Monthly Series

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A MERTON STUDY

FINDING GOD WITHIN THE CHAOS

     5 Thursdays           9:30 – 11:30 AM

     January 6   February 3   March 3   April 7   May 5

This year we will use Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton for the content of our Thursday morning retreat. Each month we will focus on one of the 5 booklets in the series as a means of understanding and experiencing an intimate life with God. The morning will also include a 20-minute video by Thomas Keating and a 20-minute session of contemplative prayer. Led by S. Marcy.  Donation: $75.

SAVOR

MINDFULNESS AND CONTEMPLATION

     4 Tuesdays            9:30 – 11:00 AM

     January 11 & 18            February 1 & 8

Let’s come together with others to learn the art of savoring. To savor is to enjoy the flavor, the sustenance, the goodness of life, of food, of creation, of all God’s gifts. We will particularly focus on savoring food, choosing healthy eating habits and making 2022 a healthier year all around.  Need a jump start?  We will read the book Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life in between sessions.  Led by S. Marcy and Colleen McNally.  Donation: $60.

THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE

DEALING WITH DIMINISHMENT

     4 Tuesdays            1:00 – 2:30 PM

     January 11 & 18                     February 1 & 8

God saves the best until last? We may wonder about that! But it is through the suffering, losses and diminishments of life that God acts upon us, healing and purifying us, preparing us for deeper union. God never wastes anything but uses everything for our good. What changes or diminishments are you experiencing now? How is God using them for your transformation? Can contemplation assist you in dealing with diminishments of all kinds? Materials included.  Led by S. Marcy.  Donation: $60.

THE MATURING OF YOUR SOUL

PILGRIMAGE INTO THE LAST THIRD OF LIFE

     5 Fridays              9:30 AM – 12:00 PM

     January 14     February 11    March 11     April 8     May 13

Join with others who are 65+ to share the experience of these precious years.  You will find faith, support, camaraderie, laughter and encouragement in these monthly meetings.  Making the pilgrimage together is a blessing. We will use Vesper Time by Frank Cunningham between sessions.  Led by Sister Marcy.  Donation: $100. 

MONDAYS WITH MERTON

     5 Mondays            1:00 – 2:30 PM

     January 17   February 14   March 14   April 11   May 9

Thomas Merton will be our guide to the contemplative way of life.  In this series, we will use The Inner Experience: Notes on Contemplation.  Time will also be given to experience Lectio Divina and contemplative prayer. Led by Jill Snyder. Donation: $75.

FAMILY OF ORIGIN

A SERIES OF RETREAT DAYS 

     5 Tuesdays            1:00 – 4:00 PM

     January 18     February 15     March 15     April 12     May 17

Each of the five sessions provides a time to reflect on an aspect of family of origin.  Each session will provide time for ritual, input, reflection and prayer.  Led by S. Rita Woehlcke, SSJ.  Donation: $125.

     January:   My Beginnings

     February:  Cultivating Self-Compassion

     March:  Cultivating Empathy

     April:   Embracing the Family Tree

     May:  Celebrating and Choosing Life

THE CERTAINTY OF BEING LOVED

     5 Wednesdays            1:00 – 2:30 PM

     January 19    February 16    March 16    April 13    May 11

Blessed Pierre Claverie, once bishop of Oran, Algeria, was my brother. Assassinated during the civil war which engulfed that country during the 1990’s, he was beatified in 2018 in Oran, along with 18 other religious who lost their lives during that “black decade.” They are the first Catholics to be honored in this way in an overwhelmingly Muslim country. Martin McGee’s The Certainty of Being Loved retraces the life and thought of Pierre, who has become a source of inspiration to many as they wrestle with questions of how to share experiences and ideas with others, especially Muslims, who are different from us. Is dialogue truly possible among peoples of different cultures and religions?  Can we acknowledge our differences and find them enriching rather than alienating? We will use Father McGee’s book as a guide as we listen to Pierre’s answers to these questions and many more.  Led by Anne-Marie Gustavson-Claverie.  Donation: $100, includes $25 book.

PAUSING FOR THE SACRED

     3 Mondays                   3:00 – 4:30 PM 

     May 2, 9, 16

Set a new pace for yourself with the lessons contained in the book, Seven Sacred Pauses: Living Mindfully Through the Hours of the Day by Macrina Wiederkehr.  We will learn to pause and “breathe in” the sanctity of each moment as we turn our attention to God’s Presence in the seven sacred hours of the day.  Led by Jill Snyder.  Donation: $45.