Zest Programs

Many people navigate life without truly knowing themselves. Why is self-awareness so essential? Many individuals reach mid-life without understanding their genuine self.

This retreat awakens our awareness that God’s heartbeat echoes through every living thing. As we learn to listen and live in harmony with this divine pulse, we grow in compassion, unity, and reverence for all of life—allowing God’s heartbeat to become the rhythm of our own. Participants will explore themes of creation, connection, and divine presence woven through Newell’s writings. Each session becomes a contemplative practice of attuning to God’s rhythm of love.

The Enneagram is an ancient wisdom tradition, tracing its roots to early Greek thought. More than a personality system, it is a spiritual map that helps us recognize the False Self we cling to and rediscover our True Self in God. This retreat introduces the nine Enneagram types—patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting that shape how we see the world. Participants will learn how their type reveals both their gift and the mechanism by which they lose sight of their Divine Essence.

Rooted in the ancient wisdom of the Celts, this formation invites us into a spirituality where contemplation and embodiment meet — a way of seeing God in all things and living each moment as prayer. The Celts embraced the sacredness of creation, walking through life as pilgrims in a holy rhythm of discovery and devotion. Through the lens of Anam Cara, or “soul friendship,” we learn to walk together in authenticity and faith. Their contemplative vision holds together seeming opposites — head and heart, solitude and community, discipline and passion — reminding us that divine mystery lives within all. In this journey, we rediscover that life itself is liturgy, and that wholeness is found not in separation, but in the sacred balance of living fully in God’s presence.

Perfection often feels like the standard, yet it leaves many exhausted, anxious, and disconnected. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown invites us to embrace our authentic selves, cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection we were created for. God calls us not to flawless performance, but to wholehearted living. This retreat provides a safe and nurturing environment to confront fear, release unrealistic expectations, and discover the freedom of being loved just as we are. Together, we will learn to celebrate imperfection as a gift and walk more fully into the abundant life God desires for us.

Within every adult lives a child—curious, playful, and full of wonder. Yet life’s pain, pressures, and expectations often bury this essence. This retreat invites you to reconnect with your inner child, heal old wounds, and rediscover the joy, creativity, and authenticity God placed within you.

Life is marked by transitions—moments between what was and what is yet to come. These liminal spaces can be disorienting, but they are also where God shapes and renews us. This retreat invites participants to reflect on the stages of human development through the lens of faith, guided by the insights of Erik Erikson’s psychosocial theory.

Growing older is not a fading, but a flowering. Inspired by Wilkie Au’s Aging with Wisdom, this retreat invites participants to see ageing as a sacred journey toward deeper meaning, compassion, and grace. It is a time to harvest the wisdom of experience and discover the vitality of spirit that continues to grow with age.

In a world filled with countless voices and choices, discernment is the art of listening deeply for God’s guidance. Rooted in the wisdom of St. Ignatius of Loyola, this retreat offers practical and prayerful tools for seeking clarity in the midst of life’s complexity. Discernment is not only about decision-making, it is about cultivating intimacy with God who speaks within our hearts. This retreat creates a safe space to practice awareness, reflect on choices, and grow in freedom. Together, we will learn how to discern God’s will and walk with greater peace, trust, and courage.

Life is a sacred narrative authored by God. This 8-day retreat invites participants to pause, reflect, and rediscover how God has been writing their story through moments of joy, loss, courage, and grace. Inspired by The Designated Route, it is a contemplative journey of self-awareness and faith.