Throughout the year, the Office of the Chaplain and Religious and Spiritual Life offers occasional retreats for those who seek time for renewal. Many of the student-run spiritual and religious organizations also sponsor evening and weekend retreats to which all are welcome. We also regularly refer seekers to the many retreat centers in Massachusetts and throughout the Northeast (see a partial list below). Optimally, a retreat won't be a "stolen luxury" in a busy life or an "irresponsible escape" from a politically oppressive world. It can unveil an experience of the Holy, which may become the seedbed of renewed faith, wisdom, courage, and activism. Ideally, a retreat will also become a rule and not an exception; its effects can spill over into daily life, creating a hunger for regular periods of prayer or meditation and renewal.
Quiet places
There are several quiet, beautiful places on and near the campus that are conducive to contemplation and reflection. Some of our favorite sites include:
- Andover and Divinity Chapels (prayer rugs, meditation cushions, scriptures of many traditions and prayer beads are always available in both chapels)
- The meditation room in the Center for the Study of World Religions
- Harvard Art Museums
- Andover-Harvard Theological Library
Outdoor Spaces:
- The HDS labyrinth and contemplative garden near Andover and Rockefeller Halls
- The benches beneath the trees on Andover Lawn
- The courtyard of the Center for the Study of World Religions
- The park on the grounds of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- The Minuteman Bikeway
- Mount Auburn Cemetery
- Walking and running paths by the Charles River
Retreats and contemplative organizations: Regional links
The sites below are maintained by organizations external to Harvard Divinity School; their inclusion here does not necessarily imply endorsement by HDS. If you know of other resources that you think should be considered for inclusion on this page, please email Kerry A. Maloney, the chaplain and director of religious and spiritual life.
- Abode of the Message Retreat Center (New Lebanon, NY)
- Adelynrood Retreat and Conference Center (Byfield, MA)
- Agape Community (Ware, MA)
- Aryaloka Buddhist Center (Newmarket, NH)
- Bethany House of Prayer (Arlington, MA)
- Blue Cliff Monastery (Pine Bush, NY)
- Cedar Hill Retreat Center (Duxbury, MA)
- Center for Contemplative Mind in Society (Northampton, MA)
- Earthdance (Plainfield, MA)
- Eastern Point Retreat Center (Gloucester, MA)
- Elat Chayyim: The Jewish Retreat Center (Accord, NY)
- The Empty Bell (Northampton, MA)
- Evensong Retreat and Spirituality Center (Harwich Port, MA)
- Find the Divine (directory)
- Friendly Crossways (Harvard, MA)
- Holy Cross Monastery (West Park, NY)
- Insight Meditation Society/Barre Center for Buddhist Studies (Barre, MA)
- Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center (Bangor, PA)
- Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health (Lenox, MA)
- Mary House (Spencer, MA)
- Meetingbrook (Camden, ME)
- Morgan Bay Zendo (Surry, ME)
- Mount St. Mary’s Abbey (Wrentham, MA)
- New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care (New York, NY)
- Online Ignatian Retreat (in the Christian tradition)
- The Peace Abbey (Sherborn, MA)
- Pendle Hill (Wallingford, PA)
- RetreatFinder.com (directory)
- Retreats Online, Massachusetts (directory)
- Rolling Ridge Retreat Center (North Andover, MA)
- Rowe Camp and Conference Center (Rowe, MA)
- Ruah Interfaith Spirituality Program (Brookline, MA)
- Saint Joseph Retreat Center (Cohasset, MA)
- Saint Joseph's Abbey (Spencer, MA)
- Shambhala Boston (Boston, MA)
- Sisters of St. Margaret (Boston and Duxbury, MA)
- Society of Saint John the Evangelist (Cambridge and W. Newburyport, MA)
- Spirit Fire Retreat Center (Leyden, MA)
- Starflower Farm and Studios (Monroe, ME)
- Star Island (Portsmouth, NH)
- Stony Point Center (Stony Point, NY)
- The Walker Center (Auburndale, MA)
- Woolman Hill Quaker Center (Deerfield, MA)
- Zen Mountain Monastery (Mt. Tremper, NY)
- Zen Peacemakers Montague Farm (Montague, MA)