Directed Retreat
February 19, 3:30 p.m. - February 26, 12:00 noon, 2010

In a directed retreat the retreatant meets, ordinarily once a day, with an experienced spiritual director. Together they discern the spiritual path on which the Holy Spirit is leading the retreatant. The director suggests Scripture passages that may assist her in further considering her spiritual journey and Christ's call to discipleship.

This Directed Retreat will begin at 3:30 p.m. on February 19 and will be over with the noon meal on February 26.  Residents at the Motherhouse will have priority in choice of Director.  Others who register for this retreat but do not live at the Motherhouse will be housed at Manna House.  Sisters Paula Drass and Marilyn Peot will live at the Motherhouse and will go to Manna House for their Directees who live there.

Directors: Marilyn Peot, CSJ is a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet ministering in Kansas City.  She has been in direct spiritual ministry for over 35 years.
Lieberta Pellerin, CSJ & Janet Lander, CSJ are Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, KS.  Both are experienced spiritual directors and are on the Manna House staff.
Mary Jo Nelson, OLVM recently joined the Manna House staff.   She is experienced in facilitation, mediation services, spiritual direction, and facilitating retreats and workshops.
Paula Drass, CSJ is a Sister of St. Joseph of Baden, PA.  She is a spiritual director known by some sisters since Hales Corner Retreats.

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Jesus, The Beloved One
February 19, 3:30 p.m. - February 26, 12:00 noon, 2010

Each day we will contemplate Jesus from a different aspect of His life in relation to our own.  Our lives are so united to His that we discover that even His own prayer becomes ours.  This graced union accompanies us here and “across the border” into Life Everlasting. 

Listen to Him 
Learn from Him 
Accompany Him
Touch Him
Adore Him
Follow Him

Presenter: Mary Kevin Rooney, ASC, a Sister Adorer of the Blood of Christ has followed Jesus in the ministries of teaching, formation, and missionary presence in the Sahara Desert in   Africa.  She is also an experienced Spiritual Director.

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Following the Mystics through the Narrow Gate
April 9, 7:00 p.m. - April 16, 12:00 noon, 2010

Jesus said, “Narrow the gate that leads to life and few there are who enter it.”  In this retreat we will follow the mystics through this narrow gate.  The means to follow the mystics through the mysterious process in which we realize God is the very reality of ourselves, others and all things.  Seeing God in all things and all things in God we experience the peace that surpasses understanding.

Presenter: James Finley, Ph.D. is a renowned retreat leader, Merton scholar and master of the Contemplative Way.  He is the author of several books including, The Contemplative Heart and Christian Meditation: Experiencing the Presence of God.

This retreat will be a silent retreat.  Dr. James Finley will be here for the weekend to lead the actual practice of meditation and to explore with retreatants the mystical heritage of the Christian tradition and the ways it transforms our daily lives.  The following days, (April 12-16) will include an optional schedule guided by Manna House Staff.  It consists of time for personal prayer, gatherings for silent contemplative prayer, and journaling sessions.

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The Eucharistic Letter Retreat
May 14, 10:30 a.m. - May 19, 5:00 p.m., 2010

This retreat closes the Falling in Love for a Lifetime program.  It may be made separately from the entire program however it is much richer in the context of the program as a whole.

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Creation as Revelation:
Contemplating the Universe -- Embracing the Earth
June 6, 7:00 p.m. - June 12, 12:00 noon, 2010

Drawing on the insights of mystics, scientists and theologians, past and present, we will ponder God’s design in creation, in order to respond to our human vocation within it.   The retreat invites participants to pray with both our Book of Scriptures and the Book of Creation, as St. Boniface called God’s creation.  This guided retreat includes communal prayer, a daily conference and reflection guide for personal prayer, and a daily contemplative experience.

Using the six movements of lectio divina,
we encounter God’s word spoken in creation,
ponder it,
respond to it
rest in God’s presence in creation,
allow ourselves to be transformed by this grace,
and choose to live in cooperation with grace.

Presenter: Janet Lander, CSJ, a Sister of St. Joseph of Concordia, has worked as an educator and missionary.  She holds a Masters in Education from Mount St. Mary’s in Los Angeles and in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College, where she also completed the Certificate in Practice of Spirituality.  She serves on the staff of Manna House of Prayer as a spiritual director, facilitator, and retreat presenter.  She is also an artist and took up the art of lace making several years ago.

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Lace Making Retreat
July 31, 7:00 p.m. - August 7, 12:00 noon, 2010

This retreat is designed to give individuals the opportunity to experience and integrate the spirituality and the practice of making bobbin lace in a contemplative setting.  Lace making as contemplative practice creates in us heart-space where the connections with God and the dear neighbor may be woven in prayer, as surely as the design of threads and spaces evolves on the lace pillow before our eyes.  No previous experience in lace making is required.

Presenters: Janet Lander, CSJ, a Sister of St. Joseph of Concordia, has worked as an educator and missionary.  She holds a Masters in Education from Mount St. Mary’s in Los Angeles and in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College, where she also completed the Certificate in Practice of Spirituality.  She serves on the staff of Manna House of Prayer as a spiritual director, facilitator, and retreat presenter.  She is also an artist and took up the art of lace making several years ago.

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