Friends of Bon Secours Spiritual Center
- Day of Prayer
“Devote yourself to prayer,
being watchful and thankful.” (Col. 4:2 )”

Mark your calendar to join us the first Wednesday of each month for an inspirational day of prayer and reflection. We begin at 9:30 a.m. with coffee and pastries, a morning presentation at 10:00 a.m.; Mass in the chapel; a delicious lunch and an afternoon presentation at 1:30 p.m. There is also an hour of free time after lunch to walk the beautiful grounds, pray the labyrinth, or just to relax outdoors at the pond. Our day concludes at 3:00 p.m.

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The Introductory Meeting will describe the various dimensions of Group Spiritual Direction, and invite participants to experience the process by reflecting and sharing in a small group. Those who attend get a sense of whether group spiritual direction resonates with them.

Group Spiritual Direction is a unique way of tending to the Spirit of God in our daily living through regular sharing in the sacred space of a community of 4 or 5 persons of faith, plus a facilitator. Participants gather in a spirit of silence so the chatter can quiet, allowing the voice of God to increase. Recognizing that the Spirit is the real director, they continue to listen to God on behalf of each member as that person shares a part of his or her spiritual journey. They then share what they have heard in that silent time of prayer.

The community prays for one another between meetings. “Those who participate have:

• A shared desire for God
• A reverence for the uniqueness of the Spirit working in each person, and
• A willingness to be prayerfully present for one another during the time in the group and to pray for one another outside the group” (Dougherty, Rosemary, The Lived Experience of group Spiritual Direction).

About the presenters:
Betty Martin, a spiritual director, has been facilitating group spiritual direction for many years.
Ginny Niemeyer, is a spiritual director, and a graduate and staff member of Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation.
Mary Perschy, a counselor and spiritual director, has been facilitating group spiritual director for many years.
Martha Starrett, OP, is a spiritual director who offers individual group spiritual direction and days of prayer and contemplation.

Suggested reading:

• Dougherty, Rose Mary. (1995). Group Spiritual Direction. New York: Paulist Press.
• Dougherty, Rose Mary. Maxon, Monica. & Smith, Lynn (2003). New York: Paulist Press.

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Exhibition of Quilt
Art To Help Mend the World™

(Click photo for a full view)

Quilt seeks to expand our focus from us to we. Quilt fosters conversation, dialogue and reflection to create a more peaceful and accepting world, a world that honors the multitude of differences between people and cultures. (www.krquilt.com) Read more...

Reception and conversation with the Artist: Kate Rahsohoff

(Click photo for a full view)

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Aging Gracefully

What helps us to age gracefully? How do we accept our limits yet, expand our horizons, and make
choices that help make this new time in our life better and richer for ourselves and others? As we approach
the second half of life does looking through the eyes of faith and being open to the Spirit bring another perspective?

Presenter:
Fr. Joe Breighner, ordained in 1971, has had experience as a parish priest and diocesan administrator. Currently he works as a pastoral counselor, hosts a weekly radio show on WPOC, writes a weekly column for the Catholic Review, and is a popular speaker/retreat presenter. Fr. Joe has worked with bereavement groups and has been ministering to the separated, widowed and divorced for many years.  (See Fr. Joe’s article on Aging Gracefully in the October 2007 Bridges.)

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Living your Deepest Desires:
Bridges to Contemplative Living
with Thomas Merton - Volume 3

(It is not necessary to have done previous Volumes to participate in this program)

Bridges to contemplative living is a unique opportunity to gather for 8 two-hour sessions to explore the role of contemplation in your life. The program is based on the work of Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk, who believed that there is only one vocation, “a call to holiness.” Where ever and however you choose to live out your life, if you acknowledge contemplation is a part of it and you attend to develop it in your daily practices you will be on a path to holiness in your effort to become whole.

The small group of 15-20 will be facilitated by Joseph Chamberlin, a long time Merton student. He will convene and facilitate the group in its reflection and dialogue ensuring that the 2-hour time frame is respected. It is not necessary to have done Volume 1 or 2 to participate in this program.

A series based on the work of Thomas Merton to explore the role of contemplation in your life. Wherever and however you choose to live out your life, if you attend to and develop contemplation in your daily practices, you will be on a path to holiness. Read more...

Presenter:
Joseph Chamberlin is an educator and group facilitator with more than 25 years of experience. He has designed and facilitated meetings and workshops on topics from strategic planning to conflict management. The organizations and groups he has worked with range from Catholic Relief Services to small group business owners. While an employee of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, he designed Foundations For Ministry, a fifteen week small group experience to help individuals discern their call (vocation), identify their gifts and determine how they could best use their gifts to minister in their community.

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