Bi-annual Newsletter of the Sisters of Charity Spirituality Center From the Director... January, 2016 Accepting the appointment of the Spirituality Center Director position is an exciting beginning of a new journey for me. I come with enthusiasm and the hope of continuing the mission of the Spirituality Center in providing opportunities for the growth of many. This will be a new ministry for me coming from 25 years of teaching in the elementary school classroom which I left 15 years ago. I began my teaching in Dayton, Ohio and then the rest of my teaching career was spent in Cincinnati at the Mount Campus School and St. Ursula Villa. I enjoyed working with the parents and students in the areas of Science, Social Studies and Religion. In 1999, I left teaching and went on sabbatical to Sangre de Cristo in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this being the only time I lived outside the state of Ohio. That sabbatical was 100 days of true joy, an experience and renewal that was very inspiring and enriching. I came to work at the Motherhouse in 2000, sharing time between the Hospitality/Front Desk and Communications Office. I have learned many skills and met many wonderful people in this work, as well as getting to know the Community all across the country. It has been a great blessing getting to know and sharing the stories of our Sisters through my photographs. I actually had to teach myself how to photograph people, since many of my earlier photos had been scenes in nature. I now leave the Communications Office with a graced heart. I have enjoyed working these last 15 years with those that have shared the interest in telling the stories of our Congregation. In 2012, I returned to the College of Mount St. Joseph to complete a Master of Arts in continued on page 2 Experience the healing power of clay therapy while exploring your relationship with God through the powerful image of the Potter. During our four sessions you will create a vessel of clay while learning about how God interacts with us, molding, fashioning, creating. Old clothing suggested, aprons optional. A project sheet of ideas will follow registration. LEADER: DATES: Jackie Kowalski, SC Saturdays, Jan. 16, 23, 30; Feb. 6, 2016 9 AM-12 PM Emmaus Room; SC Motherhouse $70; $25 non-refundable registration fee due by 1/8/16 MAXIMUM # OF PARTICIPANTS: 10 S. Jackie Kowalski, SC has been creating pottery for 25 years; throwing bowls and mugs, hand building and designing wall art. Besides her years of experience, she brings a passion for clay as a medium of self-expression and a way to interact with God. The Labyrinth: A Spiritual Pilgrimage The Labyrinth is found in various cultures dating from 3500 BC. At our Sister of Charity Motherhouse, we have the Chartres design, found in the Chartres, France Cathedral dating from 1221. We will learn about various aspects of a labyrinth, particularly including its use as a spiritual pilgrimage. No walking is necessary. We will include the possibility of using a finger labyrinth! PRESENTER: DATES: Donna Steffen, SC Monday, February 15, 2016 1-2:30 PM Emmaus Room; SC Motherhouse
Page 2 Heart Notes continued from page 1 January-May, 2016 JANUARY 12 13 16 23 27 30 Book Sharing Anat Baniel MethodSM Praying with Nature FEBRUARY 6 7 15 17 26-28 Sunday of Reflection Labyrinth Prayer Eucharist Lenten Retreat for Women MARCH 1&2 6 8 11-13 18-19 Painting Retreat Sunday of Reflection Book Sharing Centering Prayer Retreat SoulCollage APRIL 6 12 20 Praying with Nature Book Sharing Praying with Nature MAY 10 Book Sharing If you would like to attend our programs but financial difficulties are an issue, please call the Spirituality Center at 513-347-5453. Partial scholarships are available. Religious Studies to strengthen my development and growth in spirituality. This program will come to completion at the end of the spring semester at the now Mount St. Joseph University. So I look forward to the opportunity in my new position of utilizing many of the skills I have learned over these past few years. As I prepare to take this next step on my journey, I pray that I may be open to the gifts of the Spirit and the newness that continues to fulfill my dreams. I want to thank my Congregation for the confidence and grace given me as I accept this position. I ask your prayers and blessings as I continue the ministry of our Spirituality Center and the direction we have set for ourselves into the future at our recent Chapter. I would like to thank everyone for your prayers and support for my recent knee replacement surgeries. All is well. I look forward now with two good knees and as the sign in my office reminds me, I hope you dance. Every day is new and different and I look forward to working with all of you as we continue to share in the ministry of Spirituality. Marty SPIRITUALITY CENTER STAFF Marty Dermody, SC Director 513-347-5453 Maureen Heverin, SC Spiritual Director, Retreat Minister 513-347-1408 Mary Fran Davisson,SC Licensed Massage Therapist Anat Baniel MethodSM Practitioner 513-347-5318 Micki Trentman Secretary 513-347-5449 Email: spirituality.center@srcharitycinti.org
