a sacred space in a busy world The heavens declare the glory of the Creator; the skies proclaim the handiwork of Love. PROGRAM GUIDE Psalm 19:1

Transcription

1 a sacred space in a busy world The heavens declare the glory of the Creator; the skies proclaim the handiwork of Love. Psalm 19:1 PROGRAM GUIDE March 1, 2019 to August 31, 2019

2 MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR How different are the joys of the world from those which are experienced in the service of the Lord. Blessed Emilie Gamelin According to Statistics Canada and The Conference Board of Canada, approximately 44% of Canadians 15 and over participated in some form of volunteerism in When these people (and you may be among them) volunteer their time, energy, and skills to better society, and especially the less fortunate of society, they truly are in the service of the Lord. Service to others is as essential today as it was in Blessed Emilie s 19 th century Quebec, and like Emilie, those engaged in that service can find that service difficult. Blessed Emilie s prayer life, writing, spiritual advisors, and community all lifted her up when her spirit, mind, and body flagged under the weight of service to the less fortunate. Today, too, we must consciously make time to nourish ourselves and our souls, to enjoy the wonders of God s great creation around us, and to allow ourselves to experience not just the joys of the world, but also those moments of the sacred, the divine, and the holy wherever we encounter them. We hope that our program offerings this spring and summer present you with opportunities for the kind of spiritual reflection and personal development that may lead to greater service to others and that you, too, will know the joys experienced in the service of the Lord! Becky Kallal, Executive Director bkallal@providencerenewal.ca FACES OF OUR TEAM: working to create a sacred space in a busy world For program information, please contact: Debbie Doornbos, Program Director ddoornbos@providencerenewal.ca Carol Sebastian, Spiritual Nourishment Coordinator csebastian@providencerenewal.ca 2

3 PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE MARCH 5 Spiritual Book Club (first Tuesdays) Centering Prayer Support Circle (Wednesdays) In the Footsteps of a Mother (4 weeks, Wednesday mornings) Presence Program application deadline Journey of Faith, Journey of Life: A Lenten Reflection For Everything There is a Season (3 weeks, Thursday afternoons) The Dark Night of the Soul... 6 APRIL 1 Yoga with Julie (mornings) new 6-week series begins Spiritual Book Club Yoga with Julie (evenings) new 6-week series begins Holy Week: Journeying with Our Compassionate God Healing the Healers Series: Healing Spiritual Pain... 4 MAY 7 Spiritual Book Club Mother/Daughter Relationships Seeing the Word JUNE 1 Touch Drawing: A Creative Process of Discovery Spiritual Book Club wrap up... 8 JULY 7-14 Centering Prayer Summer Intensive Cosmology and Christian Faith AUGUST Five-day Silent Directed Retreat Seven-day Silent Directed Retreat

4 Sacred Art of Living and Dying: Healing the Healers Workshop Series explores the art of diagnosing and responding to spiritual suffering and focuses on forgiveness, relatedness, meaning, and hope. Spiritual suffering is a human experience, and learning how to recognize and respond to this reality has universal applications professionally and personally. (Workshops may qualify as Continuing Education Units.) HEALING THE HEALERS HEALING SPIRITUAL PAIN Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day In this two-day workshop: Learn about the essential quality of compassion and exquisite empathy in care giving through the meta-skills of contemplative practice and enhanced self-awareness Work with the classical tools of spiritual discernment focusing on how to ask courageous questions Re-discover the time-tested skills necessary for maintaining a centered, healthy presence in both professional and personal worlds Experience a variety of creative healing modalities through yoga movement, haiku poetry, mandala drawings from the soul, sculpting, and the healing effects of music therapy $475.00/person or $375.00/person for groups of 5 or more (includes refreshments, lunch, a manual, and circle of trust opportunity) Overnight accommodation is available at an extra cost. Event #10972 Register by: April 12 All registrations subject to a $100 non-refundable deposit due at the time of registration For more information, contact: To register, Debbie Doornbos, Program Director Phone: Cory Moisan at ddoornbos@providencerenewal.ca Visit: Healing the Healers Workshop still to come Transforming Spiritual Pain: September 27-28, 2019 $475.00/person or $375.00/person for groups of 5 or more 4

