Testimonials

“The time I was able to spend on retreat in silence, with Jesus rather than the distractions of the world around me, allowed me to hear God guiding me to fresh ideas for how to strengthen and grow my time with Him as well as with my husband and 2 boys. I am truly grateful for the beautiful ministry the Bethany Center is providing. My experience here remains a significant source of spiritual growth.” 

“This retreat site is a foretaste of the eternal resting place in heaven. The peace, quiet, solitude, love, generosity and selfless giving of all who make this retreat possible.” 

“We are joyfully experiencing the graces we received through prayer, conversation, spiritual guidance and the sacraments and we look forward to continuing our spiritual direction with you.” 

“As I savor my last few hours at Bethany, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the beauty of this place, and the sacred time I have spent here with our Lord. It’s beyond words. I am grateful for all the loving, God inspired efforts that are going into making Bethany such a gift to many. May Bethany be a place of encounter for years to come!” 

“My retreat at Bethany was perfectly designed by the Lord and life changing. If I am being honest, I was resistant to go, scared in fact, kinda like worst case scenario scared – no phone, no books, no internet, no responsibility, no talking and what if I don’t hear the Lord. I had never been on a silent retreat before, but I knew I needed to completely “strip down to nothing” with zero distractions to be with the Lord. In my time at Bethany, I was able to only focus on prayer and my relationship with Jesus and Blessed Mother, the best gift ever. The Bible verses were perfectly given, I had the best confession I have ever had in my life, my spiritual director was so reaffirming, the accommodations, food and property were 5-star, I was able to truly rest and deepen my prayer practice through Ignatian prayer. I was able to walk and sit next to Mary like a girlfriend, visualize Jesus talking with me for hours, workout my struggles as a mom all while feeling so loved and taken care of. My prayer is that I am able to return to Bethany each year. I return to my retreat experience in my prayer often and can feel the pull of the Holy Spirit to return again. Bethany and its leadership is a gift from God.” 

“My retreat at Bethany was one of the best retreats I’ve been on. To rest in the loving arms of Jesus and be blessed by His presence. I felt spiritual freedom. After many years in Pastoral Ministry and ministering to others, I was in need of healing and receiving the love of Jesus. God blessed me.” 

“When I began my silent retreat at Bethany, I was experiencing a severe disconnection with Jesus, to the point where it was difficult to express any prayer to Him. I could pray to the Father and the Holy Spirit, but I struggled to connect with the Son. It was a large hole in my spiritual life that felt permanent. However, after great conversations with a spiritual director and focused examination of impactful scripture passages, I felt those self-constructed barriers in my heart come down. It wasn’t long before I spent a series of Holy Hours with Jesus and opened myself up to ask Him to heal the wounds in my spirit. I also dared to ask him to help me remove the crown of thorns I had created around my wife’s heart after a series of betrayals of her trust. I didn’t know what the fruit of the weekend would be until several weeks later, when my wife and I experienced several difficult but healing heart-to-heart conversations that could only have been initiated and guided by our Lord. Our marriage has improved immensely, and I credit Jesus working in our lives, which followed from the humble invitation I offered Him during my retreat at Bethany.” 

“TONS OF TIME spent with Jesus!!!!! Loved having Jesus all to myself in adoration whenever I wanted to be with him. Quality time spent reflecting on the Gospel readings at mass. Outstanding spiritual guidance. Amazing food and service. Serene surroundings. Brought home a habit of spending more practical time with Jesus in the Eucharist.”

“I traveled to the Bethany Center feeling depleted. Like many who work at the heart of the Church to bring healing, hope, and an encounter with Jesus to others, I had spent decades giving of my heart and love of Jesus and His Church to others while sometimes neglecting to give my own relationship with the Lord the attention it deserves. When paired with the reality of the human condition and brokenness we experience when working at the heart of the Church, my heart had become increasingly heavy.  

