Francis House of Prayer
TrenTON DIOCESAN SPIRITUAL CENTER
FRIDAY MORNING RETREAT
A YEAR OF GRACE AND PRAYER
9 Fridays 9:15AM – 12:00 PM
September 15 December 1 March 2
October 13 January 5 April 6
November 3 February 2 May 11
Is God inviting you into a deeper relationship at this point in your precious life? Do you desire to enhance or enlarge your experience of prayer? Are you able to come to Francis House one Friday morning each month? I so hope you can and will, as this monthly program will be rich in grace. We will focus on a different kind of prayer each month and you will receive materials and/or books to help you practice and enjoy it for the month. We will also include two 20-minute centering prayer periods and some quiet time for reflection within this morning retreat. Donation: $225, includes all books/materials.
LIVING CONTEMPLATIVELY
9 Saturdays 9:15 AM – 3:30 PM
September 16 December 2 March 3
October 14 January 6 April 7
November 4 February 3 May 12
This program calls out to those who desire to live more contemplatively in the world, to grow in union with God and others, and to become more aware, intentional, and free. God liberates us and heals us through the practice of contemplative prayer. Wonderful spiritual reading will support our contemplative prayer throughout the year. It’s worth a day a month and an hour a day. Bring a bag lunch. Tuition: $325
MORNINGS WITH MERTON
DELIGHT IN THE BEAUTY OF GOD’S CREATION
4 Mondays 9:00 – 11:00 AM
September 18 November 13
October 16 December 4
Open your eyes, ears and hearts to God’s glory in nature. Let God catch you by surprise with His creation. No day is ever the same when we are aware of God’s gifts. We will reflect on Thomas Merton’s nature writings collected in When the Trees Say Nothing and let his words inspire us to be more attentive to the love of God vibrating through nature everywhere. Then we will spend some time outdoors at Francis House enjoying what God has created and reflecting on God as a loving Creator. All is a gift of God that helps each one of us to know, love and serve God with joy and gratitude. Donation: $60, includes book
CLASSICS ON CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
10 Tuesdays 6:30 – 8:30 PM
September 12 December 5 April 10
October 10 January 9 May 8
November 7 February 6 June 5
March 6
Grow in the practice of contemplative prayer by coming to these monthly sessions. The evenings include two 20-minute contemplative prayer periods. We will also view a 20-minute segment of Fr. Thomas Keating’s DVD series, Opening to the Presence of God and engage in good spiritual reading on contemplative prayer between sessions. This year we will use The Heart of Centering Prayer, by Cynthia Bourgeault, and The Divine Dance, by Richard Rohr, OSF for our reading between sessions. Donation: $175, includes both books.
EVENINGS WITH TEILHARD
3 Wednesdays 6:30 – 8:30 PM
October 18 November 15 December 13
Enjoy this 3-part series on the spirituality of Teilhard! He lived his life in union with Christ found at the heart of all creation. Donation: Love Offering
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES OF ST. IGNATIUS
RETREAT IN EVERYDAY LIFE
9 Wednesdays 3:00 – 4:30 PM
September 13 December 6 March 7
October 11 January 10 April 11
November 8 February 7 May 9
If you need or desire a retreat but simply cannot get away, please give yourself the gift of this retreat that invites you to pray through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius using two Jesuit resources: The Ignatian Adventure by Kevin O’Brien, for our prayer and The New Spiritual Exercises by Louis Savary as complementary reading. We will meet monthly for sharing and input on the next month’s prayer. This is a wonderful way to experience the Spiritual Exercises. Donation: $175, includes both books.
IGNATIAN STUDY OF DISCERNMENT
9 Wednesdays 5:00 – 6:30 PM
September 13 December 6 March 7
October 11 January 10 April 11
November 8 February 7 May 9
Our Discernment study will continue using Elizabeth Liebert’s The Way of Discernment and Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life by Henri Nouwen. We will further our practice of discernment with an in-depth study of Examen, to enhance our awareness of God’s presence and action in our lives and grow in attentiveness of our daily response in the midst of our busy lives. Donation: $200, includes books.
