Retreat for Artists & Art Lovers

Art & Prayer: An Artist’s & Art Lovers Retreat

In his Letter to Artists, Pope St. John Paul II wrote about the specific demands that the search for “new epiphanies of beauty” puts on the artistic soul. Come spent time with Jesus and fellow artists for two days of prayer, reflection, and community, at the beautiful University of St. Mary of the Lake who will provide our accommodation, a beautiful chapel for prayer, outdoor shrines including a promenade around St. Mary's Lake and to the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe. We will have access to the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe at Marytown for 24 hour Eucharistic Adoration in their beautiful chapel.

This year we will have thoughtful fellow artists as presenters and the focus will be on art, prayer and the artist's vocation. There will holy mass, confessions, adoration and spiritual direction to help you renew your vocation to holiness through creativity.

This retreat is open to anyone who loves beauty and the arts as well as creators of all disciplines including fine artists, designers, photographers, architects, writers, musicians, and anyone studying or working in a creative field, who is seeking spiritual direction, time in prayer and reflection, as well as a time to retreat from the demands of an artistic vocation. Attendees must be age 18 or older.

Reverend Anthony J. Brankin was ordained to the priesthood on May 14, 1975 for the Archdiocese of Chicago. He received his S.T.L. (License in Sacred Theology) magna cum laude from the University of St. Mary of the Lake. In May of 1981 he was sent to study art at the Bel’ Arte Academy in Rome, Italy. He also completed further studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois. Father Brankin has produced major sculptures, works in bronze, religious altar pieces, drawings, icons and prints for organizations in the US and Italy.

Very Reverend Fr. Joshua Caswell, SJC Superior General of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, Chicago. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Canada, Fr. Joshua Caswell felt a call to the priesthood early in his life and moved to Chicago in 2004 to begin the process of discernment with the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. Fr. Caswell received his priestly formation and a Masters of Divinity from Holy Apostles College and Seminary. He has served St. John Cantius as Associate Pastor starting in 2014 and as Pastor from 2020-2024. He now serves the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius as Superior General. St. John Cantius Parish is renown for their excellence in liturgy, music and art..

Barbara Nicolosi PhD is an award-winning writer, speaker, professor and producer, Dr. Barbara Nicolosi has spoken at hundreds of conferences, universities, and churches. She is the featured host on the Mystagogy podcast. She has also given retreats for parish ministers. With 23 years of experience working in Hollywood as a writer and producer, Dr. Nicolosi speaks about the intersection of faith and culture, the role of art and beauty in the Church and world, and how to engage the secular mainstream with Gospel themes. She is a Great Books professor and former member of a religious community, speaking regularly on the topics of literature and philosophy the importance of friendship, various aspects of prayer and spirituality, the history and social importance of story and art, and how the Church can more effectively find a voice in the marketplace of ideas.

Dr. Nicolosi is founder of the Write Spirit creative writing program of the Catholic Art Institute. A member of the Writers Guild of America-West she has written screenplays for several Hollywood production companies including Fatima (2020), directed by Marco Pontecorvo and starring Harvey Keitel and Sonia Braga. 

Barbara has a doctorate in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University in the UK, a Masters in Film & Television from Northwestern University, and a B.A. from the Great Books program at Magdalen College. She has taught at the university level for twenty years. She has been a script analyst, production company executive, and consultant on scores of entertainment projects including the features The Passion of the Christ and TV shows Joan of Arcadia (CBS) and Saving Grace (TNT). 

Barbara has delivered hundreds of addresses all over the world including at the Vatican and for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 

Barbara has been a grants panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, and a reader for the Humanitas Prize which has been called the Pulitzer of screenwriting. For more, visit https://mystagogy.net/

About The University of St. Mary of the Lake & the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe

Due to ongoing repairs after a January flood at the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe, the Retreat for Artists is being moved next door to the University of St. Mary of the Lake Conference Center. The University boasts a beautiful campus with traditional architecture, including the Immaculate Conception Chapel (please see photo gallery below).

The campus is situated on St. Mary's Lake with multiple shrines, outdoor stations of the cross and prayer spaces including a paved promenade around St. Mary's Lake for quiet time and contemplation surrounded by nature. The promenade connects to the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe which offers 24 hour adoration in their beautiful main chapel, which will be available during the retreat, so there will be plenty of opportunity for prayer in a number of beautiful chapels and in nature.

The Conference Center accommodations offer private rooms with ensuite bathrooms, each room has two beds, so spouses can stay in one room with the purchase of a commuter and room enrollments (we need the names of both guests).

The conference center dining hall is full service offering hot and cold meal options, a full salad bar, as well as dairy and gluten free meals.

The nearby National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe is both walkable or a five minute drive from University of St. Mary of the Lake. It's a pilgrimage site and sacred space in Libertyville, Illinois in the Archdiocese of Chicago. It is a ministry of the Conventual Franciscan Friars of St. Bonaventure Province.

Today, the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe at Marytown includes a Retreat House, Conference Center and the Marytown Gift Shop & Book Store, an educational Holocaust exhibit, relics of Saint Maximilian and several outdoor shrines, all set on 15 acres of beautiful land in Libertyville, Illinois.

The grounds have been a sanctuary of Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament since June 7, 1928, when a temporary chapel was blessed and opened for 24-hour Exposition. The permanent chapel was dedicated on October 2, 1932. At that time, the monstrance was transferred to its current location and the chapel has remained open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“And they shall make me a sanctuary and I will dwell in the midst of them.” – Exodus 25:8

Retreat Schedule

FRIDAY 6/20

12:00-12:45 Check-in at Conference Center for All Retreatants. Those staying at USML can store their luggage in the conference center until room check-in during the 2:45 pm break. Those who wish to share an example of their work can set the work out in the retreat classroom. 