January, 2016 Page 3 Let in the Light by Patricia Livingston Book Sharing Opportunities LIGHT is central to both our physical and spiritual existence, and Pat Livingston helps us find it. She helps us reframe our responses to difficulty and darkness in positive ways, encouraging us to embrace life s imperfections. And with her signature good cheer, she shares poignant stories of family and friends, of joy and heartbreak, and invites us to open our hearts and minds to the light of kindness, laughter, mercy, and gratitude. BOOK MUST BE PURCHASED AND READ BEFORE SESSION. PRESENTER: Maureen Heverin, SC DATE: Tuesday, January 12, 2016 1-2:30 OR 7-8:30 Emmaus Room; SC Motherhouse $10; paid at time of registration [BOOK NOT PROVIDED] No Problem Turning the Next Corner in your Spiritual Life by Robert Wicks This book is described as an inner workshop for the soul. We are invited to begin where we are and to allow the themes presented to marinate throughout our days. The themes presented are not new but are meant to renew us as we come home to ourselves and our God. Robert Wicks guides spiritual seekers through twenty lessons, three doorways and thirty daily exercises. BOOK MUST BE PUR- CHASED AND READ BEFORE SESSION. March 8 April 12 We will discuss the twenty lessons which present basic themes. We will share our experiences answering Jesus call to love God, self and neighbor (the three doors.) The daily exercises are meant to help us actualize our own spiritual desires to live with peace, compassion and love. PRESENTER: Maureen Heverin, SC DATE: Tuesdays, March 8 & April 12, 2016 1-2:30 OR 7-8:30 Emmaus Room; SC Motherhouse $20; paid at time of registration [BOOK NOT PROVIDED] In May we will try something new for the Book Sharing. You are invited to bring a book that you have read and enjoyed or found helpful that you would recommend to others. It s a great way to get your summer reading list and more! PRESENTER: Maureen Heverin, SC DATE: Tuesday, May 10, 2016 1-2:30 OR 7-8:30 Emmaus Room; SC Motherhouse No fee; registration is requested
Page 4 Heart Notes Praying with Nature through the Seasons We are all aware of the gifts of the seasons with each new day of our lives. Where we live here in the Midwest allows us to experience the changes of nature on a daily basis. No matter what season we begin with, we can experience changes in birdsong, leaf color, temperature and other ways we experience the seasons. Using photographs and the outdoors we can get in touch with our loving God through these cyclical changes. This program will allow us to experience some of the ways nature around us shows forth those changes. It will allow us to observe and experience these day to day changes. PRESENTER: Marty Dermody, SC DATES: Wednesdays, Jan. 27, April 6, April 20 9:30-11:00 a.m. Rose Room; SC Motherhouse S. Marty Dermody, SC is the current Director of the Spirituality Center and loves sharing her work of photography in her prayer. She will share with us music and works of nature through the use of photographs in a PowerPoint program or an outside experience of the ways nature changes here in the Midwest. Come and share the beauty of our world through S. Marty s love of creation and the changes throughout the seasons. The Samaritan Woman A Lenten Retreat for Women We will reflect on this woman, known only by her membership in a community loathed by the Israelites, an ordinary woman who meets Jesus as she went about an ordinary task. We can identify with her ordinariness but do we recognize Him in the ordinary? Are we credible witnesses of His message as she had become? (Please bring your scriptures.) PRESENTER: DATE: Mary Ann Flannery, SC February 26-28, 2016 Friday, 7 PM-Sunday, 11 AM Emmaus Room $125 (includes meals & overnight) $90 Commute (includes meals) $25 non-refundable reg. fee (applied to total cost) due by 2/19 Sister Mary Ann Flannery is a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati. Following her long teaching career, she retired from John Carroll University and became director of the Jesuit Retreat House in Parma, Ohio from which she retired in 2014. While in retreat ministry, she became a spiritual director, writer and retreat director. She gives retreats to parishes and religious communities throughout the country. Centering Prayer Weekend Retreat This is a retreat for those who practice Centering Prayer. Take time from your busy schedule to deepen your relationship with God through contemplation in an atmosphere of SILENCE. The weekend will include Centering Prayer sessions, Lectio Divina, personal reflection and the option to meet with one of the team members. Experience with a daily Centering Prayer/ contemplative practice is needed to participate in this retreat. PRESENTERS: Patmarie Bernard, SC, Carol Brenner, SC, & Liz Maxwell DATES: March 11-13, 2016 Friday, 7 PM-Sunday, 11:30 AM SC Motherhouse $125 (includes meals & overnight) $90 Commute (includes meals) $25 non-refundable reg. fee (applied to total cost) due by 3/4
