Trenton Diocesan Spiritual Center and Retreat House
Trenton Diocesan Spiritual Center and Retreat House
MARDI GRAS
USHERING IN THE LENTEN SEASON
Tuesday, March 4 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Sometimes we hear ourselves say, “I really want/need a ‘good Lent’ this year.” This afternoon retreat will help you receive that grace in very practical ways as we explore and creatively prepare our hearts for this holy season. What does God want for you this Lent? What will you name this Lent? Are you ready? Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $30, includes a Lenten book, A Way Other Than Our Own by Walter Brueggemann to assist you on your Lenten journey. If participating on Zoom: $20.
ASH WEDNESDAY RETREAT
Wednesday, March 5 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
LITURGY AT NOON
We love beginning Lent together with this retreat at Francis House because it provides a gentle structure for the six-week journey ahead. This year I think you will enjoy A Way Other Than Our Own by Walter Brueggemann to guide your Lenten journey. Liturgy is included with the reception of ashes within it. Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $40, includes lunch and book for your Lenten journey. Zoom $25
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
THE BEATITUDES EDITION
Friday, March 7 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Let’s enjoy the wisdom of this timeless classic by Thomas Ὰ Kempis translated for us in this special version, The Imitation of Christ – The Beatitudes Edition. Listen as Jesus speaks right to you as a friend with loving advice. Time will also be given to contemplative prayer. Led by Jill Snyder. Donation: $25, includes lunch; Zoom $20.
EVENING ZOOM ONLY
MEETING CHRIST IN PRAYER
EXPERIENCE OF THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
8 Mondays 7:00 – 8:30 PM
March 10, 17, 24, 31; April 7, 14, 21, 28
This is a shortened version and another wonderful way to experience the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. You will be invited to pray about 30 minutes each day. You will learn to pray more deeply; grow in friendship with God; come to know Jesus more intimately; savor the Word of God as a primary means of recognizing the presence and action of God. Led by Jill Snyder. Donation: $150
A LENTEN HOBO HONEYMOON
Tuesday, March 11 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Based on the book by Edward Hays, this retreat will explore Lent as an important part of a HOmeward BOund journey to our ultimate destination – our heavenly home. Using the “secret signs” of the hobo, we will find our way through this holy season and enjoy a fruitful Lent and joyous Easter. Hays writes, “These 40 holy days of renewal should be about romancing and enkindling our love for God with fresh passion and the enthusiasm of young lovers on a honeymoon.” Curious about this strange approach to the austerities of Lent? Come pray, laugh, and learn. Led by JoLynn Krempecki. Donation: $25, includes lunch; Zoom $20.
DISCERNMENT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE
Friday, March 14 9:30 AM – Noon
This retreat will include the full teaching of Ignatian Discernment of Spirits. If you find yourself sliding down “the greasy pole” of desolation or negative thinking, this program will help you immensely. The Ignatian teaching on discernment is life changing as we practice awareness, understanding and right action regarding the various spirits that present themselves to us day by day and moment by moment. The practice of discernment assures an increase in peace and joy. Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $25
EVENING ZOOM ONLY
LENTEN SERIES: POPE FRANCIS’ NEW ENCYCLICAL DILEXIT NOS (HE LOVED US)
3 Tuesdays: March 11, 18, 25 7:00 – 8:00 PM
What better way to participate in Lent? Pope Francis invites us to experience deeply the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the world and for each of us. His writing is simple and understandable, and inspiring to say the least. The Encyclical available online and on Amazon. I would love to read it with you as a way to enhance our Lenten Journey. Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $50
PERSONAL RETREAT DAY
Wednesday, March 12 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Come for a private day of prayer with your God during this holiest of weeks to prepare for the sacred Triduum ahead. We begin and end with a prayer together and the rest of the day is for your own prayer, reflection, outdoor Stations of the Cross, and journaling. We will provide some materials to help you pray. Spiritual Direction will be available if desired. Donation: $10; $40 with spiritual direction.
LENTEN SERIES: FORGIVENESS, A GIFT OF LOVING AS GOD LOVES
3 Fridays 9:30 – 11:00 AM
March 14 & 28 and April 11
To be loved by God and to love as God loves IS our path to union with our Creator. We will pray with several Scripture passages, reflect on the words of Henri Nouwen in The Return of the Prodigal Son as we absorb the beauty and the promise portrayed in Rembrandt’s painting of the same name. Please come and experience the freedom found in healing and forgiveness. Led by Jill Snyder. Donation: $60
THE LOVING-KINDNESS PRAYER
THE ASCETICISM OF COMPASSION
Tuesday, March 18 9:30 AM – Noon
All the asceticism we need lies in the true love of neighbor. The Loving-Kindness Prayer fills us with compassion for ourselves first and with all others. Sprinkle this Lenten Season with the all-inclusive love of Jesus. Let the Jesus in you reach out with love and compassion to all others. Like all prayer, this prayer is life-changing. Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $20
"THIN PLACES" IN LIFE
Thursday, March 20 9:30 AM – Noon
Are there moments when you have strongly felt God’s Presence in the quiet within, in places or in relationships? We will use exercises in Braving the Thin Places by Julianne Stanz as a guide to discovering “thin places” in which we meet God “opening us to rawness and beauty.” Led by Jill Snyder. Donation: $20
A JOURNEY THROUGH THE 12 STEPS
Friday, March 21 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
We will compare the graced movement through the 12 Steps with the four parts of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius. They are remarkably similar in their movement toward interior freedom which leads to a full life of love and service to others. Led by Mary De Joseph and S. Marcy. Donation: $40. Please bring your own lunch.
