for parish staff, parish council, school faculty, RCIA team, Holy
Name Society, seniors, Confirmation classes, religious education
teachers, sodality, lectors, ushers, Eucharistic ministers, music
ministers, and others

Thanks to a generous benefactor who created an Outreach Fund in memory
of his grandmother, funds are available to parish groups and individuals
who may want services provided by this Center but who may not be able
to afford our fees. However, we ask that some contribution be made to
the Center. Each group or person may decide the amount and we will
make up the difference from the Outreach Fund.

The Adjunct Staff of St. Mary's Spiritual Center is
available to lead retreats, days of recollection,
workshops, seminars and other programs
at your parish or center
or at St. Mary's Spiritual Center
at the time of your choice

The programs described below are suitable for all kinds of parish
groups and ministers. Each program may be adapted to a
one-day or a part-day format.
"One-day" means both morning and afternoon sessions.
"Part-day" means sessions morning, afternoon or evening.

MEDITATION AND CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
The ancient and uncomplicated practice of Lectio Divina and
modern-day Centering Prayer as steps toward contemplation.

 

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH THROUGH SPIRITUALITY
Themes of the spiritual writers.

 

FINDING CHRIST IN YOURSELF AND OTHERS:
"THE WIZARD OF OZ"
The message excerpted from a movie about human weakness
that triumphs through trials, maturity and love is compared to
the message of the stations of the Cross as participants in
the program discover references to their own personal lives.

 

TOPICS FROM
CELTIC, CARMELITE AND IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY

 

CELTIC CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY
An exploration of Irish spiritual heritage and tradition and its
influence on our spirituality today.

 

ECUMENISM: A SEARCH FOR COMMONALITIES
Uncovering the Beatitudes within the world religions of
Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shintoism.

 

LIVING THE BEATITUDES
Finding the courage to live a God-centered life by
exploring the Beatitudes. Includes prayer by the use
of Scriptures, reflection and dialogue, personal stories
and music.

 

JOY, SORROW, AND GOD'S LOVE
Exploring the topic through short presentations,
personal reflection and quiet meditation, with
opportunities to share the experience in
small groups. Concludes with a contemplative-style
celebration.

 

PRAYER OF THE SENSES
Involving the five senses in prayer by using Scripture,
music, experiential activities, reflection,
dialogue and silence.

 

PRAYERS OF HEALING, SEEDS OF HOPE
Eliciting support and love through prayer, song,
personal reflection and silent meditation.

 

CALLED TO FORGIVENESS
An invitation to deeper commitment and openness
to answer God's call to forgiveness. Begins with an
examination of conscience, moves through
reflection and prayer (extending the sign of the cross
to one another), and ends with intercessory prayer.

 

COMING TOGETHER IN THE STILLNESS
Prayer and reflection (using the Scriptures), a meditative
video, relaxation exercises, personal reflection time
in silence, and sharing in small groups.

 

COME TO THE GARDEN OF INTIMACY
Emphasizes early Franciscan, saintly Celtic, and early
Hasidic creation spirituality in applying the dictum of
Blessed Luisa Piccarreta of Italy , "Every warbling bird,
every passing butterfly, and every morning sunrise,
every darting of a fish . . .
is an 'I love you' from the Eternal One."

 

SACRED JOURNEYS
Reclaiming our own lives, affirming our identities and
becoming members of a community by sharing stories of our
faith-journeys

 

DAY OF REFLECTION WITH MASS
Directed reflection on themes selected from the
Scripture readings of the Mass of the day and applied
to one's personal life. Includes discussion and
concludes with celebration of the Eucharist. (Not
necessarily a full day but at least two
or two-and-a-half hours.)

 

TOPICS OF INTEREST
IN VARIOUS CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITIES
This course will examine topics of similarity
among Celtic, Carmelite, and Ignatian Spirituality
including an emphasis on "Finding God in the Ordinary"
and "The Practice of the Presence of God." Readings
from St. Ignatius, St. Patrick, St. Theresa of Avila
and St. John of the Cross will be explored.

 

CELTIC CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY
An exploration of Irish spiritual heritage and its
influence on our spirituality today. Topics will include
Prayer, the Celtic Cross, Hospitality, the Natural World,
Storytelling, Dance, Poetry, the Bards, the Imagination,
and much more

 

 

INSPIRED INTUITIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING
FOR THE PARISH STAFF
A day-long prayerful program in disciplined problem-solving
focusing on meditative listening to permit the inspired
synthesis of a solution in a systems problem.

 

WITNESSING TO THE PERSON OF JESUS
Encouragement and challenge to follow in Jesus' footsteps
by use of symbols, music, personal reflection,
mini-presentations and sharing. (Especially suitable for
Catechists but not intended exclusively for them.)

 

ADVENT FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE
Focusing on the Annunciation, the Visitation, and Mary's
Song in Luke I, 26-35. Includes presentations, personal
reflection and group dialogue.

 

PARISH MISSION
A retreat in your home parish.

 

LIVING THE BEAUTITUDES: A LENTEN SERIES
Finding the courage to live a God-centered life by
exploring the Beatitudes. Includes prayer by the use of
Scriptures, reflection and dialogue, personal stories
and music.

