The "Road to Emmaus" biannual men’s retreat is a spiritual renewal program, rooted in the biblical story of Jesus' appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, designed to strengthen men’s spiritual relationship with Jesus and rediscover the power and counsel of the Holy Spirit.  First started in the Miami Archdiocese, St. Dominic’s Parish launched the retreats in January 2007 and have since transformed the lives of hundreds of men throughout the region.
 
The primary goal is to inspire, challenge, and spiritually recharge during the three-day retreat at the W.J. Kelly Retreat Center in Bay St. Louis. This retreat is intended for men, who are seeking a deeper understanding of their Catholic faith, fellowship with other Catholic men in their community and for those who feel the need to grow closer to Christ.
 
Emmaus Retreats emulate the lessons taught by Jesus in Luke’s Gospel (24:13-35) “The Appearance on the road to Emmaus. In this Gospel, after the crucifixion, Jesus appears to two disciples who are walking to Emmaus, a town near Jerusalem but they are prevented from recognizing him until they break bread together at the evening meal. At that moment they recognize Jesus as he disappears form their sight. One of the disciples says, “were not our hearts burning within us, while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?”
 
Using the wisdom of the Gospel, Emmaus Retreats are designed to demonstrate Jesus’s parables to teach and foster self-discernment and spiritual growth and the grace offered by the sacraments of the Catholic Church. Above all, the retreats are intended to rekindle that fire of love for God in our hearts.