Begin the new year by focusing on your path ahead and tuning into God’s voice. Our winter directed retreat consists of five whole days (6-night stay) of spiritual direction. Retreatants will meet with a spiritual director daily (or less if you desire) to reflect on God’s Presence and movement in your life as revealed in prayer, the events and relationships in your life and the response to God that is being made. The spiritual director may make suggestions (prayer forms,…
Our Friends Day of Prayer retreats are held monthly on the first Wednesday of the month. Everyone is welcome to attend and you can drop into any month. It’s not required to attend every retreat. Everyone will gather for coffee and pastries for the first half hour. A speaker will give a morning presentation themed around Advent. Mass will be held in the chapel, you'll enjoy a delicious lunch, and then there will be an afternoon presentation. Free time will…
Relying on the Communion of Saints All of us need a little bit of help in life, right? So, have you been in touch with any of the “saints” in recent days? We will spend the day looking at the formal process of sainthood in the Catholic Church, as well as going deeper into the lives of several saints and how they can relate to us and with us. Guided by Fr. Harry Geib, he will share more about his…
Who is there that does not want to be happy? But happiness is not so much the goal of a spiritual life, as is joy. And joy is the fruit of a connection, a relationship, with the source of all joy, that is, God. Joy is experiencing God’s presence. In the span of seven days, we will carve out the journey which we are all on, not one just limited to passing happiness, but one ending in joy that brings…
Today's post is a homily that Fr. Michael Schleupner shared on Sunday and we think it's a perfect fit for our blog today. We're also looking forward to welcoming Fr. Michael back to the Center in a few weeks for our July Directed Retreat, where he will be personally leading a small group of retreat guests on their spiritual journey. Let's reflect on his insights from Scripture that can be applied in three steps within on our own journeys. A…
Today's reflection is another by Fr. Michael Schleupner, which he shared last week as he celebrated his 50th jubilee! Let's read about how he tied together readings from the gospel for his role as a priest and how we can use this within our own communities. We look forward to seeing more of Fr. Michael when he's here for our July and August Directed Retreats, serving as a spiritual director. Please comment below to congratulate Fr. Michael on an amazing…
Today's post comes from Fr. Michael Schleupner, friend of and frequent presenter/spiritual director for the Center. Fr. Michael shared this homily last week and we're grateful to be able to share it with you now. Do you follow Jesus by practicing simplicity and grace? Share with us. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my…
Today's post comes from one of our frequent retreat presenters, Fr. Michael Schleupner. Let's read his timely insight about hope from the resurrection and how we can carry it with us today, even as we hear of more devastating news each day. Easter Hope Dear Friends, With the Russian invasion of Ukraine and all the human tragedy happening there, this Easter turns my inner spirit to hope. Easter, the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection, inspires hope in me. I see hope…
Fr. Michael Schleupner offers another blog today with a powerful visual analogy about a familiar Advent reading from Scripture. Does this image resonate with you, inspiring you with hope, humility, truthfulness and patience? Sideling Mountain A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough…
Today's post features the next in an Advent series from Fr. Michael Schleupner. Can you take a few quiet moments today to sit with this lesson, a homily that Fr. Mike shared last week? Getting Ready - 2 Dear Friends, The purple vestments of Advent call us to welcome Jesus more fully into our lives. We are to receive him into every dimension of our being. This will be our spiritual way to prepare for Christmas. To respond to this…
