Joyful Bearers of God s Redeeming Love!

Transcription

1 Joyful Bearers of God s Redeeming Love! Winter/Spring Brochure January - May 2019 Mission Statement The IHM Conference Center is a ministry of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary offering service, hospitality and opportunities for spiritual and educational enrichment for religious, lay and business communities. The Center provides a contemplative environment for retreat groups, individuals and business people in a distractionfree setting, enabling renewal of mind, refreshment of spirit and clarity to the task of refocusing goals. Inside this issue: January Events 2 IHM Conference Center 401 S. Bryn Mawr Ave. Bryn Mawr, PA Dear Friends of the IHM Conference/Retreat Center, During the summer of 2018, our Congregation held its General Chapter. The theme that motivated and enlivened the hearts of our sisters was Joyful Bearers of God s Redeeming Love. In imitation of Mary, our Mother, we too hope to bring the Good News of Christ s presence in our world with hearts full of joy. Since the beginning of our congregation, we have always responded to the needs of God s people in service to them and the church. In many ways, we consider ourselves pioneers as we adapt to the world in which we minister. Pondering this amazing privilege, we wanted to design a new logo for the Center that would reflect our relationship with the God who calls us anew each day to follow him. The new IHM Conference/Retreat Center Logo at the top of this page reflects the IHM story which is wrapped in the love of God as Trinity. Father and Son are represented by the double heart, and the Spirit is represented by the fire. The large star is a reminder of Our Lady s special place in our hearts, and we are meant to be a reflection of her, as represented by the smaller star. Our IHM congregation is an extension of this relationship with Trinity, which spreads into our ministries. The open heart in the logo represents this relationship in the works of the Conference/Retreat Center. The cross reminds us that where we are is holy ground. We offer to all who attend events at the IHM Conference/Retreat Center the love of God in the Trinity and the joy of our Mother, Mary. February Events 3 March Events 4 March-April Events 5 April Events 6 May Events 7 Registration-Directions 8 Special thanks to one of our Sisters for assisting us with the design of the new logo may God continue to bless her and her ministries! A Few More Changes... The IHM Conference Center is now on Facebook! If you use Facebook, please look us up at... IHM Conference/Retreat Center in Bryn Mawr, PA and like and share our posts! You'll find information about up-coming events, photos of recent groups that have been at the Center for one of our programs or their own day of reflection. These photos may also be seen on our NEW Photo Gallery page on our website! There are so many wonderful things happening here! We are seeking to expand our present groups so that others can take advantage of the beauty of our Center and enjoy the opportunities it affords...not only for spiritual renewal, but also as a place to gather for business meetings "away from the workplace!" Be sure to tell a friend about us! Thank you! Know that we always look forward to seeing you and appreciate your confidence and participation in our events!

2 Winter/Spring Brochure Page 2 JANUARY Events Movie With Meaning: Julie and Julia Wednesday, January 9, 2019 *Those attending the second showing will have lunch at 12:00, followed by the movie Based on two true stories, Julie and Julia intertwines the lives of two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible! Bereavement Day: Footsteps Through Grief: Learning How to Live with a Broken Heart Thursday, January 17, 2019 *Rescheduled from November 15 due to inclement weather 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Presenter: Domenica Rafferty Stipend: $25 (includes lunch) If you are grieving the death of a loved one (recent or not-so-recent), this time of reflection will help you explore ways of moving forward through this time of sorrow. Domenica Rafferty holds a Master of Science degree in Pastoral Counseling from Neumann University and is a Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Counselor and a Nationally Certified Counselor. Domenica has significant personal and professional experience in the grieving process. She provides individual and family counseling to those facing debilitating or terminal illness or those grieving the loss of a loved one. Domenica has facilitated a number of bereavement groups in our area, including Searching for Still Waters, which meets in Bryn Mawr twice a month. Conference Day: The Art of Mercy and Compassion Saturday, January 26, 2019 *Please note special day - Saturday Presenter: Sister Helen David Brancato, IHM Stipend: $40 (includes breakfast, lunch) Participants will look at the work of five artists who express their spirituality through the power of imagery. Faith and art go hand in hand...love of humanity, social justice and empathy for the human condition. Sister Helen will demonstrate how these artists, Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt, Kathe Kollwitz, Fritz Eichenberg and Charles White, joined their faith with their art forms. Sister Helen David Brancato, IHM is a painter, printmaker and illustrator. She has exhibited professionally in the Philadelphia and New York areas. Her works carry the theme of justice, peace and homelessness. Sister Helen has given retreats and workshops on Art and Spirituality as well as painting as meditation. Currently she is associate professor of Art at Villanova University, Villanova, PA

