One Day Offerings

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 IN PERSON AND ZOOM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

EVENING ZOOM ONLY

OFF TO A PRAYERFUL START: FOCUSING THE NEW YEAR

     Thursday, January 2       7:00 – 8:00 PM

Start out 2025 with an evening zoom retreat to set the direction for the year.  “Well begun is half done,” they say, and establishing a direction is essential for the journey.  Where am I going in 2025?  What is the desire of my heart, and God’s as we begin this year together? Led by S. Marcy.  Donation: $15, includes materials.

SETTING THE DIRECTION FOR 2025

     Friday, January 3          9:30 AM – 1:00 PM

A new year is born! The first task at any new birth is to name the baby! We will give 2025 a name and choose a goal or practice for each month to assure it is true to its name! Does that sound appealing, grace-filled, and helpful to you? Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $25, includes lunch. Zoom: $20

PERSONAL RETREAT DAY

     Wednesday, January 8   9:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Take a day away from the busyness of your life to rest a while in the Lord and experience God’s presence. Come to Francis House for silence, personal prayer, and optional spiritual direction. The day begins and ends with a brief prayer together. Please bring your lunch. Donation: $10; $40 with spiritual direction.

ABUNDANCE OF HAPPINESS

     Friday, January 10         9:30 AM – Noon

Anthony De Mello, SJ challenges us to face the truth about happiness and contentment in Rediscovering Life: Awaken to Reality. Our ego’s belief that we can be happy, only if we have everything to which we are so attached, shadows over the truth. We do have everything we need to be happy. Our unhappiness occurs when we focus on what we do not have rather than on what we have. Led by Jill Snyder. Donation: $25  

5 SHORT WAYS TO PRAY

     Tuesday, January 14      9:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Do you struggle with finding time to pray? Sometimes brief encounters are the best.  This morning retreat will acquaint you with 5 short ways to enjoy direct communication with the God who knows and loves you as you are.  Give it a try.  Prayer happens when the real God and the real you meet, even briefly.   I think God likes and listens to short prayers!  Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $25, includes lunch. Zoom: $20

GANDHI: PROPHET OF PEACE

     Thursday, January 30     9:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Have we ever needed Gandhi's witness and message of nonviolence more than we do today? We are remembering Gandhi by joining together to view the very long but  inspirational film, Gandhi. We will split our viewing into morning and afternoon sessions with delicious lunch and conversation between. I can't think of a better way to remember Gandhi today on his anniversary. Led by Jerry Washko and Sister Marcy. Donation: $25, includes lunch, popcorn too! Zoom, $20

ST. TERESA’S INTERIOR CASTLE

     Friday, January 31        9:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Travel through Saint Teresa’s castle for the day! She leads us with great astuteness into the center of our souls by guiding us through the seven rooms or mansions of the castle. If you've always wanted to read The Interior Castle, this retreat day will be a good introduction for you. Could God be inviting you into the center?  Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $40, includes materials and lunch. Zoom: $20

 IN PERSON AND ZOOM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

 ART JOURNALING

       Tuesday, February 4          9:30 AM – 1:00 PM

This morning’s retreat will help you express the content of your prayer in color.  You will be surprised as you journal with art, rather than words.  God is the greatest artist who expresses his loving creation in color.  Come and do the same.  Learn a new way to express your experience of God.  Led by Jill Snyder.  Donation: $30, includes materials and lunch.

PERSONAL RETREAT DAY

        Wednesday, February 5     9:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Take a day away from the busyness of your life to rest a while in the Lord and experience God’s presence. Come to Francis House for silence, personal prayer, and optional spiritual direction. The day begins and ends with a brief prayer together. Please bring your lunch. Donation: $10; $40 with spiritual direction.

WRITING AND JOURNALING

DEEPEN OUR FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD

     Wednesday, February 12       9:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Writing and journaling can be a conversation with God!  Enjoy a gentle day with God’s guidance as we reflect on graces received in our lives by using writing prompts that bring us deeper into sacred stillness and love. Please bring a notebook or journal. Led by Jill Snyder.  Donation: $30, includes lunch. Zoom: $25. 

ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE

     Tuesday, February 18             9:30 AM – 1:00 PM

I am going to summarize the essence of this classic by Jean Pierre de Caussade so that you can enjoy and internalize his message of complete abandonment to the care of Divine Providence. We seem to need that more than ever and I so desire to acquaint you with his wisdom in pointing to the Providence of God in all things. Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $25, includes materials and lunch. Zoom: $20.

DOROTHY DAY - ENTERTAINING ANGELS

      Friday, February 21          9:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Together, we will view the movie, Entertaining Angels to learn about Dorothy Day’s message of peace and justice.  Her heart was guided to live centered in Christ and out of this center came her courage, strength and love for all people.  Let’s discover together what she called the “revolution of the heart” as we reflect on and discuss her desire to bring God’s mercy into the world.  Led by Jill Snyder. Donation: $30, includes lunch. Zoom: $25

MARCH & APRIL LENTEN ONE DAY PROGRAMS 

 IN PERSON AND ZOOM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

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

PERSONAL RETREAT DAY

    Wednesday, April 2      9:30 AM – 2:30 PM  

Take a day away from the busyness of your life to rest a while in the Lord and experience God’s presence. Come to Francis House for silence, personal prayer, and optional spiritual direction. The day begins and ends with a brief prayer together. Please bring your lunch. Donation: $10; $40 with spiritual direction.

