Miramar Retreat Center

2008

FIRST FRIDAYS: 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

The day includes a presentation, Reconciliation, and Eucharist.

Sept. 5
Oct. 3
Nov. 7
Dec. 5

Facilitator:
Robert Mallonee, SVD

Cost: $30.00

MINI RETREAT DAYS FOR WOMEN
(9:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.)

Sept. 22 - "Let Nothing Disturb You": Praying with Teresa of Avila

Oct. 27 - Discovering the Living Flame of God's Love: Praying with John of the Cross

Nov. 17 - Naming the Hungers of Your Heart: Praying with Dorothy Day

Facilitator:
Maureen Casey, SND

Cost: $30.00

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?
(10:00A.M.- 2:00 P.M.)

Sept. 17
Oct. 8

Facilitator:
Joseph Dang, SVD

Cost: $35.00

MARRIAGE PREPARATION
(9:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.)

Aug. 30
Sept. 20
Oct. 25
Nov. 15

The Marriage Preparation Program is for engaged couples who plan to be married in the church. A priest/deacon, marriage coordinator or a satisfied couple who have already experienced the benefits of the program usually refer those interested to us. The program offers input from the viewpoint of married couples and clergy. The focus is on the importance of understanding both the commitment required and the development of skills needed in living out the covenant of a sacramental marriage. The first session provides an opportunity for the couples to discuss honestly with each other, with facilitators and peers, issues associated with family living, communication, finances, the Christian understanding of sexuality, the sacrament of Matrimony and the role of married couples in both Church and society.

Facilitator:
Thomas Griffith, SVD
Robert Jones, SVD

Cost: $85.00 per couple (Lunch Included)

CALLIGRAPHY AS A MEDITATIVE ART
(10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.)

Nov. 8

This one day workshop is designed for people who would like to develop the Art of Calligraphy as a peaceful retreat from their usual routine and also, to apply their skills practically. Inscribing invitations, envelopes, dinner place cards, greeting cards, poetry as well as Holy Writ are among the modern calligrapher's activities.

This workshop will be "CALLIGRAPHY IN A NUTSHELL", especially appropriate for those who have too little free time to commit to a long-term class. An overview of the Italic alphabet will be provided from A to Z, including miniscules, capitals, numbers, spacing, changing sizes and procedures for addressing envelopes.

Much instruction will be given in a short time frame so students will be very busy and well prepared to practice at home.

A $3.00 packet fee will be given to the instructor. A materials list will be provided at registration, which will be closed 7 days prior to class so catalog materials may be purchased in time.

Facilitator:
Cynthia Henrich, F.O.D.C.

Cost: $45.00

CONTEMPLATING IN A NEW ENGLAND FALL

October 5 (10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.)

Come and discover the peace of letting go in a New England Fall! Experience God's beauty and goodness that longs to renew your spirit. Eucharist will be an integral part of the day.

Facilitator:
Maureen Casey, SND

Cost: $35.00

FALL SERIES OF "WRITING YOUR MEMOIRS"

Oct. 7, 14, 21, & 28

(9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.)

Facilitator:
Mary Conway

Cost: $80.00
($20.00 per session)

DAY OF PRAYER IN MEMORY OF DECEASED LOVED ONES: "You are at my side" (Ps. 139)

November 9 (10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.)

A day to prayerfully remember our deceased loved ones and God's desire to be at our side as we mourn our loss. Eucharist will be an integral part of the day.

Facilitator:
Maureen Casey, SND

Cost: $35.00

ADVENT DAY OF PRAYER FOR WOMEN: PRAYING WITH OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

December 7 (10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M)

A day to be renewed with great hope in the power of God's transforming love as experienced in the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Juan Diego. Eucharist will be an integral part of the day.

Facilitator:
Maureen Casey, SND

Cost: $35.00

2009

"WRITING YOUR MEMOIRS"

Feb. 3, 10, 24,
March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
April 7, 14

(9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.)

Identify the deepest aspects of your inner life through the writing of your memoirs. By responding to events, places, and influences in your life, you will acquire a more accurate awareness of your personal values, motives, beliefs, and hopes. Idea-gathering exercises will assist in providing you with a deep and accurate sense of your personal and spiritual growth. Men and women of all ages profit from sharpening their memory and benefit from the insight and personal discovery that this tested spiritual autobiography provides. Inexperienced, as well as experienced writers, can produce high quality writing, because they are reflecting on material that is familiar and meaningful for them.

Facilitator:
Mary Conway

Cost: $20.00 per session

MINI RETREAT DAYS FOR WOMEN
(9:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.)