Yet, entering the Bethany Center, I was immediately struck by the simplicity and beauty of the property. The quiet elegance of the landscape evoked a deep sense of peace. It was clear that this space was thoughtfully designed to receive each retreatant with open arms and to carry them into the loving embrace of the Lord. Those assisting with the retreat radiated a deep joy and warmth, demonstrating a profound hospitality that invited us to leave behind the cares of the world and to receive.  

Each day, enveloped in the resonant stillness, I felt layers of distraction and heaviness gently peel away. The absence of words and noise allowed me to be still, to hear the voice of the Lord again, and with the help of the Holy Spirit to allow the Lord the space He needed to tenderly guide me through layers of interior healing and bring restoration and renewal to my weary heart. Whether during Mass, an Ignatian meditation, a walk on the expansive property, at rest, or during spiritual direction, the Lord embraced my weariness, called me into deeper relationship with Him, and breathed new life into me to bring my heart back to life and to know His deep love for me as His beloved daughter.  

While it was difficult to leave the oasis of the Bethany Center, the Lord was clear that He desired to continue to teach me to abide in His presence even in the most chaotic and broken moments. In the weeks and months that have followed my retreat, the abundance of grace continues to flow forth. My retreat at Bethany has affirmed for me once again, that the renewal and transformation of the Church begins with interior healing and the restoration of the human heart. We need only the disposition to be and to receive. He is waiting to breathe new life into us.” 

“Fr. Brian led me on a 8-day retreat. It was profound for me in my relationship with the Lord. I am so grateful for this retreat Home and its beauty. May many come here to Bethany and find peace and healing from our heavenly Father! Thank you for your kind generosity in providing this refuge. God bless you!” 

“Thank you!  My heart is full.  May the Spirit’s action draw many here to experience God’s love and will…and amazing food!  You are all truly a gift for all who come.  May many, many, blessings continue to shower down upon you.” 

“This retreat truly changed my life and will have a ripple effect on so many. Please know I will always keep your staff and participants in prayer. I hope to be blessed enough to return again. Thank you for your “yes!” to God!!” 

“I had an incredibly blessed experience at Bethany on silent retreat. I received so much healing…and especially the thoughtfully prepared meals were a great gift to me. I felt so cared for by our Lady.  God bless your ministry!” 

“I am so thankful for the graces I received while on retreat at Bethany.  Thank you for cooperating with the Lord in this special way.  Because of your work and prayers, I feel closest to my Father than I ever have before.” 

“Thank you for facilitating a wonderful, fruitful, retreat weekend.  The setting is gorgeous, the lodging warm and welcoming, the food was fabulous, and bringing Christ to the retreat through the sacraments and prayer.  It is a true gift to bring silence and rest to those who come to Bethany, two qualities that are desperately needed in today’s world.  Know you are in my prayers.” 

“As I just finished my retreat at Bethany, I am filled with so much gratitude to God the Father, to Fr. Brian and for this place.  God is so good!  It’s hard to believe that the Lord could have such a profound effect on my life in such a short time away with Him.  I found it easy to pray at Bethany, whether it was the chapel in the house, the main chapel with such beautiful paintings, or even on the porch looking out over the lake.  It’s so peaceful and beautiful here!  Also, the hospitality and the home cooked suppers were awesome.  I’m filled with gratitude to have Bethany here in Minnesota so that I don’t have to drive so far.  I definitely plan on coming back here again!  Thank you to everyone who has given to make Bethany a reality!” 

“It’s hard to put into words what a tremendous gift five days at Bethany was.  I knew the Lord was calling me into silence, and I knew it would be fruitful, but what HE had planned was so much more.  Jesus came in to a part of my heart that had been locked, revealed to me the TRUTH, turned the key and the freedom that has come is like nothing I would have imagined…who the Son sets free, is free indeed (John 8:36).  Every detail felt heaven sent, because it was!  The trails are so wonderful, so many sweet walks with the Lord.  The food was stellar, such a gift. Praying that the Lord expand your tents and provide abundantly more as you lean into Him.” 