3 January - May 2019 Page 3 FEBRUARY Events Conference Day: Spiritual Wellness Tuesday, February 5, 2019 Presenter: Sister Clare Marsico, IHM In our daily lives there are certain things we do to promote a healthy lifestyle. We take good vitamins, exercise regularly, watch our diet, and check-up on ourselves daily. So it is with the spiritual life. We need prayer, the sacraments, good choices to keep us connected. This presentation will explain and share how we can do this each day. Sister Clare Marsico, IHM has been a part of pastoral ministry since 1995 in the dioceses of Philadelphia, Allentown, Hartford and Harrisburg. Her ministry has included RCIA, Parish Faith Sharing and Bereavement Groups. Presently, Sister is a Pastoral Minister at St. Laurence Parish in Upper Darby, PA. Movie With Meaning: Finding Forrester Wednesday, February 13, 2019 *Those attending the second showing will have lunch at 12:00, followed by the movie A once successful writer, William Forrester, suddenly becomes a recluse in Manhattan. His passion for literature is awakened by a 16-year old basketball player, Jamal. When Jamal sneaks into Forrester s apartment, he accidentally leaves behind his backpack filled with his precious writings. When Forrester finds these, his eyes are opened to a new world. He befriends Jamal and becomes his mentor. Their relationship is, at times, rocky, but they both grow in their love for the written word. Saints and Saintly People: Thea Bowman: Thea s Song Tuesday, February 26, :00 am - 11:30 am Presenter: Sister Catherine Kaporch, IHM Stipend: $15 Sister Thea Bowman was known for her courageous witness and fierce love. She challenged a Church blind to racism within its ranks and a suffering world. Although ending prematurely, her life was a flame that still brightens the darkness of our world today. Sister Catherine Kaporch spent many years as a Theology teacher and counselor in the secondary schools. She is a certified spiritual director and directs retreats for religious and lay. Sister Catherine currently ministers at the IHM Conference Center in Bryn Mawr, PA.

4 Winter/Spring Brochure Page 4 MARCH Events Conference Day: To Walk Humbly With Our God Tuesday, March 5, 2019 Presenter: Sister Catherine Kaporch, IHM Narcissism is embodied in the absurdity of the selfiecraze and we find ourselves longing to introduce light and love into its emptiness. We can take steps to develop humility and diminish pride in our lives. St Benedict will show us the path that will lead to peace, self-development and community consciousness. Sister Catherine Kaporch spent many years as a Theology teacher and counselor in the secondary schools. She is a certified spiritual director and directs retreats for religious and lay. Sister Catherine currently ministers at the IHM Conference Center in Bryn Mawr, PA. Taize Prayer (Prayer Around the Cross) Tuesdays, March 12, 19 and 26, :00 pm - 8:30 pm Stipend: Donation Based on the worship service of the community of Taize in France, this is contemplative prayer which includes scripture readings, song, meditation, intercessory prayers and silence. It is an especially appropriate prayer form to use during the Lenten season when we reverence the cross of Christ, the key to our salvation. AFTERNOON IRISH TEA at THE MANSION THURSDAY, March 14, :00-2:30 pm Another Irish Tea Party is scheduled at the Mansion! Come and enjoy a lunch of tea sandwiches, scones and desserts while you gather with friends to enjoy the feast. No need to be Irish; just arrive ready to celebrate the Wearin of the Green in grand style. So don your green finery and join us for an informative and fun day! Your donation for this day will benefit the DOROTHY DAY CENTER at St. Agnes Parish in West Chester, PA. Our guest speaker will be Barbara Kirby from the Center. This organization, often called The Day Room, provides many services to those in need, such as: breakfast and lunch, groceries, clothing, diapers and formula, health and wellness support, life skills, job search assistance, etc. Stipend: Proceeds from your good will offering will benefit the Dorothy Day Center, West Chester, PA