 

RAISING MORAL CHILDREN IN TODAY'S WORLD
Combines the most current findings in child psychology
and parenting under the spiritual umbrella of Christian faith
and traditions to provide a framework and structure for
parents and teachers to raise
children with wholesome Christian values.

 

A DAY OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL FOR PARISH STAFFS
Spend the morning renewing your individual relationship
with Jesus through reflection, prayer and meditation
leading to working in pairs in the afternoon to
re-energize yourself in your role in the Parish
with Christ as your center.

 

A DAY OF REFLECTION FOR PARISH COUNCILS
As the clergy shortage will increasingly require parishes
to work in a collaborative fashion, spend the day in
prayer and conversation with the goal of approaching
the enterprise renewed and walking hand in hand with our
Savior who came to each of us in love.

 

RAISING THE ELEMENTARY-SCHOOL CHILD
Parents today feel under siege from all
quarters when it comes to raising their child in the faith.
Spend an evening in your local parish examining
developmental phases of the child,
focus of the media and strategies to enhance
the home as the primary influence.

 

DAY OF REFLECTION FOR PAROCHIAL SCHOOL FACULTY
Invest in a day to reflect on your prayer life and how it impacts
your interactions with students. Topics may include:
"Deepening My Personal Relationship with God;" "Building Time
in My Day for Reflection;" "Stages of Prayer;"
"Incorporating Contemplative Prayer Into My Classroom."

 

20-30 SOMETHING - YOUNG ADULTS
This series of evenings is designed for the young adult
who is faced with pressures and questions about
career, relationships, and faith. Activities include:
pot luck dinner, volleyball or basketball,
reflective talks and discussion.
It is designed to meet the needs of the group.

 

 

THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
A study of the similarities and differences in the Gospels of
Matthew, Mark and Luke that will lead one to understand
Jesus as a man of his times and of our times. Using Gospel
parallels, the story of Jesus is unraveled through use of
modern techniques such as archaeology, redaction, and form
analysis. A special emphasis is placed on understanding
the parables and on the Passion and Resurrection
according to Luke.

 

DISCIPLESHIP IN MARK'S GOSPEL
Navigate the sea of fear and insecurity in your
discipleship by accompanying the disciples as they
cross the Sea of Galilee with Jesus.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION TO THE DIARY OF ST. FAUSTINA
Seeing Divine Mercy in the revelations to St. Faustina as a
dramatic call for a change of life by prayer, work and deeds in
our modern world.

 

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF MOTHER SETON
Part One: An overview of the fascinating life-story of
Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton followed by a visit to her house on Paca St.
and a viewing of the biographical movie, "A Time for Miracles."
Part Two: A "Dialogue with Mother Seton" followed by
shared reflection, discussion and prayer.

 

SPIRITUAL EXERCISES OF ST. IGNATIUS
An overview of the Ignatian approach to spirituality and an
invitation to follow it according to the nineteenth annotation.

 

TREATISE ON THE LOVE OF GOD
(ST. FRANCIS de SALES)
In an age when "love" fills our media, airways and lives, this is a
look at the spiritual classic of St. Francis de Sales on the
foundation of all love and how one can apply it to one's life.

 

INTRODUCTION TO THE DEVOUT LIFE
(ST. FRANCIS de SALES)
An introduction to lay spirituality and its strong viability in our
modern world. This is done through use of the spiritual classic
by St. Francis de Sales.

 

CARMELITE SAINTS AND THEIR CHARISMS
John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila , Therese of the Child Jesus,
Teresa of the Andes , and Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein).

 

ST. ELIZABETH ANN BAYLEY SETON: A MODERN HEROINE
The griping story of the transformation of a wealthy
Episcopalian socialite who helped host a ball for
George Washington in NYC to a penniless Catholic widow
and working mother who started the first American Catholic
school in Baltimore , founded the Sisters of Charity in the U. S.
and became the first native of this country to be canonized.

 

 

YEARS OF GRACE
Enriching our time as elderly individuals, discovering resources,
accomplishing goals and completing plans as we move into the
last decades of life with the aid of models from the Bible.

 

SPIRITUALITY AND AGING
"I have fought the good fight to the end. I have run the race to
the finish; I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy, 4, 6-7.) Believing
that we are created in God's image, what are some of the ways
we can extend that image to all seasons of life?

 

 

A CHRISTIAN LOOK AT MODERN FILM
Viewing and discussion of selected films in terms of Christian
values of forgiveness, reconciliation, sacramentality, redemption,
grace, hope and justice.

 

WE ARE CALLED TO FORGIVE
The struggles, fears and challenges involved in forgiving
ourselves and others with reference to the story of the
Prodigal
Son, the Prayer of St. Francis, and the example of his life.

 

RICH IN MERCY
A look at the Holy Father's encyclical on the
"greatest attribute of God" and "Love's other name."

 

SMALL FAITH-COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
A training program for people who want to lead small
faith-sharing groups. Suitable for people who have
completed the RENEW program.