“I am grateful beyond words for the days of renewal here while on this retreat.  I thank the Lord, I thank you, his servants and love bearers.  For three days in the silence, guided by scripture, served exquisitely by a ‘Martha,’ loved so generously by a loving Father God.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!” 

“A beloved Martha, carefully working in the kitchen.  Her work is through and with the Lord.  Mary, filled with you and peace, guides all to the comforting feet of Jesus.  Lazarus, so docile and bold, has faced death, only to meet God again here on Earth.  A place of restoration for our hearts, on oasis for Jesus to love and be loved.  To go forth in the world renewed, knowing Bethany awaits our return.”

“I was in Adoration this morning, and as I pulled my rosary out of my purse, I was overcome by a deep sense of gratitude for my time at Bethany this past fall.  There has not been a day that has gone by since the retreat, where something I experienced at Bethany has not come up throughout the course of my day.  An experience of felt love, an insight received during prayer, or even just returning in my mind to the little chapel upstairs to gaze upon the Blessed Sacrament, to name a few.  I honestly have felt that since I returned home from Bethany, I have continued on retreat, growing deeper in my surrender to the Lord.  I am so grateful for Bethany and especially love the focus on ministering to our priests. I will continue to pray daily for Bethany, both in gratitude and for the advancement of your mission.  God bless you, for your yes to God!”

“I leave today with a full heart and deep gratitude for the beautiful retreat which I have experienced here at Bethany.  There is a profound sense of peace and love here which I know comes from our Father, but also through the good work that you all do here to make every moment the restful and holy place that it is.  Thank you, thank you for the opportunity and the blessing to enjoy this sacred space.” 

“Thanks for all you do to make a difference in the lives of so many that come through the doors at Bethany. May God continue to bless the good work that you do to advance His Kingdom!” 

“Like Bethany in Sacred Scripture, there is rest, friendship with Christ, spiritual nourishment with prayer, and exceptional hospitality and comforting accommodations– all at the service of helping bring both priests and laity spiritually come back to life in Christ.   

On a personal note, I have taken my last two annual retreats here at Bethany, both in the month of June.   They have been some of the best retreats that I have taken in my life!   

The first year, it was a great joy to be directed by Fr. Brian and to re-experience all the blessings that God the Father has lavished on me in Christ (Eph. 1:3).  The silence and setting here rejuvenated my love for our Lord and my desire to serve Him as a priest by taking care of the parish.  

My second year, with Fr. Brian’s help, I was able to experience some healing from family wounds growing up – to find a newfound love for my parents and regularly pray for them.  The inner healing was so lifegiving and gave me great compassion for those struggling with family issues and other types of wounds that they carry.   

In some sense, my experiences at Bethany have created a little spiritual well that I can draw from throughout the year.  As you can imagine, there are times, like all priests, when I get tired or overwhelmed.  During those times, the Lord uses my time here at Bethany, like drawing from the spiritual well, to help nourish and sustain me.   

In our local church, we do not have many retreat centers where priests and others can be spiritually refreshed, and fewer still where we can intimately journey with the peace and space to rest in the silence with a gifted Spiritual Director.  This makes Bethany Center all that much more critical.  As Christ pulled back to find rest and friendships, we need to do so as well.   

For those of you who have supported Bethany in the past, please accept my profound gratitude for supporting this most critical ministry for our local priests so that we can better serve you looking to go deeper with Christ and share Him with others.”

“This was my first silent retreat and I did not have very high expectations. I have been on an inner healing journey with the Lord for nearly five years, and had been experiencing dryness in prayer and a deep hopelessness about my life. 

I was ashamed and irritated that a certain place of grief was coming up in my heart the first day of the retreat.  At my first spiritual direction meeting, she helped me named the grief and gave me the permission my heart needed and I brought this painful loss to the Lord.  The next day, a priest heard my confession. He very tenderly, yet very pointedly shined a light like a laser beam straight into my heart. In a moment of grace, I was able to repent.  Jesus let me know very clearly-when I give Him my heart (and all the hurt and fear inside), He gives me Himself.  As I surrendered my heart to Jesus, I felt His healing touch within me. 

