Senior retreats invite friars into prayer, fraternity

In a quiet gathering at St. Clement Friary in Cincinnati, senior friars enter prayer together – unhurried, attentive and fully present to this season of life. The pace is easy. Here, the emphasis is not on what has been accomplished, but on what continues: a life of faith that still unfolds.  

Around the province, retreats like this invite friars into deep prayer, reflection and fraternity as they navigate the later chapters of their vocation. This growing initiative is offered across different regions of the country and is often led by Donna Foley, OFS, who specializes in pastoral care, and Darleen Pryds, a professor and expert on Franciscan spirituality.  

These retreats are part of the Provincial Council’s efforts to support Synod Priority 1 (“We will work to be more fraternal with each other as brothers”) with particular attention to care for elderly friars. The retreats create space where aging is addressed with patience, simplicity and care.  

In addition to in-person gatherings, Darleen Pryds has developed a companion video series, “Franciscan Spirituality and Navigating Life’s Transitions,” to extend this spirit of reflection beyond any single retreat.  

Meeting friars where they are  

At 81, Br. John Anglin, OFM, stays active in parish ministry, keeping a full schedule even as he hopes for moments to step back. A recent retreat, he said, offered a rare window to do just that. “It was great to take a day to pause and reflect,” he said. 

For Donna Foley, retreats begin with reverence for those present. “The life experience in the room is truly extraordinary,” she said, noting that many friars have already participated in – or led – numerous retreats, and they bring a deep shared history.  

Her approach is grounded in attentiveness not only to spiritual needs, but to the realities of aging. She adapts her sessions to accommodate limitations to sight or hearing, and she is attuned to the physical condition of the participants. In one retreat, a friar reflected on the rhythm of his days, accounting for what he can now accomplish. Then, with quiet wisdom, he observed that “the very act of getting up and preparing for the day is already rather a lot.” For Donna, moments like this reveal a grace shaped by honesty and acceptance.  

Drawing on the life of St. Francis, the retreats invite friars to reflect on the many “Easters” they experience over time. Br. John explained it this way.  

“What can feel like an ending can also be a rising,” he said. “Francis’ life had many of these moments – when he thought he would be a soldier, when he was called to rebuild the Church, and after meeting the Sultan. 

“These changes in direction aren’t failures. They open the door to new life.” 

Alongside that pastoral attentiveness, the retreats are an invitation to engage in meaningful spiritual introspection. Many friars, Darleen noted, have difficulty with the transition from active ministry to a more contemplative way of life – especially when their identity has long been tied to what they do.  

Drawing on the life of St. Francis, Darleen encourages friars to bring their struggles into prayer, recognizing that loss, frustration and change are not obstacles but part of the journey. In this way, the retreats become spaces of accompaniment, helping friars name what is changing and discover how God remains present within it.  

Fraternity lived in later life  

The retreats reflect a commitment to deepen fraternity, rooted in the priorities of the Provincial Synod. Care for elderly friars is not simply a matter of support, but of shared life – an ongoing invitation to accompany one another through each stage of vocation.  

Ultimately, the retreats do not attempt to solve the realities of aging, but to honor them. In prayer, conversation and quiet presence, friars accompany one another with patience and care – discovering, even in change, the enduring depth of fraternity and the steady presence of God. 

For Br. John, the day offered a renewed way of seeing the life still unfolding before him. 

“It invited us to look at things in a different framework,” he said.