Jay and Judy Shock, Coordinators

Once a year, groups of both men and women spend a reflective weekend at St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center on Pittsburgh’s South Side. The typical schedule is for the women to go on the first full weekend of January, and the men on the last week¬end of February.

St. Paul’s is run by the Passionists, who put together weekends that are both spiritual and emotional oases from the busyness of modern life. They begin with Mass and a reconciliation service on Friday evening, and progress through a weekend theme that is always applicable to our lives back in the every-day world.

The retreat ends at noon on Sunday, following a closing liturgy with fellow retreatants.

And if creature comforts are on your mind: the food is good, the beds are comfortable, and the fellowship is, in the modern vernacular, priceless.

For more details, call St. Paul’s at 412-381-7676, or Jay or Judy Shock at 412-854-4910.