For nearly five centuries, the "Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola" have invited people into a deeper relationship with Christ -- helping them grow in prayer, discern God's will, and make decisions with greater spiritual freedom.

For some, the experience becomes an interior "camino," a pilgrimage with Christ.



A place set apart

At Gonzaga Eastern Point Retreat House in Gloucester, MA, retreatants have been making that pilgrimage for more than 50 years. Since the 1970s, Gonzaga Eastern Point has offered silent, directed retreats rooted in the "Spiritual Exercises." While the "Exercises" can be made in several forms, Gonzaga Eastern Point is especially known for offering the full 30-Day Spiritual Exercises.

Set along the Atlantic Ocean, Gonzaga Eastern Point provides a setting of silence and natural beauty, where retreatants can step away from the demands of ordinary life and devote themselves more fully to prayer. The retreat house has developed a reputation for offering the "Exercises" in a way that is deeply grounded in the text of St. Ignatius, while adapting them thoughtfully to the context of today's world.



Thirty days of prayer and discernment

The full retreat follows the four "weeks" described by St. Ignatius. Two orientation days prepare retreatants -- traditionally called Exercitants -- to enter into the exercises. Over the weeks that follow, different methods of prayer invite them to encounter Christ more deeply, to reflect on their lives, and to become increasingly attentive to the movement of the Holy Spirit. The retreat concludes with two days of "appropriation," offering time to reflect upon and integrate the graces of the experience.

Throughout the retreat, each person meets daily with a spiritual director. Gonzaga Eastern Point's team includes Jesuits, priests, women religious, lay women, and lay men who are experienced and carefully formed in the Ignatian tradition.



Who is called to make the exercises?

The 30-day retreat may be particularly meaningful for those who desire a deeper relationship with Christ, face important decisions, wish to better understand the path their lives have taken, are in a time of transition or sabbatical, or serve in leadership, Christian formation, or spiritual direction.

Because of the depth and intensity of the experience, candidates should already have a substantial foundation in Ignatian prayer. Prerequisites include ongoing spiritual direction, at least three silent, directed eight-day retreats, and experience praying with Scripture and Gospel-based imaginative prayer.

A two-step application process allows both the applicant and the retreat team to discern readiness for the experience. The process generally takes two to three months.



2027 retreat dates

Gonzaga Eastern Point will offer the 30-Day Spiritual Exercises twice in 2027: Jan. 6 to Feb. 9, with applications due Oct. 1, 2026, and June 16 to July 20, with applications due March 1, 2027.

Three retreat rates are available based on a retreatant's ability to pay, ranging from $4,250 to $8,050. Each includes a private room with an ensuite bathroom, three meals each day, and daily spiritual direction.

For additional information or to begin the application process, visit easternpoint.org.