5 PRESENCE PROGRAM Called in Love, Sent to Serve SPIRITUAL DIRECTION FORMATION PROGRAM Providence Renewal Centre is accepting applications for the PRESENCE PROGRAM: Called in Love, Sent to Serve, which is taking place September 2019 to June This spiritual formation program is intended to help participants grow in their spiritual lives and to prepare them for the ministry of spiritual direction in the Christian tradition. This ecumenical program offers learning, discernment, and practice. Participants learn alongside other seekers and journey with a team of professionals. We are excited to offer this program at Providence Renewal Centre. It is one way in which we can respond to the growing hunger in the world for a deeper spirituality. GOALS: Offer monthly learning modules related to faith, spirituality, and spiritual direction. Nurture a prayerful and supportive learning community. Foster contemplative listening and discernment skills for spiritual direction ministry. Draw on spiritual resources and practices of the Christian faith tradition. Recognize and call forth gifts for spiritual direction ministry. Facilitate opportunities for participants to discern a call to spiritual direction ministry. Organize supervised practicum experiences for providing spiritual direction. Completion of both years results in a Certificate of Completion of the Presence Program as well as credits from St. Stephen s College for ongoing education. For information, visit our website or contact Debbie Doornbos at or ddoornbos@providencerenewal.ca Application deadline: March 15, 2019 Application fee: $ (non-refundable) 5

6 LIVING into LENT THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL: Growth in Love through Spiritual Suffering Zinia Pritchard, D. Min., Life Associate Sinsinawa Dominicans Imagine a woman, pregnant with new life. Full. Imagine you are being held within the darkness of this womb; beyond conscious knowing, resting suspended in the protective waters of this spacious cavern. Growing. This is like the Darkness of the Night. This retreat will introduce the spiritual theology of the Dark Night of the Soul through story, images, song, silence, reflection, and prayer. Prior to the retreat, participants are invited to journal an experience of suffering; this will be privately engaged during the retreat in support of personal exploration of the Night as growth in Love through spiritual suffering. Friday, March 29 (7:00 pm) to Saturday, March 30 (4:00 pm) Suite: $ Single: $ Commute: $ Event #12652 Register by: March 21 Dr. Zinia Pritchard is a Catholic, contemplative, practical theologian whose area of study is the Dark Night of the Soul and its application to palliative and end-of-life care. She is committed to the translation of the spiritual theology of the Church within healthcare, education, and public settings. Divine Providence, be forever adored, loved, and thanked. Blessed Emilie Gamelin, foundress of the Sisters of Providence IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF A MOTHER: Journey with Mary Carol Sebastian inspired by the devotion of the Sisters of Providence Live this Lent through the life and experience of Mary, Mother of Jesus. Ponder and pray The Seven Sorrows of Mary. Discover the depth of Mary s love for her son as she embraces motherhood at a young age, flees danger, and lives as a refugee. Pray with her as she loses her teenage son and watches him grow into a ministry of radical love that would result in betrayal and crucifixion. How do we hold our suffering and the suffering of today s world? The legends and stories of Mary provide lessons in compassion honed through prayer and contemplation. Wednesdays: March 13, 20, 27, April 3 10:00 am to noon $80.00 for 4 weeks Event #12760 Register by: March 6 Carol Sebastian is a spiritual director, a wife and mother, an avid reader, and a lover of language. Carol has worked in Campus Ministry, corporate communications, and as a photo-journalist. She loves to volunteer and is active at Common Ground Café in Sherwood Park and Ten Thousand Villages in Edmonton. 6

