Prayer retreats becoming popular Quiet Retreats Becoming Popular Silence can speak loudly. Churches are urging their parishioners to seek out silence at a retreat or in quiet places in their homes. The basic format is that a layperson meets with a retreat leader for 30 minutes or an hour a day, and the leader gives the person Scripture to reflect on in silence as the day continues, according to the Star-Telegram.
Retreats can last a day, a week, or longer.