About Spirit River Community
A Retreat Centre Without Walls
Welcome to Spirit River Community. This page tells the story of this new gathering place for thoughtful, curious, contemplative seekers.
Our Story
Spirit River Community - Nomadic gatherings online and in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
The South Saskatchewan River flows through the Canadian prairies, bringing life and beauty. In a similar way, the Spirit flows through our lives, bringing curiosity, hope, comfort, and creativity.
In the spirit of Queen’s House Retreat & Renewal Centre, where for more than 65 years people gathered on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River for group and personal retreats, workshops, and conferences, we gather together online and in person to listen, explore, pray, learn, heal, and grow. This retreat centre closed its doors in August 2024, but the community which formed over the years continues to be vibrant and engaged, welcoming new companions with acceptance and warmth.
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Like so many people over the years, I loved Queen's House Retreat & Renewal Centre. This sacred space helped to shape my spiritual journey. I loved learning from wise guides and fearless presenters who were called to push boundaries, ask questions, and go deeper. I appreciated those I met at the retreat centre. While we were all on our own unique journeys, there was a companionship which was encouraging. I met my husband Scott in Conference Room A at a retreat offered by Fr. Ron Rolheiser in 1997! And I had the great privilege of being the Program Director for 7 years prior to its closing. Scott has often said that my ministry consists of bringing people together who otherwise might not ever be brought together. Queen's House gave me the opportunity to do just that, and I could not imagine this aspect of my ministry ending with the sale of the property. Fortunately I was given three dreams during 2024, and I am happy to share them with you here, as they invited me to create SRC. Enjoy!
Sarah Donnelly, M.Div.
Director, Spirit River Community
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Photo: The South Saskatchewan River, taken from the grounds of Queen's House. Sarah Donnelly
Three Dreams
My First Dream
September 2023 was a tough month. The staff of Queen's House had been informed that the property was going to be sold. As a One on the Enneagram (which means that on a bad day I'm bossy and controlling, deeply influenced by both anger and fear), I was dreading meetings with the owners of the property, as we began planning what tasks needed to be done in order to prepare for the ending of the ministry of the retreat centre and the sale of the property. The night before the first planning meeting, I had a dream:
I am walking down the road with a friend who is an artist. We are married. At one point she turns to me and says, 'Sarah, we need to have a baby.' I look at her, and seeing that she is older than me, I realize that I'm the one who will be having the baby. And I think, 'how is that possible? I'm 58 years old. And is it responsible?' And then I woke up.
As I lay in my bed pondering this dream, my first question was, 'why would my unconscious mind choose this woman to be my spouse?' And immediately one image led to another: artist - creativity - Sophia - Spirit. The invitation from this dream was for me to trust that I was married to Sophia - Holy Wisdom - and that I was gestating some sort of new life within me. I had no idea what that was, but it gave me courage during those days of meetings when everything in me wanted to change the subject or control a conversation. I was pregnant with something, and I just had to wait...
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Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash
My Third Dream
Shortly before Queen's House closed in August 2024, I asked if any of those who were receiving my weekly newsletters from the Programming Office might want to stay in touch. I was thrilled when more than 800 people said 'yes.' So I had a contact list of interested pilgrims, and two dreams in my back pocket. But still no clear idea about next steps. September was a crazy month of transition and tending to our Growing in Wisdom: Seeking Deeper Generativity program, which explores the spirituality of aging. Following our 5-day intensive, Scott and I planned a brief trip to visit friends in Winnipeg. But I knew I could not wait another month before reaching out to those 800+ people. So in late September I took a deep breath and began creating Spirit River Community. I contacted several retreat/workshop facilitators, asking if they would be willing to offer something for Spirit River? All enthusiastically said yes - their support kept me moving forward. I created a website and a newsletter in a few days. It was all a blur. But I had the bones of an idea, and felt I needed to put it out there and see if anything might happen. The name 'Spirit River Centre' had been written on a yellow sticky on my desk for many months. I had hoped it might be the name of a new retreat centre which would be built on the grounds of Queen's House. In September, I crossed out the word 'Centre' and wrote in 'Community.' We would be a retreat centre without walls.
With the website quickly created and the first newsletter scheduled to be emailed out on October 2, we packed for our road trip to Winnipeg. On October 1, I was given this third dream:
I walk into our home and see a newborn lying in a baby seat. The baby has arrived! It has been a long, 14-month pregnancy! Suddenly I realize that I am completely unprepared for this infant - there are no diapers, food, etc. in the house. Scott arrives and offers to go to a nearby drug store to purchase the necessary supplies. After he leaves, I think of a drug store in Nanaimo BC which is a short walk away - I wrap up the infant and start to walk there. Which is very funny as Nanaimo is 1600 km from Saskatoon. Such is my stubbornness and belief that I always have a better idea! Nevertheless, the new creation has been born, and I am feeling grateful and excited.
Photo by Tuva Mathilde Løland on Unsplash
My Second Dream
Nine months come and go, and I start to sweat! When is this pregnancy coming to an end? In mid-August I'm given a second memorable dream:
I'm showing a man around a very old facility. I'm thinking it is my father, but upon reflection I'm wondering if this figure represented a more traditional image of God? The tour ends in the basement, in a small bathroom. Two toilet stalls behind me, porcelain sinks and cracked mirrors in front of me. (What is it in me that I need to let go?) As we stand there, something catches my left eye. There is a sliding window, level with the ground outside. Something brown starts to come through the window, which is open five inches. Is it a mouse? Squirrel? Rat? No ... it is a tortoise! I watch in amazement as this tortoise slowly makes its way through the open window, and then pivots 90 degrees and rests on the windowsill ledge, eye level. We are looking in the same direction. 'Hmmm...' I think to myself.
My first takeaway as I reflected on this dream is that it is encouraging me to proceed slowly - as I look into a future which is still unknown, to move ahead like a tortoise, and not leap in reactive ways like a hare. 'Slow and steady wins the day,' I said to myself. However, two months later, I realized that this tortoise was the symbol of what Spirit River Community was going to be - a retreat centre without walls, where we make our home wherever we find ourselves, and with whomever we are gathering. ​​
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Sarah Donnelly
Sarah celebrated 30 years in ministry in 2024. She is a spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and was the Director of Programming at Queen’s House Retreat & Renewal Centre in Saskatoon SK for 7 years prior to the retreat centre closing in August 2024. In October 2024 Sarah launched her own small business: Spirit River Community – A Retreat Centre Without Walls. She is a graduate of St. Peter’s Seminary (M.Div.) in London, ON and received her spiritual direction training through The Haden Institute: Spiritual Direction in the Jungian Mystical Christian Tradition. Sarah is also a graduate of the Forest Dwelling Program, Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, studying the Spirituality of Aging. Along with Nancy Phillips (Program Coordinator) she co-created a two-year Canadian-based sister program to Forest Dwelling called Growing in Wisdom: Seeking Deeper Generativity, and serves as the Program Administrator.
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Sarah is married to Scott Pittendrigh, and they make their home in Saskatoon SK Canada.
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You can learn more about Sarah at www.sarahdonnelly.ca