7 JOURNEY OF FAITH, JOURNEY OF LIFE: A Lenten Reflection Archbishop Gerard Pettipas, CSsR Human life can be seen in the image of a journey, a pilgrimage. Join us for a weekend of scriptural reflection and silence as Bishop Pettipas explores the following themes: Pilgrimage: From Birth to Death; Change: Metanoia; Foundations: Built on Rock; The Kingdom of God: Here but Not Yet; and Companions on the Journey: Friendship. Friday, March 15 (7:00 pm) to Sunday, March 17 (1:00 pm) Suite: $ Single: $ Commute: $ Event #10586 Register by: March 8 Archbishop Gerard Pettipas, CSsR was born in Halifax, lived his childhood on RCAF bases and received post-secondary education in Windsor (BA), Montreal/ Toronto (MDiv), West Hartford, CT (MA). He was ordained a priest in Toronto in His ministry has included youth, preaching, and religious formation. Pastor of Grande Prairie in 1999, Pettipas was ordained Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan in and you will find rest for your souls. Matt. 11:29 FOR EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON Journeying through Life s Transitions Debbie Doornbos The changing seasons in nature are like a metaphor for our lives. Nothing stays the same. Change is necessary but not necessarily easy. Changes bring transitions where we encounter questions of meaning, identity and purpose, grief and loss. Questions of what now emerge. Yet transition times can also open the door to new opportunities, personal and spiritual growth, and unforeseen possibilities. This three-week series will explore our journeys of change and transition, what they are teaching us, and how our spiritual practices can be an important part of the unfolding process. Lent is a perfect opportunity to reflect on our lives on what is calling us to change and what this change and transition requires of us. Thursdays: March 28, April 4, 11 1:30 to 4:00 pm $75.00 for 3 weeks Event #12752 Register by: March 21 Debbie Doornbos is an experienced retreat leader, facilitator, adult educator and spiritual director. She has a passion for journeying with others through times of transition and a joy in working with small groups. She is a nature lover and outdoor enthusiast. Debbie has worked in the human relations field, and in parish ministry and has a degree in theology from Newman Theological College. 7

8 HOLY WEEK RETREAT JOURNEYING WITH OUR COMPASSIONATE GOD Bishop Emeritus Gerry Wiesner, omi Step into the sacred rhythm of rest and reflection as you journey through Holy Week. This preached retreat focuses on the last week of Jesus life and culminates with celebration of the Triduum Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Join us for the entire week or the Triduum. Sunday, April 14 (7:00 pm) to Sunday, April 21 (10:00 am) Full Week: Suite: $ Single: $ Commute: $ Triduum*: Suite: $ Single: $ Commute: $ *Triduum includes 3 nights accommodation and meals Thursday lunch to Easter breakfast Day Commute: $65.00 per day includes lunch and supper Event #9504 Register by: April 8 Gerry Wiesner, Bishop Emeritus of Prince George, was ordained in 1963 and now resides in Saskatoon. An Oblate of Mary Immaculate, his ministry has included seminary formation, lay formation, parish missions, retreats, teaching, and leadership. While serving as bishop in Prince George, he served on several commissions of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, including a twoyear term as president. Whatever God does, the first outburst is always compassion. Meister Eckhart SPIRITUAL BOOK CLUB 1 st Tuesday of the month 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Join us as we use our eyes of faith to see inspiration in the writing of a variety of authors. This season s dates and titles: Jan 8 The Pocket Thomas Merton edited by Robert Inchansti Feb 5 Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship by Gregory Boyle Mar 5 Prayer: Finding the Heart s True Home by Richard J. Foster Apr 2 The Nest in the Stream: Lessons from Nature on Being with Pain by Michael Kearney May 7 Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy by Anne Lamont June 4 God in Search of Man by Abraham Joshua Heschel Members are responsible for purchasing their own books. Event #12275 (January to June) Registration: $