Throughout my prayer, while I walked around the grounds, received spiritual direction and rested, Jesus began to restore my hope and dignity.  I wept as the woman bathing Jesus’ feet.  The more I surrendered to Jesus, the more space was open for Him to love me and fill me with Himself.  In my memory, the Lord brought me back to my girlhood and all the way through my conversion.  He showed me He had been there, rescuing me every step of the way.  Where the past had been murky and dark, I could now see the story of my life was radiantly beautiful.  It was because the Lord desired me and loved me that He brought me through it all, even to this retreat.   

When I was at prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus let me know that every drop of blood poured out during His Passion would be for me.  Then He asked, “Will you be my Princess of Hope?”  I said yes!  For the first time in my life, it felt real that Jesus was on the cross for me. He was there for each and every painful thing I had experienced.  I stood beneath the cross with an alabaster jar, and He filled it with His Precious Blook, His very self. 

The last day of the retreat was my birthday.  I was praying outside Jesus’ empty tomb, weeping because it seemed I had spent my life fatherless and alone.  Jesus came to me with His wounds glowing and said, “My Princess of Hope, I died, I went to hell and back, so you could have a Father, a Daddy.”  It was suddenly all so real and clear to me.  This deep wound in my heart began to feel beautiful somehow, because it was precisely there that Jesus was most glorious within me.   

I left the retreat with a childlike joy I had not known before.  I have hope because I am chosen by my Father and rescued by Jesus.  Jesus is going to redeem everything in my life.  This retreat was just the beginning.” 

“Arriving at the property itself was truly exceptional being so graciously welcomed.  We then entered into the “Silent” retreat reflecting on God’s transforming graces with clarity and love surrounded by attentive hospitality at its best. We both treasured the one-on-one spiritual direction, Holy Mass and adoration. Thank you for providing us these holy opportunities and time to delve deeper with our assignment reflections with Jesus in Adoration. We learned that Bethany is a refuge lavished in love in the Trinity uniquely directed to each person to encounter His love, to then better share His love. Thank you for your obedience to Him! We will keep Bethany’s intentions in our prayers as you continue to provide retreats to others, especially those with formational responsibilities in our archdiocese.  We are eternally grateful.” 

“How can you portray divine transformation with our earthly words? The whisper of my heart throughout the retreat was “my soul in stillness waits.” (Not realizing the similar Scripture on Bethany’s website). Waiting for what? I wasn’t quite sure, but throughout the retreat and beyond the Lord would delight and dazzle me with surprises of His love. Sunsets, sunrises, the meals, the smells, conversations with the Lord during spiritual direction, the stars, the wildlife, the majestic Fall scenery, Holy Mass, one on one time with the Lord in private Adoration and so many more. It’s not lost on me, a once in a lifetime treasure it is, as a lay person, to have had SO much time with Jesus, present in the Eucharist and uninterrupted.

The most perfect and safe home at Bethany allowed my heart to see and receive the particular love from the Lord. I experienced the Lord waking me multiple times in the middle of the night to whisper, “Jackie, all that I have is yours,” with my heart responding, “Lord, all that I have is yours. Help me to receive it and give it all back.” I woke up the next morning to physically feel my heart and lungs’ newly increased capacity to receive My Father’s love.

This has allowed me to abide with the Lord as He gently showed me where I have harbored unforgiveness and it had gotten in the way of my heart’s capacity to receive His love, fully. During spiritual direction the Holy Spirit gave me an image of a brush fire, burning the yuck that had gotten in the way of my preserved heart. The Lord carrying me, bringing my heart back to its original preserved state from the refining and purifying fire of His Sacred Heart.

With the confident and tender help of my spiritual director, I was able to renounce, forgive and gently open up those closed off places in my heart.  This resulted in carefree, childlike cartwheels on the property! The mark of a child is trust and simplicity and I was reminded of that during my time at Bethany and continue to be reminded every single day since. The cartwheels weren’t just for my time at Bethany, it was a new way of life. I was made anew!  I was coming home with a refined and purified heart to love my family and friends more perfectly with His perfect love. All that I have is yours, Lord.”

