Autumn: Retreat into Silence
October 20-23, 2025
Bethlehem Centre, Nanaimo, BC
with Murray Groom and Nan Goodship
“From the deep well of Silence, joy is constantly bubbling up and flowing out.” – Gunilla Norris
“Silence is a country whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere.” – Thomas Merton
Come away to the natural peace of Bethlehem Centre, to be immersed in a rich pool of intentional silence. A retreat into silence is a gift to your deep self — to connect with your own sacred soul within a container of spaciousness, support, and community. This is an opportunity for those with little or no experience with Silence, who are curious to discover what such a time might bring. This is also an interlude for anyone who has a long weekend and an interest in taking intentional space to explore their inner life.
Our days will include an introduction to contemplative practice, morning and evening group sessions, one one-on-one conversation with a spiritual director, and extended periods of freedom to enjoy the beauty of Bethlehem Centre and surroundings. Leaving our screens, phones, and duties behind for a short time can bring discernment and rest for our continued living.
Cost
Standard room (with a shared washrooms) – CAD $954.00
Shared room (2 single beds; shared washroom) – CAD $864.00
Commuter option (all meals) – CAD $684.00
Cost includes accommodation, meals, community gatherings, supplies, and spiritual direction/accompaniment.
Starts October 20 at 3 pm. Completes October 23 at 1:00 pm
Address: 2371 Arbot Road, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
The Reverend Doctor Murray Groom
is an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada. Retired from parish ministry, he now exercises his vocation as a spiritual director/soul guide. He regularly conducts extended retreats into Silence at Bethlehem Centre in Nanaimo and at Naramata Centre in the Okanagan Valley. His prevailing interests include the role of the guide on pilgrimage, the interface of the wild with the tame, the wisdom of global mythologies and the well-being of his family. When not travelling with his wife Susan, he lives in the South Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island.
Read about Murray’s spiritual accompaniment practice here.
Nan Goodship
is an artist, spiritual director, retreat leader, and thorough Vancouver Islander. She is interested in the adaptations and evolutions we make in our lives to find joy, understand suffering, and ponder our own hearts and minds. She considers herself a contemplative and finds a daily connection to the natural world both a significant source of inspiration for art-making and a spiritual home.
As far as academic training goes, she holds a BA in Japanese and Asian studies from UBC, Waldorf teacher training, certification from the Pacific Jubilee Program for spiritual direction, and a Masters in interdisciplinary arts from Goddard College. Nan also considers her time as an at-home mom and in marriage as a kind of life training par excellence. It is an unfettered delight to guide others in spiritual and creative practices that have been so personally enriching.