9 Spring Time Nourishment MOTHER and DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIPS: GIFTS and GRACES AS WE MATURE Joanne Friedt and daughters Mothers with young adult daughters are invited to join us to retreat together, to explore the adventure, challenge, and celebration of this sacred relationship. Through the lens of our faith, we will dialogue and share stories of the intergenerational gifts and graces realized from our past, informing our present, and giving us hope for the future. During this gift of time with each other, Cari and Breanne and their mother, Joanne, will share honest reflections, enabling other mothers and daughters to explore their unique relationships shared with God and each other. Friday, May 10 (7:00 pm) to Saturday, May 11 (7:00 pm) Mother/Daughter shared suite (two beds/suite): $ per person Individual Suite: $ Single Room (shared bath): $ Event #10987 Register by: May 3 SEEING THE WORD Carol Sebastian Joanne Friedt is a woman of faith, recently rewired Catholic educator/principal. Joanne especially treasures being mother of three adult daughters (Cari, Alison, and Breanne), wife to Dan of thirty-nine years, and grandmother to seven precious grandchildren. Joanne has facilitated numerous adult faith-sharing groups, retreats, and educational experiences. "To be spiritual is to be amazed. Abraham Joshua Heshel Look, listen, and linger with the richness and beauty of scripture passages from the hand-illustrated St. John s Bible. Experience the sacred practices of Lectio and Visio Divina combined with journaling and faith-sharing as you engage with illuminated sacred text. Wednesday: May 15 1:00 to 4:00 pm $30.00 Event #12804 Register by: May 8 Carol Sebastian is a spiritual director, an avid reader, and a lover of language. Carol has worked in Campus Ministry, corporate communications, and as a photojournalist. She sees scripture as living inspiration and a call to creativity and writing as sacred practice. She loves to volunteer and is active at Common Ground Café in Sherwood Park and Ten Thousand Villages in Edmonton. 9

10 TOUCH DRAWING: A Creative Process of Discovery Deborah Kirkpatrick Are you longing for a deeper way to connect with yourself and the Sacred? Come and explore the simple yet profound process of Touch Drawing. Fingers and hands take the place of a pen or brush. Tissue paper, placed over a board to which paint has been applied, is the canvas. Wherever the paper is touched, an imprint is made. Impulses from within take form on the paper. This intuitive, meditative, tactile process can yield spiritual insight and open one to self-discovery and emotional healing. No experience necessary. Touch Drawing was developed by Deborah Koff-Chapin Saturday, June 1 (9:00 am to 4:00 pm) $ per person (art supplies and buffet lunch included) Event #10988 Register by: May 23 Deborah Kirkpatrick, BTh, BA, MDiv, has been a chaplain at the Misericordia Hospital for 25 years and is an ordained minister of Mennonite Church Canada. She has discovered the expressive arts as a means of inquiry, spiritual discovery, and healing and is excited to share this path with others. Deborah describes expressive arts-based spiritual care as her call within the call. YOGA WITH JULIE Julie Jeong NURTURE YOUR BODY Traditional hatha yoga movements invite the integration of mind, body, and spirit. Join us within a peaceful Christian environment to relax your body, become more fully aware of your breath, and open your whole being to God. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga/exercise mat. MONDAYS, 10:00 to 11:30 am WEDNESDAYS, 6:30 to 8:00 pm April 1 to May 13 April 3 to May 8 SPRING - Event #12691 (no class Apr 22) SPRING - Event #12692 $90.00 for each 6-week session Register by: March 28 Julie Jeong is a certified senior yoga instructor with the Yoga Association of Alberta. She has been teaching yoga at Providence Renewal Centre since Julie uses breath as a guide to be in the moment with body/mind. She has done workshops for Hatha Yoga, Sound, Chanting, and Breath Awareness. She taught Breath Awareness Meditation as part of the Teacher Training Program at Yoga for Today studio. 10

