Previous Offered

Biblical Narrative: A Writing to Pray Weekend Retreat

Facilitated at Our Lady of Hope in New Ipswich, NH; Fall 2016

In this weekend retreat we will explore the stories of our lives by engaging in writiing exercises which follow the conventions of biblical narrative. By doing so, we will find nuanced patterns and threads within and between our personal experiences, perceptions and thoughts. This will lead us to discovering the presence and action of the Lord in our lives in yet a new way.

Examining the Examen: A Day of Reflection

Facilitated at Joseph House in Manchester, NH; Advent 2013

Paradigms are the questions that we ask of God, the world, and ourselves. Our rich, Catholic heritage with its theology, communion of saints, prayers, and scriptures, offers us many such paradigms. By varying our questions and answering in pray-writing daily we keep on our spiritual toes, remaining fresh and insightful, and thereby enrich and deepen our relationship with God. This program, which can be offered as a day of reflection with two follow-up sessions or a weekend retreat, provides valuable enrichment for Lent or Advent.

Comments:

Making space for the journaling was like sacred background music, helping me drown out a lot of the noise of the secular world and it’s tunes. It assisted me in paying attention to the blessed and special moments in my days I might have otherwise missed, or not stopped to recognize. At the same time I could see more clearly where I had failed, & how I might be perfected by God in the next day. MS

Writing down the days events and combining the events with the examin reflections made my writings and prayers more meaningful and full of depth, more so than if I had just been writing a diary. TL

I will say that the Advent Examen was a lifesaver. I was faithful to the practice, and it took me in directions I had not anticipated. It made me see things I had not focused on that really needed my attention. I absolutely loved it, and I am still practicing this discipline in a modified form. NW

Biblical Poetry: A Day of Reflection

Facilitated at Joseph House, Manchester, NH, Spring 2013

On this day of reflection, we focus on the poetry in both the Old and New Testaments. We explore the patterns of parallelism and figurative language employed throughout the psalms, prophetic books, wisdom literature, and Luke’s Gospel with a mind towards emulating and experimenting with the styles and techniques ourselves.

Comments:

I received the joy of playing with words—finite expressions of meaning to reach at and find joy in—God’s infinite love. KC

The writing has made me more aware of how blessed I have been and blessed further by having met these new friends. AP

Writing to Pray: An Introductory Weekend Retreat

Facilitated at Our Lady of Hope, New Ipswich, NH, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, and Spring 2013

There is an adage that “writing is thinking on paper,” but we could easily say that “writing is praying on paper.” The act of writing, either by hand or on the computer, requires us to slow our thinking down, and the space between our thoughts and words gives God the chance to “slip” in. During this weekend retreat we will explore journal writing, and writing in response to sacred images, biblical figures, music, scripture, spiritual topics and other writings.

Comments:

The exercises pushed me out of my comfort zone and opened my head and heart to new and old but new again experiences. PF

I found writing can be a wonderful way to communicate with God, and to let the Holy Spirit guide and illuminate all the areas of my life. MB