1:00-1:10 Kathleen Carr, Welcome Remarks

1:10- 1:45 Introductions (retreatants will be invited to briefly introduce themselves)

1:45 – 2:45 Opening Prayer & First Presentation, Fr. Joshua Caswell SJC

2:45 – 3:00 Break

3:00 – 3:45 Second Presentation Barbara Nicolosi, PhD “Artists and The Relationship to the Beautiful”

3:45 -4:45 Break, Spiritual Direction, Private Prayer in the USML main chapel or on the grounds in one of the outdoor shrines.

4:45 - 5:20 - Third Presentation – Fr. Anthony Brankin

5:30 - 6:15 Dinner - University of St. Mary of the Lake Dining Hall

6:30-7:30 – Hour of Adoration at the Shrine of St. Maximillan Kolbe (a 15 mins walk or 5 min drive if you have a car). The gate back to campus will be locked by 8:00 pm so those who are walking will need to depart by 7:30 pm.

7:45-9:00 Optional Sharing time back at USML 

9:00 – Grand Silence until Breakfast

SATURDAY 6/21

7:00 – 8:00 Holy Mass and Morning Prayer for Artists

8:15 – 9:00 Breakfast - University of St. Mary of the Lake Dining Hall

9:10 – 9:45 Presentation by Fr. Brankin, Q & A

9:45 – 10:15 Break & Spiritual Direction with Fr. Brankin & Fr. Joshua., check out for those staying in rooms at the USML, store bags in conference center.

10:15 – 11:15 Presentation by Barbara Nicolosi

11:15-12:00 Prayer time & Spiritual Direction with Fr. Joshua & Barbara Nicolosi

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch - University of St. Mary of the Lake Dining Room

1:15 – 2:00 Presentation with Fr. Joshua

2:00 – 3:15 Creative time / Prayer Time / Project Time / Spiritual Direction/ Confessions

3:15 – 4:30 Group Discussion

4:30 – 4:45 Closing Prayer Time in Main Chapel USML, Artist's Offering (written inspirations or intentions as a result of prayer time at the retreat)

 4:45-5:00 Closing remarks and time to say good-bye

5:00 Retreat Ends

*check in for our group starts at 2:00 pm but we will move to our rooms during the 2:45 pm break. Check out is at 11:00 am on Saturday

*water, soda, coffee and tea will be available free of charge, in between meals.

*Retreatants can purchase lunch on Friday prior to the start of the retreat or dinner on Saturday after it ends at their own expense. Meal tickets can be purchased at the bookstore.

The retreat includes the following meals: Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and lunch, plus beverages through out the retreat.

The dining hall at University of St. Mary of the Lake is full service offering hot and cold meal selections, a full salad bar as well as gluten and dairy-free meals.

Schedule start and end times will not change but some details could be subject to updates or changes.

Enrollment Details & Costs

Enrollment options include staying in at University of St. Mary of the Lake (USML) in an overnight room or commuting (staying at a local hotel or for locals driving to the retreat) . All enrollment rates include the full retreat, including dinner on Friday, breakfast and lunch on Saturday, plus drinks available the entire time. The Dining Hall at University of St. Mary of the Lake is full service offering hot and cold meals, a full salad bar plus dairy and gluten free meal options.

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Member Commuter Rate (includes meals) - $135

Non-Member Commuter Rate (includes meals) - $155

Deadline for Enrolling for Commuter Options is June 13, 2025

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USML Retreat Single Rooms w/ Private Bath - Member Rate (includes meals) - $265

USML Retreat Single Rooms w/ Private Bath - Non Member Rate (includes meals) - $285

Deadline for Enrolling for Commuter Options is June 13, 2025

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Additional rooms on Thurs June 19 & Saturday June 21st are available for a very special rate of $93 a night for Catholic Art Institute Retreatants only.
To book rooms before and after the retreat please call 847-566-6401 and an let them know you're coming for the Catholic Art Institute Retreat for Artists

Shrine Retreat Rooms are limited to 30 guests and will likely sell out quickly so if you'd like to attend and stay at the Shrine, book asap.

Hotel Information for Commuters

If you're like to purchase a commuter enrollment and stay at a local hotel there are three within about a 5 min. driving distance or less and they include: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Chicago-Libertyville, an IHG Hotel ($155 a night approx) or

WoodSpring Suites Libertyville - Chicago ($168 a night approx) or WoodSpring Suites Libertyville - Chicago ($100 a night approx).

The National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe is located at 1600 W Park Avenue
Libertyville, IL 60048, USA​

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Traveling to the Shrine

The University of St. Mary of the Lake is located at

1000 E Maple AvenueMundelein, IL 60060

The USML is accessible by car, train and flight. The closest airport is O'Hare International Airport which is approximately 30 minutes away.

The closest train station is the Mundelein Metra Station: https://metra.com/train-lines/stations/mundelein.

The Mundelien train station is connected to O'Hare Airport and about a five minute by car/rideshare to the Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe.

Parking at University of St. Mary of the Lake

Ample parking is available at the University for those commuting to the retreat.​

Questions?​

Please email any questions to contact@catholicartinstitute.org

Refunds​

Full refunds are available until June 1, 2025. After June 1, 2025, a 50% refund is available. No refunds after June 12, 2025.

University of St. Mary of the Lake Photos

National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe Photos