Hillsdale College will hold its seventh annual silent retreat Jan. 30-31 in Christ Chapel and the Hoynak Room.

The retreat is open to all male students and will run from 6 p.m. on Friday to 9 p.m. on Saturday. The event will provide dinner on Friday and breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday.

“The most important relationship in our lives is our relationship with God,” Dean of Men Aaron Petersen said. “It is he who guided us here to Hillsdale, who guides us every day while we’re here, and who will guide us after. We recognize the challenge of living our vocation through our relationship with God.”

In addition to prayer times and vespers, the silent retreat will feature lectures from Professor of English Justin Jackson, Associate Professor of English Kelly Franklin, Associate Professor of Philosophy Ian Church, Associate Professor of Theology Jonathan Mumme, Professor of History Darryl Hart, and Assistant Professor of Education Jonathan Gregg.

“When Jesus began his public ministry right after his baptism, he went out into the desert for a time of preparation and a time of prayer. I think that was probably a time of silence,” Franklin said. “I think we can do that in imitation of our Lord.”

Franklin said the retreat will be a good opportunity for the men of Hillsdale to share in spiritual brotherhood and to hear the still small voice of God speaking.

Petersen said he hopes the retreat will motivate the men to attend more retreats in the future. 

“It is our sincere hope that our men will try these 28 hours of silent solitude with God, with the hope that someday they will make time in their lives for a three-day silent retreat and then a five-day silent retreat,” Petersen said.