Come and gift God and yourself with time to "Just Be" in the presence of God who longs to listen to you and be with you in a place of holy ground. Prayer, input, and quiet time for reflection will be integral to the mini retreat day.

Feb. 4: Dwelling with God in the Beauty of Winter Stillness

March 4: Experiencing the Compassionate Face of God

April 1: Touching the Holiness of God in Everyday Life

Sept. 30: A Vacation Day with God

Oct. 21: Praying When God Seems Absent

Dec. 2: Advent Hope and New Beginnings

Facilitator:
Maureen Casey, SND

Cost: $30.00 (includes Lunch)

FIRST FRIDAYS:
10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Each month we will reflect and pray upon a different aspect of Jesus. The program will include an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and conclude with the celebration of the Eucharist.

Facilitator:
Robert Mallonee, SVD

Cost: $30.00 (Includes Lunch)

Feb. 6
March 6
April 3
May 1
June 5

Sept. 4
Oct. 2
Nov. 6
Dec. 4

EXPLORING OUR IMAGES OF GOD

Feb. 8 (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.)

The day will be a time to explore some of the images of God that shape our everyday lives. It will be a time to uncover any toxic images of God we may have and to spend time savoring images of God that reflect the God of the scriptures. Eucharist will be an integral part of the day.

Facilitator:
Maureen Casey, SND

Cost: $35.00 (Includes Lunch)

WINTER/SPRING LECTURE SERIES
9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Feb. 11, March 4, 25, April 15, May 13

Feb. 11: ADULT TRANSITIONS
In our society we are living longer lives, many of us into our eighties and nineties. Every decade we may go through a transition of significant change. How do we live without illusions? How do we live with "what is" rather than "what if?" We will begin by looking at transition reminders. The call to interiority, or the journey within, will then be examined. Next the stages of the grief process will be reviewed, enabling us to come to a sense of hope and wholeness. We will conclude by identifying active steps to be engaged in as our human journey continues.

March 4: UNDERSTANDING ISLAM TODAY
The events of September of 2001 and their aftermath have changed our contemporary world. It is in the interest of all Christian groups today to be aware of the importance of Islam as we address the future. This presentation will include a historical review of the rise of Islam following the birth of Mohammed. The principal interactions between Islam and the Christian West will then be presented. The comments of the Second Vatican Council in respect to Islam will be examined as well. The phenomenon of contemporary fundamentalism and its application to Islam will follow. The presentation will conclude with essential elements of dialogue for Christians and members of the Islamic faith.

March 25: SELECTED SHORT STORIES OF FLANNERY O'CONNOR: RELIGIOUS THEMES
Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964) lived most of her adult life in Milledgeville, Georgia. She is the author of A Good Man is Hard to Find, The Violent Bear It Away, and Everything That Rises Must Converge. We will focus on the religious themes found in the following short stories, "Revelation," "The Enduring Chill," and "A Temple of the Holy Ghost."

April 15: FUNDAMENTALISM FROM A CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE
Fundamentalism is a worldwide phenomenon. The atmosphere of our times nourishes the fundamentalist psyche and movement. Fundamentalism offers simple answers to complex questions. And it offers instant and easy certainty. Why is fundamentalism a religious phenomenon of our times? How are we as Catholics to respond to the challenge of fundamentalism? And what are examples of fundamentalism in the Roman Catholic tradition? In the presentation of this topic, we will examine the psychological needs that lead to a commitment to fundamentalism. We will then review what Catholic critics, including the American bishops, have said about fundamentalism. Finally, we will examine why Catholicism is the opposite of fundamentalism.

May 13: THIRD AGE
The phenomenon of aging has changed dramatically in the recent past. In the past, the human life span was much shorter. The terms "First Age", "Second Age," and "Third Age" will be clarified in this presentation. In particular, we will be trying to determine the social meaning of the Third Age. Aging is real. It is a time to put things together and cultivate friendships with younger people. Aging is a process. Wisdom comes with reflection, not just experience. In many ways the task of the Third Age is to pass on the tradition. The course will conclude with a review of helpful activities in growing old gracefully.

Presenter:
James Heiar, SVD

Cost: $30 for each lecture (Includes Lunch)

TWILIGHT RETREATS

Feb. 25 (6:00-9:00 p.m.)
LENTEN TWILIGHT RETREAT: ASH WEDNESDAY

Dec. 2 (6:00-9:00 p.m.)
ADVENT TWILIGHT RETREAT

Both evenings will include Eucharist.