THE 12 STEPS
A PATH TO RECOVERY
9 Thursdays 9:00 – 10:30 AM
September 14 December 7 March 8
October 5 January 11 April 12
November 9 February 8 May 10
The 12 Steps are for all of us, as we all have attachments and addictions and we all desire freedom from them. This Program will take us through the traditional 12 Steps that teach us to rely on God as our Liberator from our unhealthy habits. We will also use The Recovery Bible and accompanying workbook to help us pray with scripture related to each Step. If you’ve always wanted to do a 12 Step program but just haven’t had the opportunity, please come and give God a chance to set you free. Led by Mary DeJoseph and Deacon Bill Wilson. Donation: $25 for the books and a Love Offering for each session.
SPIRITUAL READING GROUP
9 Fridays 6:30 – 8:30 PM
September 15 December 1 March 2
October 13 January 5 April 6
November 3 February 2 May 11
Good spiritual reading is a must for spiritual growth. Companions on the journey help with the practice of this spiritual exercise. This will be fun as well as fruitful. Can you devote one Friday night a month to this pursuit? As usual, we will feast on a variety of spiritual gems. Donation $225, includes all books.
TEILHARD READING GROUP
9 Fridays 1:00 – 2:30 PM
September 22 December 15 March 2
October 20 January 5 April 6
November 17 February 2 May 4
Our study of Teilhard continues this year with the help of Ursula King’s Christ in All Things and then a return to Teilhard’s Divine Milieu. Please join our lively discussions about Teilhard’s vision of God’s plan for the ongoing evolution of creation into full union with God. Donation: $175, includes book.
THOMAS KEATING AT HIS BEST
9 Thursdays 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
September 14 December 7 March 8
October 5 January 11 April 12
November 9 February 8 May 10
Trappist Monk, Fr. Thomas Keating, is probably the greatest teacher of prayer and spiritual master of our time. He has practiced and taught contemplative prayer like no other. We are going to receive his instruction through his recent video series. Fr. Keating’s wisdom, depth, humility and intimate relationship with God will strengthen and encourage us as we continue our journey during our troubled times. We will conclude each session with 20 minutes of contemplative prayer. Donation: $175, includes The Daily Reader for Contemplative Living by Fr. Keating and The Heart of Centering Prayer by Cynthia Bourgeault. If you can, make a day of it by attending the St. John of the Cross series at 1:30 PM.
FRIENDS OF ST. TERESA OF AVILA
FIRE WITHIN
9 Wednesdays 9:00 – 11:00 AM
September 20 December 13 March 21
October 18 January 17 April 18
November 15 February 21 May 16
St. Teresa has the great gift of writing about her relationship with God in such a way that helps us know that intimacy with God is an invitation and gift to us all. Come join us as Teresa leads us on our journey to full union with God. This journey is for all of us. Each session will also include 20 minutes of contemplative prayer and part of a video on Teresa’s Interior Castle. We will read Thomas Dubay’s Fire Within between sessions. Donation: $175, includes book. If you can, stay for the Thérèse Series below on the same days. In between the two sessions those who wish will view the video series on St. Teresa of Avila’s life. I hope you can stay!
DELVING INTO THE DEPTHS OF
THÉRÈSE OF LISIEUX
9 Wednesdays 1:00 – 2:30 PM
September 20 December 13 March 21
October 18 January 17 April 18
November 15 February 21 May 16
Thérèse is the best spiritual director anyone could have! If your soul is hungry for solid food, and you have a desire to deepen your relationship with God so that God is really at the center of your life, please come. We will use The Gospel According to St. Thérèse, a newly released book by Joseph Schmidt, FSC, and Thoughts of St. Thérèse for these 9 sessions. These two books complement each other. We will have a wonderful year with Thérèse. Donation: $175, includes books and materials. If you can, make a day of it by attending the Teresa of Avila series from 9:00 – 11:00 AM.
STUDY OF ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS
9 Thursdays 1:30 – 3:30 PM
September 14 December 7 March 8
October 12 January 11 April 12
November 9 February 8 May 10
John of the Cross is all about love, not asceticism or annihilation as popularly believed. We continue our study of St. John, this year using Iain Matthew’s The Impact of God and Ruth Burrow’s Ascent to Love, my two favorites. If your life with God is looking for a boost, please come. We end with 20 minutes of centering prayer. Donation: $175, includes books. If you can, make a day of it by attending the Thomas Keating series at 11:00 AM.