11 The WONDER of SUMMER Acclaimed Theologian Sr. Donna Geernaert, SC COSMOLOGY AND CHRISTIAN FAITH How can Christian faith and spirituality be re-thought within the dynamic of an expanding universe? What needs to change? What must be retained? Where do we encounter God in today s world of the infinite and the infinitesimal, of chaos and creativity? How shall we pray, alone and with others? These are some of the questions we will explore together on this retreat. Friday, July 19 (7:00 pm) to Thursday, July 25 (1:00 pm) Suite: $ Single: $ Commute: $ Event # Register by: July 2 Donna Geernaert is a Sister of Charity-Halifax and a theologian with wide experience in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue at international as well as national levels. With a doctoral thesis on Teilhard de Chardin, she has offered presentations on cosmology and Christianity for the International Union of General Superiors, the Canadian Religious Conference, plus other groups "Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad Ps 96:11 CENTERING PRAYER SUMMER INTENSIVE Susan Storey This summer, enrich your experience of centering prayer. Join others faithful to the practice for an intensive week of daily periods of silent prayer prefaced by reflective readings. There will be periods of scripture meditation (lectio divina), plus opportunities to delve into the foundational teaching of Fr. Thomas Keating by viewing and discussing portions of The Spiritual Journey. The week is designed for those familiar with and committed to the practice of Centering Prayer. Sunday, July 7 (3:00 pm) to Sunday, July 14 (1:00 pm) Suite: $ Single: $ Event #10989 Register by: June 28 Susan Storey is the coordinator of a Centering Prayer group in Edmonton and an experienced retreat leader and spiritual director. She has been a priest in the Anglican Church of Canada since 1988 and holds a Doctorate in Theology from Trinity College/University of Toronto. 11

12 SUMMER SILENT DIRECTED RETREAT I am the vine, you are the branches John 15:5 PRC Spiritual Directors Step away from your routine to refresh your spirit and restore your soul. Savour the sights, sounds, and silence of summer while you pray with the parable of the vine and the branches. This silent retreat includes comfortable accommodation, three meals per day, an opportunity to attend daily Eucharist, plus individual spiritual direction of one hour per day. Event # Register by: August 9 Five- and Seven-day options Sunday, August 18 (begins w/supper 5:30 pm) to Friday, August 23 (1:00 pm) Five-Day Retreat: Suite: $ Single: $ OR Sunday, August 18 (begins w/supper 5:30 pm) to Sunday, August 25 (1:00 pm) Seven-Day Retreat: Suite: $ Single: $ CENTERING PRAYER CIRCLE Wednesdays, March through June 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm (Drop in) Enrich your practice and understanding of Centering Prayer, in the style of Fr. Thomas Keating, by joining others for an evening of continued education, Centering Prayer practice, and fellowship. THE LABYRINTH IN SPRING and SUMMER Experience spring s invitation to renewal and summer s invitation to growth by walking the labyrinth. Labyrinth walking is for people of all faith traditions. It invites body awareness, offers an experience of nature, helps focus one s thoughts, inspires creative thinking, and is a form of praying on the move. As a courtesy, please notify the front desk before walking the outdoor labyrinth. 12

13 SPIRITUAL DIRECTION What is spiritual direction? It is first and foremost a way of listening to another person that helps them discover for themselves how God/the Divine is moving in their lives. It is a one-to-one conversation with a trained and experienced spiritual director in an atmosphere of trust leading a person into a deeper awareness and appreciation for God s presence in his or her life. The spiritual direction process helps people who are seeking to live a more fully human, joy-filled life. What is the role of the spiritual director? The spiritual director s role is that of a spiritual companion who, having traveled in his or her own desert and oasis places, can walk with another in similar places and affirm the doubts, pain, and confusion that may emerge. This allows the person to continue the process of growing in intimacy with God. Who is spiritual direction for? Spiritual direction is for anyone who is seeking to deepen their relationship with God/the Divine. Our spiritual journeys can be enhanced when we walk with others, sharing the ups and downs, joys and sorrows of our everyday lives. An ongoing relationship with a spiritual director is beneficial at any time. However, it is often during times of major change and transition, loss and grief that we seek others to journey with us. Is there the fee for spiritual direction? Yes, in most cases, and at the discretion of the individual spiritual director. How do I find a spiritual director? Along with the PRESENCE PROGRAM, our spiritual direction formation program (details page 5), we maintain a roster of trained, experienced spiritual directors. A profile of each of the spiritual directors on our roster, along with a photograph and their contact is available on our website. You are invited to review these individual profiles at and to make contact directly. At Providence Renewal Centre, we strive to provide an atmosphere of quiet and peacefulness where seekers and spiritual directors can meet and journey together. Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matt. 11:28 13

