Going on Retreat with Celiac Disease

Retreats and Catholic conferences offer deep spiritual nourishment. They also involve communal meals, shared spaces, and unfamiliar food situations.

Here’s how to navigate them.

Before You Register

Ask the Right Questions

When registering, email or call ahead:

“I have celiac disease and need gluten-free meals. Can the retreat center accommodate this? What is your process for handling dietary restrictions?”

Good signs:

• They have a form for dietary restrictions
• They mention they’ve accommodated celiacs before
• They can describe their kitchen’s process

Warning signs:

• “Just bring your own food”
• “We’ll try, but we can’t guarantee anything”
• No system for dietary accommodations

Consider Your Options

Option A: They accommodate fully The retreat center prepares GF meals for you. Best case scenario.

Option B: They partially accommodate They can do some meals, or simple modifications. You supplement with snacks.

Option C: You bring your own food Some retreat centers have kitchens or refrigerators you can use.

Option D: Nearby grocery/restaurants If the retreat center can’t accommodate and you can’t bring food, you may need to leave for meals or get food delivered.

Decide your comfort level before registering.

What to Pack

Always Bring (Even If They Accommodate)

Snacks:

• GF bars
• Nuts and dried fruit
• Crackers
• Anything that doesn’t need refrigeration

Why? Meals might be late, you might not be able to eat what’s served, retreat schedules can be long.

Emergency meal: Something that could be a full meal if necessary, peanut butter, GF bread, etc.

If Bringing Your Own Food

Full meal supplies:

• A small cooler
• Ice packs or access to ice
• Meals prepped in containers
• Utensils, paper plates
• A plan for refrigerator access

Check ahead:

• Is there a refrigerator you can use?
• A microwave?
• Access to the kitchen between meals?

During the Retreat

Meals

If they’re accommodating you:

• Check in with kitchen staff your first meal
• Confirm they know about your needs
• Verify each meal before eating
• Be gracious when they try

If you’re eating separately:

• Find a comfortable place to eat your food
• Eat with others even if your meal is different
• Don’t make it a bigger deal than necessary

Communion at Retreat Mass

Retreats usually include daily Mass. Your communion approach:

• Low-gluten hosts: Tell the priest before Mass. Ask if they have them or if you should bring your own.
• Cup only: Know where the chalice is distributed.
• Your own host in pyx: Arrange with the priest.
• Spiritual communion: Always an option.

Don’t assume they’ll be ready for you. Arrange ahead.

Silent Retreats

Silent retreats add complexity:

• You can’t ask questions during meals
• You can’t explain your needs in the moment
• Everything needs to be arranged beforehand

For silent retreats, do ALL food communication before silence begins.

Specific Retreat Types

Parish Weekend Retreats (ACTS, Christ Renews, etc.)

These often involve potluck meals prepared by volunteers.

Challenges:

• Food prepared by many different people
• Limited knowledge of cross-contamination
• Casseroles and dishes with unknown ingredients

Approach:

• Talk to the retreat coordinator ahead of time
• Ask if someone can prepare dedicated GF meals
• Bring your own food to supplement
• Eat before sessions to ensure you’re fed

Organized Conferences

Large Catholic conferences (SEEK, Steubenville, etc.) often use conference center or hotel catering.

Approach:

• Contact the conference and the venue separately
• Request GF accommodations in advance
• Check in with catering on arrival
• Identify safe options and stick to them

Monastery/Convent Stays

Religious communities often have fixed menus.

Approach:

• Contact well in advance (monasteries appreciate advance notice)
• Explain clearly and concisely
• Be flexible, they may not be able to accommodate complex needs
• Bring supplemental food

Ignatian Retreats

Directed retreats or Spiritual Exercises often have assigned seating at meals.

Approach:

• Inform the director and kitchen
• Don’t break silence to handle food issues, arrange everything beforehand

The Spiritual Angle

It’s Part of Your Retreat

Managing celiac is part of your current reality. Don’t try to hide it or minimize it. Let it be present.

If it becomes frustrating, bring that to prayer. God knows your body.

Fasting Considerations

Some retreats involve fasting. With celiac:

• Be careful about fasting if you’re already nutritionally compromised
• Talk to your spiritual director about appropriate fasting for your health
• Fasting from something other than food might be appropriate

The Shared Table

Eating different food than everyone else can feel isolating, especially on retreat where community is emphasized.

Remember:

• The communion is spiritual, not culinary
• You can share the table without sharing the food
• Your presence matters more than what you eat

A Retreat Preparation Prayer

Lord, I’m seeking You on this retreat.

You know I carry this body with its limitations. You know the planning and vigilance it requires.

Let me not be so focused on food that I miss You. But let me not ignore my health in false piety either.

Feed me with Your presence. Let me receive what You have for me, around the table and beyond it.

Amen.

After the Retreat

If the retreat center did well, tell them. Positive feedback encourages them to accommodate future celiacs.

If they didn’t do well, constructive feedback helps too. They may not know what they don’t know.

It’s Worth Going

Retreats are valuable. Don’t let celiac stop you from going.

With preparation, they’re completely doable. The spiritual nourishment is worth the logistical effort.

Go. God will meet you there.