SUPERVISION FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS
9 Tuesdays 12:30 – 2:00 PM
September 19 December 19 March 13
October 17 January 16 April 17
November 14 February 13 May 15
We meet monthly for on-going prayer, supervision and support as we continue our ministry of spiritual direction. We will use Looking Into The Well by Maureen Conroy, RSM to strengthen our supervision skills. Donation: $200
LEARNING TO DISCERN BY LISTENING TO YOUR BODY’S WISDOM
9 Tuesdays 9:15 – 11:30 AM
September 19 December 19 March 13
October 17 January 16 April 17
November 14 February 13 May 15
Our bodies have a certain wisdom in them that, if we learn to listen, can be invaluable in discerning what is real and from God. Our bodies know the truth. Our bodies carry within them all that we have ever experienced. All are welcome as we learn to pay attention to the God-given wisdom contained within our very selves. This practice is sometimes called Bio-Spiritual Focusing, that is, finding the Spirit at work in your body. Donation $175, includes book.
THE ARTIST’S WAY:
DISCOVERING & RECOVERING YOUR CREATIVE SELF
13 Mondays 9:30 – 11:00 AM
October 9 December 11 March 12
October 23 January 8 March 26
November 6 January 29 April 16
November 20 February 12 April 30
February 26
The spiritual path to higher creativity is an exciting journey for those who desire to cooperate with God’s liberation of their creative energies. Come to know the great dynamic of creativity that is God’s gift to you through our study of Julia Cameron’s classic on creative living, The Artist’s Way. Donation $150, includes book. Led by Jill Snyder.
THE ARTIST’S WAY:
WALKING IN THIS WORLD
9 Mondays 9:30 – 11:00 AM
September 11 November 27 February 5
October 2 December 18 March 5
October 30 January 15 April 9
Julia Cameron does it again! For those who have participated in The Artist’s Way (above), the journey to recovering God’s gift of your creative self continues in Walking In This World. Donation $105, includes book. Led by Jill Snyder.
GLORIFY GOD BY IMPROVING YOUR HEALTH
4 Mondays 1:00 – 2:30 PM
October 2, 9, 16 and 23
Our human bodies are the most intricate and amazing of God’s creations! They were created to be beautiful, healthy, strong, and resilient. Given half a chance, your body will heal itself. Come to this four-session series to learn how you can make small changes in your nutrition and lifestyle to create big and lasting results in your health and well-being. We will discuss a different topic each week, and you will create a unique plan for yourself to improve every aspect of your life – mind, body, and soul! Presented by Colleen McNally, Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. Donation: $60, includes materials.
GROUP HEALTH COACHING
JOURNEYING WITH GOD TOWARDS HEALTH
6 Mondays 9:30 – 11:30 AM
October 2, 16, 30 November 13, 27 December 11
We all know that making healthy changes to our diet and lifestyle can create the vibrant health we want in our lives. God created our bodies to be healthy, strong, and resilient. What we may not know, is how to make those changes. Whatever is going on in your busy, stress-filled life impacts your weight, your health and how you feel about yourself.
This program is a non-diet, God-centered, whole-life approach to making small changes that create lasting results in health and wellness. Group coaching develops connections, gives confidence, and motivates you to develop solutions to meet your health challenges, all while feeling like you are having fun at a social event! What will next year look like if you start investing in your future health right now? Program includes materials and phone or email support between sessions. Presented by Colleen McNally, Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. Limited to 5 persons. Register early. Donation: $150.
PRAYING WITH GESTURES
6 Thursdays 6:00 – 7:30 PM
October 5, 12, 19 November 2, 9, 16
First, we learn to be attentive to our own life-giving breath. Then we become still and stilled so as to experience the life-giving Holy Spirit within. Then we learn to move gently, with flexibility and grace, so that in 90 minute sessions, we are refreshed in body, mind and soul. Led by Valerie Smith. Donation: $60.
GIFT CERTIFICATES
Gift Certificates for any amount are always available if you would like to treat someone to a retreat or program at Francis House. Call if interested, or get one when you come. A great birthday present!
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Please register for all programs by calling 609-877-0509. Be sure to include your full name and PHONE NUMBER and the title of the program on our voice mail. Registering by phone is preferred!
If you wish to register by email, refer to "Contact Us."
Fall 2017 Series
Francis House of Prayer © 2013