September 3rd, 2009 FindtheDivine
Three women in capri pants lounge on wicker chairs in an enclosed porch within sight of the sea. One has pierced ears, another has dyed hair, the third is wearing a T-shirt with a Winston cigarette logo.
They don’t look like nuns. But the dress code changed significantly after Vatican II. And besides, these sisters are on retreat here at St. Mary-by-the-Sea in Cape May Point, N.J.
This place is increasingly popular among laity for whom spirituality has supplanted religion — even among secular members of the Jewish community.
Click here for the whole article written byDianna Marder for The Philadelphia Inquire
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September 3rd, 2009 FindtheDivine
Whenever sunlight streams through the stained glass windows of the chapel at the Stella Maris Retreat Center, Sister Clare McNerney understands why her predecessors some six decades ago chose to locate their spiritual oasis atop a seaside cliff in Long Branch.
But with major repair work needed on the bulkhead protecting the property, the sisters have turned to fundraising to make up for shrinking revenue and rising costs. On Saturday night, the sisters are hosting their annual gala “Spirit of the Shore,” a fundraiser honoring restaurateur and musician Tim McLoone at the retreat center.
Click here to read this article written by MaryAnn Spoto/The Star-Ledger
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September 3rd, 2009 FindtheDivine
“To balance work and life, one must understand the entirety of what he is trying to accomplish in the earthly years given to him and prioritize them in order of importance. “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) One must continually adjust his goals and ambitions according to his current circumstances and phase of life.”
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To help us adjust, there are several very good, local retreat centers which offer morning, evening, and weekend retreats as well as speakers and classes throughout the year.
Click here for Monica Check’s full article in the DC Catholic Examiner
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September 2nd, 2009 FindtheDivine
“It is the abundance of spiritual capital, not money, is the ultimate cause of a rich and fulfilling life” , says Connie Miller.
Will money fill that empty hole inside of us? What is the attachment to things outside of us for love and security? Maybe itis not the money that is the problem but our relationship with it.
Click here to hear more on the subject.
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August 24th, 2009 FindtheDivine
“Travel as a spiritual practice, a knee deep, wide eyed, excursion into the mist, is not to be confused with tourism”, says Mary Ellen O’Brien in this article from the Phoenix Spiritual Pathways Examiner. “Travel is spiritual, when done with intention” she adds.
This article gives you resources to start your own journey.
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July 22nd, 2009 FindtheDivine
Retreat Leaders – Divine Messengers
More and more people today are seeking both places and messages of solace during these hectic times. Retreat centers and spirituality oriented conference centers are providing respite and hope for those that are looking for both places to rediscover their God and to hear sanguine messages of trust and love from those leading events and workshops. Both the spiritual ambiance of the retreat facilities and the divine expertise of staff and retreat speakers and leaders add to one’s “retreat experience”. In this article the people that one meets while attending a retreat, a conference or a spiritual workshop will be featured. They are the ones that generate spiritual synergism to make a retreatant’s experience one of love, rest, adventure, hope and transformation.
Most spiritual retreat and conference centers not only provide a place to be alone in prayerful union with their God, but programs designed to motivate, educate, escape and reintroduce spiritual concepts including prayer, discernment and music. These events are led by retreat leaders that are dynamic experts in their subject matter and help attract retreatants to visit the center. Some programs are designed for small workshops, while others are directed towards larger conference groups. My focus in this article will be on those events that are spiritual in nature, like those listed on www.seekaretreat. These events encompass many subjects including prayer, meditation, wellness, health, silence, religious, art, nature, personal transformation, women’s retreats, men’s retreats, yoga, dreams, saints, metaphysical, mysticism and the contemplative journey. All faith traditions are represented in these events.
Many of today’s retreats are transformative in focus; connecting with both yourself and the Divine to transform your physical, mental and spiritual faculties. Dr. Kevin J. Fleming, President/CEO of Grey Matters International is a former neuropsychologist, Spiritual Director and Life/Executive Coach that leads retreats that are designed to awaken the truest of spiritualities underneath our decision making, our relationships, and ultimately our life’s goals. Dr. Fleming introduces “practical wisdom” about the brain’s inner workings around faith. He also reveals truth of transformation and growth, which is what everyone is seeking on a retreat: to feel different, to spark a change, to relieve a pain and to align spirituality and the brain so hope actually bears fruit. Dr. Fleming also integrates solid spiritual rigor with humorous and deep insights that create a transformative experience full of “practical wisdom” typically not experienced in retreats. (http://www.seekaretreat.com/leaders/virtual.html). To learn more about these retreats, email Dr. Fleming at kevin@greymattersintl.com.
There are many other retreat leaders that hold spiritually transformative retreats. A few listed on SeekaRetreat include:
Retreats that are oriented towards prayer are also very popular. Prayer methods including vocal, meditative and contemplative are presented by a wide array of retreat leaders. Patrick Cleary-Burns is a retreat leader and spiritual director that specializes in discernment retreats using Ignatian meditation as a focus. Patrick teaches that discernment is a gift of wisdom that has been passed down by the holy women and men who came before us. Practicing discernment helps us to open our hearts to watch and listen for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. ( www.patclearyburns.net ) More retreat leaders that use prayer as a focus include:
Retreats that are oriented towards healing and wellness are being conducted in many retreat centers. Topics might include Return to Wholeness, Yoga, Healing and Wellness. A few of the retreat leaders that conduct these retreats and workshops include:
There are retreats that include the experience of nature as a spiritual reminder of the Divine. There also are retreats that are for women that are looking to grow and return to wholeness. Some of these retreats are:
Retreat leaders are experts in there area of expertise and can add a special touch to a retreat. There are many overlapping topics for spiritual retreats and workshops that include: Meditation, Silent, The Saints, Metaphysical, Adventure, Enneagram, Pilgrimages, Near Death Experiences, Nature and many more. A few more retreat leaders include:
Retreat leader training is made available by a few of our clients. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a retreat leader, visit these web sites:
Feedback – Retreat Leaders need feedback from those that attend retreats. You are invited to visit this page and make your suggestions. The Results will be published on SeekaRetreat.com.
Submit your comments – http://www.seekaretreat.com/retreatsurvey.html
Search Links – To locate retreat leaders and spiritual advisors and directors, visit these pages:
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July 21st, 2009 FindtheDivine
“..Between periods of silence women from different walks of life, different cultures, different upbringings, and with their own values find common ground as they acknowledge their own and each other’s courage. Each find a way to honor what is good and beautiful and sacred about herself..”
This article by Daryl Woods shows how women benefit from time spent in retreat.
Click here to learn more about Daryl
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July 20th, 2009 FindtheDivine
Searching for a break from the inevitable escalating pressures of daily life? Taking a couple of days off to change your physical settings may do your body good…and your mind…but what about your soul?
The Diocese of St. Petersburg has several places within its boundaries that are sure to revive mind, body, and soul. And with a refreshed soul, everything else follows. The mind will find calm and clarity and the body will find rest and healing.
This blog by Rose Alenius-Spencer of the St. Petersburg Catholic Examiner, lists a few of those sacred places located within the diocese.
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July 20th, 2009 FindtheDivine
Brother Callistus, a Trappist monk at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Ga., believes “a retreat from the normal course of life is a chance to unwind, hit the delete button, and leave behind garbage.”
This article from the Tribune Democrat emphasizes how retreats of any kind will reconnect you to a life of contentment and peace.
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July 14th, 2009 FindtheDivine
Read about the St. Mary-by-the-Sea Retreat Center in NJ…
Cape May Point, N.J. 08212, Phone: 609-884-8878,
E-mail: stmary@ssjphila.org
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