per day for the celebration of the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours. Guests are welcome to join.  

The beautiful Abbey grounds have walking trails available for quiet reflection. If you are interested in meeting with a spiritual director during your time at the Abbey please let us know, as we may be able to help facilitate this request with advanced notice. 

About the Monastery: 

The monks of Mount Angel Abbey form a Benedictine community. They maintain a monastic tradition that has been part of the Roman Catholic Church for over 1500 years hinged on the values of prayer and work: ora et labora. From its earliest years, monasteries have been centers of teaching and learning. More details about the monks of the Abbey and the Rule of St. Benedict at Mount Angel Abbey. 

Frequently Asked Questions: 

Is transportation available? 

Participants are asked to provide their own travel to/from the retreat. Mt. Angel is about a 1-hour drive south of University of Portland. You may wish to explore the nearby wine country with its local colors and flavors after the retreat. 

What is the cost? 

There is no cost to participants. The Garaventa Center for Catholic Intellectual Life and American Culture is offering this pilot program to support faculty scholarship, build community, and care holistically for faculty. 

What about meals? Will there be time to socialize? 

Meals will be provided in the Abbey dining room. There will be an optional social time each evening after dinner. Faculty are welcome to socialize or talk together whenever they would like so long as it doesn’t interrupt the work/quiet of others. Guests at the Guest House are asked to limit conversation in Guest House hallways where guestrooms are located for the benefit of all guests.  

What about dietary restrictions 

The Abbey dining room can accommodate dietary restrictions upon request. There will be an opportunity for participants to indicate dietary restrictions on the registration form. Retreatants are also welcome to bring food that works for them. A refrigerator and microwave are available for public use. 

Can my research/writing partner come with me? 

Research and writing partners who are a part of the University of Portland faculty are welcome to apply to participate in the retreat. 

I like to listen to music while I research/write. Is that OK? 

We encourage you to bring earbuds or headphones if you would like to listen to music, even in your room, so that it does not interrupt the quiet of others. 

Will I learn more about the University of Portland’s Catholic/Holy Cross mission and identity at this Retreat? 

We’re glad that you asked! We will provide an opening meditation and closing dialogue each day to frame our time together. The Retreat’s main purpose is to provide concentrated, uninterrupted time for faculty to write and do research in a restorative environment. Faculty are encouraged to engage in spiritual reflection and prayer in a manner authentic to their personal belief and practice. 

The Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross say:  

“Each of us has the need to draw aside from his [one’s] occupations and preoccupations every year for a retreat of several days’ undisturbed prayer and reflection. In that pause we aim at being solely attentive to the movement of the Spirit. We may see our life and our work in a fresh and brilliant light; we may find the conviction to respond to the Spirit and to change the course into which habit and convenience may have settled us. Prolonged prayer such as this can be intense enough to rekindle our love for the commitment to the Lord, which have a way of burning low. Likewise periodic days of recollection refresh our dedication.” 

The Retreat is an opportunity, in part, to practice this Holy Cross habit.