14 SACRED SPACE Sabbaticals and Private Retreats Sacred Space is a peaceful, reflective environment where you can rest, care for yourself, and deepen your relationship with the Divine. Withdrawing alone to a quiet place is a spiritual practice in all major religions. Solitude and silence help a person to slow down and to journey inward where one can more intentionally hear the voice of the Divine. Sacred Space has five cozy bedrooms complete with a double bed, a private bathroom, desk and chair, and lounging chair. The space includes a shared kitchen, laundry facilities, and a common room. Sacred Space is set aside especially for those who wish to focus on their relationship with God by making a sabbatical or a private retreat. SABBATICALS Humility. Simplicity. Charity. The last words of Blessed Emilie Gamelin, foundress of the Sisters of Providence To make a sabbatical connotes a spiritual dimension and quality that is different from a vacation. Sabbaticals are open to all people. People seeking a sabbatical are invited to begin the process by completing an application package. Sabbatical Fee: $2,000.00/month (includes accommodation and meals) PRIVATE OVERNIGHT RETREATS To retreat is to withdraw from everyday life to spend time alone. It is intentional time of one or more days. Private Retreat Fee: $85.00/night (Meals available at an additional fee) PRIVATE DAY RETREATS Several small rooms (parlours) have been set aside on the second floor for use by private day retreatants. Day Retreat Fee: $40.00/day (Meals available at an additional fee) To book a sabbatical or private retreat: csilveira@providencerenewal.ca Phone: Visit: Notice of three business days is required to book a private retreat. Access to spiritual direction is available for those on sabbatical, private retreat, or day retreat for an additional fee. Visit to browse our roster of spiritual directors. Contact the director(s) of your choice to determine availability. 14

15 HOW TO REGISTER PROGRAM AND RETREAT REGISTRATION Pre-registration is required for all our programs REGISTER - By phoning Cory Moisan at Online at Register by Dates - Registration is required one week prior to the start of the event unless otherwise noted. This helps us to honour our commitment and that of facilitators to providing the best possible retreat experience for you. - Programs may reach capacity or be cancelled due to low registration. Register early to avoid disappointment. Event # - An event # has been designated to each program/retreat. Please reference this number and the name of the program when registering. Registration is complete - once full payment or a non-refundable deposit is made. PAYMENT OPTIONS We accept VISA, MasterCard, cheque, cash, and debit. - Full payment at the time of registration is preferred and it is required at least seven business days before the start of the event. A non-refundable deposit applies to all registrations as follows: a. Day or evening programs: $15.00 b. Scheduled weekend retreats: $50.00 c. Scheduled weeklong retreats: $ d. Booked private retreats: $15.00 e. Sabbaticals/Special Events: $ CANCELLATION POLICY Providence Renewal Centre reserves the right to cancel any of our programs/retreats. If a program or event is cancelled, a full refund, including the deposit amount, will be issued. Should a registrant cancel, a minimum of three business days (72 hours) notice is required in order for a refund to be issued (non-refundable deposits apply as listed above). Cancellations made less than three full days (72 hours) before a scheduled program or retreat are not eligible for refunds. Program and retreat fees are not transferable. Cancellation policies for Special Events, such as workshop series or multi-year programs, may differ. 15

16 RENT MEETING OR CONFERENCE SPACE We have several meeting rooms to accommodate groups of various sizes for your conference, seminar, staff meeting, or gathering. Our rates include flipcharts, TVs, DVD players, parking, coffee, and tea. LCD projectors are available for a fee. To view rates and floor plans, visit our website: For more information or to rent space for your event, facility@providencerenewal.ca or call HELP US GO GREEN We invite you to help us be more environmentally friendly by opting to receive this brochure via . To make this change, abegna@providencerenewal.ca. Please share this brochure with others who may be interested! If you would like to have your name removed from the mailing list, please send an indicating your preference to abegna@providencerenewal.ca or call Street NW Edmonton AB T6J 5R5 Phone: Please visit our website at If any of the information in the following address is incorrect, call