5 January - May 2019 Page 5 MARCH Events Movie With Meaning: Paper Clips Wednesday, March 20, 2019 *Those attending the second session will have lunch at 12:00 followed by the movie When the students of Tennessee s Whitwell Middle School began studying the Holocaust as a way to learn about intolerance and diversity, nobody could have predicted the results. In 2001, the Paper Clip Project culminated in a unique memorial that changed the lives of those who created it. The efforts of these students touched the hearts of Holocaust survivors, parents, teachers and the international community. A Silent Mid-Lenten Retreat: In the Footsteps of Christ Monday, March 25, :30 am - 3:30 pm Presenter: Sister Marie Gipprich, IHM Mid-way through Lent is a good time to take time out and evaluate our initial resolve to deepen our relationship with Christ and prepare for the great feast of Easter. This will be a SILENT retreat (including meals) for anyone interested in spending time alone with God. The day will include two brief talks, private and communal prayer, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Mass. Sister Marie taught in the secondary schools in the Philadelphia and Allentown dioceses. For over twenty years Sister worked as Pastoral Minister/ DRE in various parishes where her ministry included directing retreats, coordinating Adult Faith Formation programs and overseeing parish religious education programs. She now serves as Director of the IHM Conference/Retreat Center in Bryn Mawr, PA. APRIL Events Taize Prayer (Prayer Around the Cross) Tuesdays, April 2 and 9, :00 pm - 8:30 pm Stipend: Donation Based on the worship service of the community of Taize in France, this is contemplative prayer which includes scripture readings, song, meditation, intercessory prayers and silence. It is an especially appropriate prayer form to use during the Lenten season when we reverence the cross of Christ, the key to our salvation.

6 Winter/Spring Brochure Page 6 APRIL Events Movie With Meaning: Same Kind of Different As Me Wednesday, April 3, 2019 *Those attending the second showing will have lunch at 12:00, followed by the movie This movie is based on a true story of international art dealer Ron Hall, who befriends a homeless man in hopes of saving his struggling marriage. His wife is a woman whose dreams will lead all three of them on the most remarkable journey of their lives. Conference Day: Forgiveness, the Other Side of Love Tuesday, April 9, 2019 Presenter: Sister Beth Woodward, IHM In a world where violence is escalating, the awareness and practice of forgiveness becomes even more vital. What is forgiveness? Where do we learn to forgive, and how can we forgive as Jesus did? Models of forgiveness will also be presented as we explore forgiveness, the other side of love. Sister Beth Woodward taught religion in high school for 40 years in both Pennsylvania and Virginia and was involved in various retreat programs at these schools. Sister has given various conferences and retreats and now takes care of the food service for our guests at the IHM Conference Center in Bryn Mawr, PA Women in the Old Testament: Our Mothers in Faith Tuesday, April 23 and 30, :00 am - 1:00 pm Presenter: Sister Marie Gipprich, IHM Stipend: $20 each session (includes lunch) Many women of the Old Testament stories are our Mothers in faith. Their lives were intertwined with the life of the Israelite people and they are an important part of our salvation history. We will look at such women as Sarah, Miriam, Hannah, Ruth and Naomi. Sister Marie taught in the secondary schools in the Philadelphia and Allentown dioceses. For over twenty years Sister worked as Pastoral Minister/ DRE in various parishes where her ministry included directing retreats, coordinating Adult Faith Formation programs and overseeing parish religious education programs. She now serves as Director of the IHM Conference/Retreat Center in Bryn Mawr, PA.