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.

IN-PERSON ONLY

CELEBRATION OF EARTH DAY

     Tuesday, April 22     9:30 AM – 1:00 PM

We will enter into this retreat by praying with the words of Pope Francis, St. Hildegard of Bingen and St. Francis to set the tone for the morning. We will enjoy the natural beauty of Francis House and the surrounding woods for your meeting places with God.  Led by Jill Snyder.  Donation: $25, includes materials and lunch.

DESIDERATA

THE PEACE OF THE RISEN CHRIST

     Thursday, April 24    9:30 AM –  Noon

We will spend the morning unpacking this ancient prayer as our participation in the mystery of Christ’s Resurrection with his gift of peace to us all. You will receive a framed copy of the prayer to enhance your celebration of these 50 days of Easter. Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $30, with materials.   Zoom $20

 IN PERSON AND ZOOM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

WISDOM OF ST. HILDEGARD OF BINGEN

     Friday, May 2       9:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Let’s celebrate St. Hildegard by learning about her God-given wisdom as a Doctor of the Church, an abbess, a visionary, a healer, a writer, a composer, an artist, etc.!  We will view a short movie to understand her life and Jeanne Sundberg will share stories and photos from a recent pilgrimage to Germany.  What a wonderful day to spend time reflecting on her message of wholeness in God. Led by Jill Snyder & Jeanne Sundberg.  Donation $35, includes lunch. Zoom: $30

THOMAS MERTON

DELIGHT IN THE BEAUTY OF CREATION

     Monday, May 5      9:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Open your eyes, ears and hearts to God’s glory in nature. We will reflect on Thomas Merton’s nature writings collected in When the Trees Say Nothing and let his words inspire us to be more attentive to the love of God.  Some time outdoors will be spent enjoying creation and reflecting on God as a loving Creator.  All is gift helping each one of us to know, love and serve God with joy and gratitude. Donation: $25, includes lunch. Zoom: $20

PERSONAL RETREAT DAY

    Wednesday May 7     9:30 AM – 2:30 PM  

Take a day away from the busyness of your life to rest a while in the Lord and experience God’s presence. Come to Francis House for silence, personal prayer, and optional spiritual direction. The day begins and ends with a brief prayer together. Please bring your lunch. Donation: $10; $40 with spiritual direction.

WELCOME  WELCOME   WELCOME

     Friday, May 9    9:30 AM – 1:00 PM

What do you usually say when something goes wrong? I’ll bet it isn't “Welcome!”  The Welcoming Prayer invites us to make a habit of welcoming each moment of our lives as it comes  because there is some hidden gift within it from God. Does your reactive self need a little tendering and care so that you can respond more gently and peacefully for yourself and others? Your disquieted soul will find a new home in the peace of this prayer. Led by S. Marcy. Donation: $25, with lunch and materials; Zoom $20.

FINDING GOD – AND LETTING GOD FIND US IN LITERATURE

     Tuesday, May 13    9:30 AM – 1:00 PM

During our time together, we will reflect on the role of reading and the place of literature (what we read) as a space of encounter with the Divine. God attracts and courts us by what we love – music, art, nature, and the written text. We will consider the role of reading and the place of literature in the lives of some of the saints and Pope Francis’ frequent references to literary texts and how he “unpacks” them. There will be time for reflection and sharing. Consider bringing a literary text that has inspired, comforted or sustained you. S. Cecelia Cavanaugh, SSJ. Donation: $35, with lunch. Zoom $30.

IN-PERSON ONLY

SUNSET RETREAT: AN EVENING OF PRAYER WITH TEILHARD

     Thursday, May 15     6:30 – 8:30 PM

Spend an evening connecting with God through the wonder of nature, the Word of God and the words of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.  God’s love and creative energy resonate through all things.  Let it be an uplifting moment to enjoy and be quietly aware of God’s Presence. Dinner at 6:30 PM followed by outdoor evening prayer. Donation: $25, includes dinner.

ANNUAL CLEANING PARTY

     Thursday,  May 29

     9 AM to Noon   or    1:00 – 3:00 PM

Please come and help us clean Francis House.  Bring your favorite cleaning supplies.  Choose a shift that is convenient for you and call 609-877-0509 with your choice. Actually, it’s fun!  Thanks so much.  Breakfast & lunch provided.

PERSONAL RETREAT DAY

    Wednesday, June 4     9:30 AM – 2:30 PM  

Take a day away from the busyness of your life to rest a while in the Lord and experience God’s presence. Come to Francis House for silence, personal prayer, and optional spiritual direction. The day begins and ends with a brief prayer together. Please bring your lunch. Donation: $10; $40 with spiritual direction.