THE COSMIC CHRIST
TEILHARD’S EXPERIENCE OF THE SACRED HEART
Tuesday, April 1 9:30 AM – 11:30 PM
In his latest encyclical, Pope Francis tells us that relationship to the Sacred Heart has power to change the world. From early childhood, Teilhard de Chardin was deeply devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, albeit not particularly Christ’s physical heart. Yet as he matured, so did that early devotion. During our time together, we will consider how, as Teilhard’s devotion to Christ deepened, his understanding of the Sacred Heart evolved into the Cosmic Christ. Until he died, he continued to pray to his God of Fire. Our gathering will include time for input, reflection, prayer, and sharing. Led by S. Kathy Duffy, SSJ. Donation: $25
POPE FRANCIS’ ENCYCLICAL ON THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
Friday, April 4 1:00 – 3:30 PM
In addition to the three-part night zoom Lenten series in March, we offer this opportunity to spend time with and unpack heartfully Pope Francis’ new encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Dilexit Nos (He Loved Us). We need so very much to remember the deep and compassionate love of Jesus’ Sacred Heart for all of us in this Lenten season. I hope you will come to experience anew the immense love of Jesus’ Sacred Heart for you. By the way, Pope Francis writes simply and is very understandable. Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $20
IN-PERSON ONLY
EMBRACING THE WAY OF THE CROSS THROUGH ART
Monday, April 7 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM
All are welcome: non-artists, artists, poets and other writers- anyone who desires to draw more deeply into the Passion of Jesus as we approach Holy Week. Using Vizio Divina, we will contemplate the meaning of each Station of the Cross created by Maria De Fayrod (Stations of the Cross, Lourdes, France). Through prayer and reflection, we will consider how we can unite our own life experiences with those of Christ’s Way of the Cross. Our hope is to deepen our faith, strengthen our resilience in the face of struggle, and expand our compassion and forgiveness towards others. Since each station often carries a specific theme, such as betrayal, denial, the weight of the cross, or the love of a mother (Mary), we will create our own original station in the medium of choice (poetry, drawing, music or painting). Some art materials will be available, but you are welcome to bring your own. Led by S. Celeste Mokrzycki, SSJ. Donation: $40, includes lunch.
THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF JESUS
Tuesday, April 8 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM
We will spend the day with Jesus lovingly listening to his Seven Last Words which have come down to us through the ages. What was in Jesus’ mind and heart as he uttered them? What is in ours as we pray with them? What an intimate day between you and Jesus! Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $30, includes lunch and materials. Zoom: $25
DOROTHY DAY
"TO LOVE IS TO SUFFER"
Wednesday, April 9 9:30 AM – Noon
Dorothy Day lived her life in intentional poverty. She chose to live, work and minister in the way of Jesus. By aligning herself with the people she served, she grew to recognize the Christ within each person. We will use her essay, To Love is to Suffer to help us understand the call to love one another. Led by Jill Snyder. Donation: $20
GOD CHOOSES THE UNLIKELY
HE GOT UP AND FOLLOWED JESUS
Friday, April 11 9:30 AM – Noon
Matthew “got up” at the invitation from Jesus, left everything and went with Jesus. We will use Caravaggio’s famous painting The Call of St. Matthew to lead our reflection and open us to hear Jesus’ call to each of us, individually and uniquely to leave everything and “come.” Are you an “unlikely choice” too? What is Jesus inviting you to leave? Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $25 with materials. Zoom: $20
A HOLY MOVIE FOR A HOLY WEEK
OF GODS AND MEN
Tuesday, April 15 1:00 – 4:00 PM
What does it mean to give your life for others, to return love for hate and to become one with the poor and oppressed no matter what the cost? Jesus shows us in His Passion and the priests and monks in this movie, Of Gods and Men, how to follow Jesus fully. Blessed Pierre Claverie is among them, and his sister, Anne-Marie, will be with us as we watch and pray. Led by Anne-Marie Gustavson-Claverie. Donation: Love Offering
PERSONAL RETREAT DAY
Wednesday, April 16 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Come for a private day of prayer with your God during this holiest of weeks to prepare for the sacred Triduum ahead. We begin and end with a prayer together and the rest of the day is for your own prayer, reflection, outdoor Stations of the Cross, and journaling. We will provide some materials to help you pray. Spiritual Direction will be available if desired. Donation: $10; $40 with spiritual direction.
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Francis House of Prayer
84 Walnford Road, Allentown, New Jersey 08501, United States
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