7 January - May 2019 Page 7 MAY Events Conference Day: Choosing Autobiography over Biography: The Role of Discernment and Decision in Destiny Wednesday, May 7, 2019 Presenters: Sister Jeannine O Kane, IHM and Cindy Flores This retreat will address the power of awareness coupled with the courage of discernment and decisions to experience the Fullness of Life God has promised. Sister Jeannine O Kane is a professor emeritus at Immaculata University and has shared dissertations on the topic of mindfulness. Sister is a certified spiritual director and licensed professional counselor. Cindy Flores is a graduate of Immaculata s college graduate studies, an adjunct professor and a licensed professional counselor. Cindy also is a trained Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction teacher at the Myrna Brind Center for Integrative Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University. Movie With Meaning: Entertaining Angels Wednesday, May 15, 2019 *Those attending the second showing will have lunch at 12:00, followed by the movie This biographical drama is based on the true story and life of Dorothy Day, a devout Catholic who devoted much of her life working with the poor and homeless of New York City s Lower East Side. The movie chronicles Day s life from her young adulthood as a free-thinking agnostic to a woman of deep faith who was a tireless champion of the rights of the poor. Her journal, The Catholic Worker, is still published today, with over 240 Catholic Worker communities committed to nonviolence, voluntary poverty and prayer, and hospitality for the homeless, hungry and forsaken. The church has given Dorothy Day the title of Servant of God, the first step in the process for beatification and canonization. Have you signed up to receive our monthly e-newsletters? You can register through our website contact page: On Facebook? LIKE and SHARE our posts: IHM Conference/Retreat Center in Bryn Mawr, PA! Help spread our ministry!

8 401 S. Bryn Mawr Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA We re on the Web! Look us up! REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Registration is required for each program. Please call the Center at or Sister Marie at:: If you are unable to attend after registering, please notify the Center so that those on a waiting list may be accommodated. If a program is canceled by the Center for any reason, you will be notified and your deposit refunded. All checks should be made payable to: Center IHM Conference Directions to the Conference Center S. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA From Turnpike and Route 476S Take exit 13 (Rte 30, St. David's/ Villanova). Go east, passing Villanova, then 2.5 miles to Bryn Mawr Ave. (Bryn Mawr Trust is on left). Turn right onto Bryn Mawr Ave.* *Continue for 1 mile, pass the Hospital, American College and the Radwyn Apartments. Turn left into the grounds for St. Aloysius Academy. **Bear right and go up hill following signs for Conference Center. City Line Avenue Follow City Line Ave. to Lancaster Ave. (Rte 30). Go west into Bryn Mawr. Notice Bryn Mawr Trust on right. Turn left onto Bryn Mawr Ave. Follow directions (*), (**). From Route 476S Take exit 9 (Rte 3). Go west. Turn right at Rt 320 N. Turn right onto South Bryn Mawr Avenue. Go 1.5 miles and turn right into grounds of St. Aloysius Academy. Follow directions from ** From Upper Darby and East Travel west on West Chester Pike. Turn right at Darby Road. Continue straight through Havertown and Manoa, crossing Eagle Road. Turn right at Rte 320 N and turn right at Bryn Mawr Ave. Go 1.5 miles, passing Country Day School of the Sacred Heart. Turn right into grounds of St. Aloysius Academy. Follow directions from ** From Newtown Square and West Travel east on West Chester Pike. Turn left at Bryn Mawr Ave. (Dunwoody Home is on right) Continue for 3.6 miles. Turn right into grounds of St. Aloysius Academy. Follow the directions from **