January, 2016 Page 5 SUNDAYS OF REFLECTION Theme: Flowing from our Chapter commitments: The Marginalized: Who? What? Where? Our Response: How? When? Why? February 7 CJ Willie, SC Living in Divine Mystery March 6 Mary Bookser, SC 9:30 AM 10:45 AM 11:30 AM 12:00 PM $20 There is no fee for the Sundays of Reflection for SC s and Associates. Donations are welcome to defray expenses. Those who do not live at the Motherhouse are requested to call 347-5300 (daytime) or 3475346 (evening) and leave a message if you plan to stay for dinner. Be Eucharist: Bread Blessed, Broken & Given! We will be in touch with Jesus' love at the Last Supper (Holy Thursday). We will experience being and sharing Eucharist! How can Eucharist make me a peace-maker in my daily life at home, at work, in community? Come for an afternoon of reflection... PRESENTER: DATE: Olga Wittekind, OSF Wednesday, February 17, 2016 1-2:30 Emmaus Room; SC Motherhouse $15; paid at time of registration S. Olga Wittekind, OSF is the Director of Oldenburg Franciscan Center. She is a clinical psychologist, retreat director and spiritual director. The Anat Baniel MethodSM The Anat Baniel MethodSM is a NeuroMovement, holistic approach that utilizes movement in all its forms. This approach helps upgrade the functioning of the brain that in turn can organize thinking, feeling, emotion, movement, and action better. NeuroMovement is a holistic approach to human functioning and action, based in the understanding that movement is the language of the brain. Movement provides information the brain needs to grow and organize itself. (And in return), the brain organizes all movement, thought, feelings, and action. You are invited to come experience and learn about the Anat Baniel MethodSM. During the session you will have the opportunity to: experience a Transformational Movement Lesson (verbally guided movement lesson), observe a short Functional Synthesis Lesson, (one-on-one movement lesson), and learn about The Nine Essentials that form the core of the NeuroMovement approach of the Anat Baniel MethodSM. PRESENTER: Mary Fran Davisson, SC, LMT, Anat Baniel MethodSM Practitioner DATE: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 10-12 OR 1:30-3:30 OR 6:30-8:30 (all sessions are identical) Emmaus Room; SC Motherhouse No fee, but registration is required for adequate preparations. Copyright, 2010, Anat Baniel MethodSM and NeuroMovement, All Rights Reserved, Reprinted with Permission
Page 6 Heart Notes Massage Therapy Mary Fran Davisson, SC, LMT Massage is both an ancient and naturally instinctive form of anointing and healing touch that helps relieve pain and discomfort. Massage is a holistic therapy which enhances the mind, body, and spirit connection and helps open a person to the presence of God in their life. Modalities include: *Swedish Massage *Medical Massage *Energy Work *Deep Tissue Massage *Oncology Massage 15-min. neck & shoulder or foot massage $21.35 30-min. massage focusing on a specific area $32.00 1-hr full body massage $53.40 30-min. Energy Work $30.00 1-hr. Energy Work $50.00 Sales tax has been added. Appointments are required for Massage. Gift certificates are available. Call 513-347-5318 to schedule an appointment. You are precious in God s sight. Is. 43:1 Join us for Centering Prayer Centering Prayer is an ongoing program in the Spirituality Center. We seek to share the practice of Centering Prayer and support one another in a contemplative lifestyle. FREE no registration required. Wednesdays One 30-minute period of centering followed by sharing on a selected book related to Centering Prayer. LEADERS: Liz Maxwell & Joyce Richter, SC 4-5 PM PLACE: Prayer Room; SC Motherhouse An Invitation to Explore Spiritual Direction Spiritual direction is an opportunity to share one s inner life in a confidential setting with a trained and trusted listener. This centuries old Christian practice is the art of listening to God together, searching for the meaning of God s action in life, and/or deepening one s relationship with God. The process is individual and personal, helping to focus on the mutual relationship between God and the person seeking direction. For additional information or a list of Spiritual Directors please contact S. Maureen Heverin, SC at 513-347-1408 or by email maureen.heverin@srcharitycinti.org. Group Spiritual Direction is a process whereby people gather regularly to become more aware of how God is working in their lives. It is a reflective time which incorporates silence, sharing, listening, response, and more silence. We have offered Group Spiritual Direction in the past but currently do not have an active group. There have been several calls recently expressing interest in Group Spiritual Direction. Two practical questions to consider: Do I have the interior freedom to be in a prayerful listening place as I seek to pay attention to God in my life with others on the journey? Do I have flexibility in my schedule that can accommodate others schedules? If you are interested and would like more information please call S. Maureen Heverin at 513-347-1408 or e-mail maureen.heverin@srcharitycinti.org.