“Thank you so much for the mission you have all been carrying out at Bethany.  My life has been completely changed by God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit while I have been on retreat at Bethany.  I can’t wait to see you all continue to answer the call God has placed on your hearts to grow the mission of Bethany and to hear the countless stories of the lives touched by God’s work through you!  Please accept this gift as a sign of the impact you have had on my life in particular.  God Bless!”

Bethany has been like warm water which activates yeast prior to its incorporation into the flour; without this simple process, no life will be in the loaf.  I am refreshed, nourished, and strengthened.  Thank you!

Bethany Center for Prayer and Renewal takes silent-directed retreats very seriously. This was the first time I actually stayed a full 72-hours and had my phone turned off the entire time. The grand setting of the retreat makes me feel like you’re a guest in a palace —not because it’s bougie— but rather the hospitality, large quarters, surrounding beauty and scenery, sacred art, etc. I could simply focus on praying, resting, listening, being present, and abiding with God. The private adoration chapel with the Blessed Sacrament on the same floor as where we were sleeping… felt like a dream — such a privilege and benefit. I hope and pray that more and more of my loved ones can rest in God’s presence at the Bethany Center for Prayer and Renewal.

During my retreat at Bethany, I experienced the Father’s love in a way I had never experienced before and I received healing of wounds that I never thought was possible. Through the spiritual direction with Father Brian, the steps of rejecting of spirits, renouncing of lies, announcing of truths, and granting forgiveness through the Lord (all during the Sacrament of Reconciliation) led me to the healing of wounds and acceptance of the Lord’s love.

I spent a lot of time with the Blessed Sacrament in the Adoration Chapel, as the layout of the Bethany retreat house and the schedule of the retreat offered access and time to spend with the Lord. Daily Mass was a blessing and kept me feeling close to our Lord. The peace and quiet of the grounds of Bethany also allowed me to reflect and pray in a way that allowed me to stay close to the Lord and stay “in retreat”.

I am truly a new man and am forever grateful to Bethany for this life-changing experience!

After attending several great retreats, I was so happy to learn of Bethany and was invited. It has been the BEST experience spiritually I have encountered and I am so thirsty for more.

Being on retreat at Bethany Center is so unique. The only formal structure is around meals, Mass and Spiritual Direction. There are no other things to think about. It provided me an incredible opportunity to allow God to enter into the open spaces in the day and in my mind. I find that in silence, and adoration, my experience of scripture is wholistic. I’m not just reading and thinking about the scripture, I am fully entered into the story and the characters. The Holy Spirit shows me how I fit into this teaching and where God is leading me. I don’t find this anywhere else! I spend a lot of time in prayer and Bible Study. I am very familiar with the scripture stories, but at Bethany Center they truly come alive for me. God spoke into my heart on this retreat so intimately and personally. His great, unending love for me is true. His plan for me is always good. He is always for me, never against me despite any trials. I am a new creation again after my retreat. So very grateful.

I knew that Bethany was a special place but my retreat experience far exceeded my expectations. I felt so incredibly loved and cared for during my time on retreat. From the warm greeting of my spiritual director when I arrived to the delicious meals lovingly prepared by our Martha, I quickly felt truly at home. I loved sitting in the rocking chair on the porch watching the birds and soaking in the beautiful surroundings. I found a sense of peace and quiet that allowed me to easily enter into the silence. In that silence, I experienced God’s infinite love for me in a new way – especially through His Word and the Eucharist. I left Bethany feeling totally restored – knowing my identity as his beloved daughter and feeling excited to return to my daily life with a profound sense of His presence with me. I know that the Lord prepared that time and place for me to spend with Him, and I am so grateful!

Bethany is a place beyond words. I imagine the experience of complete rest and time with God is the slightest taste of Heaven. God, the tender and loving Father, is always waiting with such patience for those who travel to Bethany. His infinite love is unfolded through every encounter, and each time in a new and profound way. I am forever grateful.