An instructive retreat.. This is a step by step look at how to design your own retreat. The participants have already attended or acted as an assistant on a previous retreat. We discuss what it means to direct a retreat and how to get others to help put it together. Looking at how to find the proper place, time, and speakers is vital to a meaningful experience. We learn to prepare talks, write prayers and put together services that give meaning to the theme reflecting their retreats focus. Small groups gave feedback to each participant as they constructed their retreat during the course of the weekend. The final product was presented to the whole group at the end of the retreat. Some found this an interesting and exciting prospect; others discovered that this was not the ministry for them but that they were willing to offer assistance to someone else; and some actually went back to their parishes and offered their retreat. Following these simple steps anyone can build a meaningful, spiritual programmatic retreat.