January, 2016 Page 7 SoulCollage ~ An Introductory Workshop SoulCollage is a gentle way of exploring one s life journey an intuitive process that allows discovery and acceptance of who you are. This intentional creative spiritual practice is a way to heal and evolve your soul, by cutting and pasting images into a card that symbolizes a particular voice present in your life's story. As you create space for each inner voice to be heard, you unlock your own wisdom and are transformed by the process. Introduction to SoulCollage is a creative process and practice, with card making, soul collage principles and elements, and individual and group card readings. **Only art experience needed is cutting and pasting and we all learned that in kindergarten. Friday Evening 6-9 PM Introduction and contemplative exercises Saturday 9 AM-4 PM Studio time with in depth card readings PRESENTER: Mooydeen Frees & Fabrica Duell DATE: March 18-19, 2016 Friday, 6-9 PM - Saturday, 9 AM-3 PM Emmaus Room; SC Motherhouse $105 (includes meals & overnight); $70 Commute $25; non-refundable reg. fee (applied to total cost) due by 3/11 MAXIMUM # OF PARTICIPANTS: 22 Painting Retreat Putting brush to paper allows your mind and heart to enter the creative space within. In painting retreats and workshops, John assists participants in using art as a means of self-expression, healing and growth. No artistic talent or skills are needed to benefit from the painting process. Both artists and nonartists will find the painting process helpful in unblocking and releasing creativity. John s early background in graphic design led him to become an artist. He creates with woodblock cuts, silkscreen prints, sculpture and paint. He has also illustrated numerous books, designed publications and two chapels. On his return to North America after 23 years in Europe his artwork has taken a dramatic step by exploring the world of the unconscious. PRESENTER: Fr. John Quigley, OFM Cedars; SC Motherhouse DATE: March 1 & 2, 2016 Tuesday & Wednesday; 6:30-8:30 $45; $15 non-refundable reg. fee (applied to total cost) due by 2/22 MAXIMUM # OF PARTICIPANTS: 12
Page 8 Heart Notes Directed Retreats.June 12-18, 2016 Betty Finn, SC Mary Ellen Murphy, SC Fr. Bob Ross, SJ Directed Retreats.August 14-20, 2016 Patmarie Bernard, SC Carol Brenner, SC Margaret Mach, SC Conference Retreat.12-18, 2016 Barb Leonard, OSF Conference Retreat.August 14-20, 2016 Michael Crosby, OFM Cap Name: Phone: Address: Emergency Contact: Send registration with deposit (if required) to: Sisters of Charity Spirituality Center Contact Phone: 5900 Delhi Rd. Mount St. Joseph, OH 45051 Email: Check payable to Sisters of Charity PROGRAM If multiple times are offered please circle the one you wish to attend Book Sharing Let in the Light by Pat Livingston [1/12] Price Deposit 1-2:30 OR 7-8:30 $10 $10 Anat Baniel MethodSM [1/13] 10-12 OR 1:30-3:30 OR 6:30-8:30 N/A [1/16, 23, 30; 2/6] $70 $25 Praying with Nature [1/27, 4/6, 4/20] N/A The Labyrinth: A Spiritual Pilgrimage [2/15] N/A Eucharist [2/17] $15 $15 The Samaritan Woman: A Lenten Retreat for Women [2/26-28] $125 Overnight; $90 Commute $25 Painting Retreat [3/1 & 2] $45 $15 $20 $20 Centering Prayer Weekend Retreat [3/11-13] $125 Overnight; $90 Commute $25 Soul Collage [3/18-19] $105 Overnight; $70 Commute Book Sharing [5/10] 1-2:30 OR 7-8:30 Sunday of Reflection Feb. 7 Mar. 6 both No fee for SC s or Associates $20 $20 TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED: **All deposits are applied to total cost.**