Option: Stay overnight (Eucharist 7:30 a.m. followed by Breakfast at 8:00 a.m.)
Cost: $20.00 (Total $50.00)

Facilitators:
Maureen Casey, SND
Joseph Dang, SVD

Cost: $30 (Includes Supper)

MARRIAGE PREPARATION

Feb. 28
March 28
April 25
May 9
June 20

July 11
Aug. 15
Sept. 19
Oct. 31
Nov. 21

Facilitators:
Thomas Griffith, SVD
Robert Jones, SVD
Cost: $90.00 (Lunch Included)

LENTEN DAY OF PRAYER FOR WOMEN: ENCOUNTERING JESUS AT THE WELL
"If only you knew the gift of God…" (John 4)

March 1 (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.)

God longs to be in conversation with us. Come away for a few hours this Lent to taste anew God's desire to be in relationship as seen so powerfully in the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.

Facilitator:
Maureen Casey, SND

Cost: $35 (Includes Lunch)

THE JOURNEY FROM CO-DEPENDENCY TO HEALTHY INTIMACY
"The glory of God is the human person fully alive" (St. Iranaeus)

March 14 (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.)

As Christians, we are invited to have healthy, intimate relationships with God, self and others. Such life-giving relationships take time, self-knowledge and honest dialogue. Some of our relationships are healthy and lead to greater joy and integration and others can be destructive and lead to anger, jealousy and so much more. Our day together will be a time to explore healthy intimacy and become more aware of the subtle and often hidden faces of co-dependency.

Facilitator:
Maureen Casey, SND

Cost: $35 (Includes Lunch)

ST. JOSEPH: A TEACHER OF HUMILITY

March 19 (10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.)

Today's Christians need to have a friend like St. Joseph to assist them in discerning God's works. St. Joseph is a good teacher who can help us give Christ a place in our daily life. On our part, we need to have HUMILITY as we discern where God is leading us. Eucharist will be included in the day.

Facilitator:
Joseph Dang, SVD

Cost: $35 (Include Lunch)

GARDENING: A STORY OF OUR PLANET THAT LEADS TO A NEW WAY OF LIVING ON EARTH

April 2 (9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.)

Facilitator:
Edward Dudink, SVD

RCIA RETREAT DAY: NEW BEGINNINGS

April 5 (1:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.)

We invite catechumens, candidates, sponsors and team members to come apart for an afternoon of reflection in preparation for the celebration of the Rite of Christian Initiation. The day will include presentations, quiet reflection and group interaction.

Facilitators:
Maureen Casey, SND
Joseph Dang, SVD

Cost: $35 (Includes Supper)

MARY: A MODEL OF HOPE, COURAGE, INSPIRATION AND FAITH FOR ALL CHRISTIANS

May 9 (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.)

What can Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, teach us about God's unconditional love even when we experience darkness, hopelessness and uncertainty in our lives? Come and join us for a day of prayer and reflection with Mary, the Mother of those who seek to live the will of God. Eucharist will be included in the day.

Facilitator:
Joseph Dang, SVD

Cost: $35 (includes Lunch)

KNITTING AS SACRED SPACE

June 6 (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.)

"I've knitted you in your mother's womb…you are wonderfully made."
Knitting and crocheting are two of the ways to express our creativity and also our love for others. But, have you ever thought of them as avenues of prayer and/or contemplative sitting. Yes, they can guide us to the quiet, reflective places within where our God waits for us. Come, join us as we knit/crochet, pray and ponder the possibilities these crafts hold out to us as vehicles of inner peace.

Facilitators:
Catherine Griffiths, SND
Patricia Mitchell

Cost: $35 (Includes Lunch)

CARDINAL FRANCIS XAVIER NGUYEN VAN THUAN: A PERSON OF HOPE FOR ALL REASONS

Sept. 26 (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.)

Cardinal Van Thuan was a Christian who discovered HOPE through despair, isolation, humiliation, rejection and desolation. He teaches us a valuable lesson: "In hope, we already have salvation; in hope, not visibly present, or we should not be hoping, nobody goes on hoping for something which a person can already see. But having this hope for what we cannot yet see, we are able to wait for it with persevering confidence" (Romans 8.24-25). HOPE is a gift we Christians need to have so we can live out our faith to the fullness according to the Gospel. Eucharist will be part of the day.

Facilitator:
Joseph Dang, SVD

Cost: $35 (Includes Lunch)

ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX: A FRIEND OF THE ORDINARY CHRISTIANS

Oct. 3 (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.)

"Lacking the support of a culture that respects Christianity, the future Christian, to be secure in faith, will need to have personally experienced God's existence, love, and providence in the ordinary circumstances of life" (Joseph F. Schmidt, F.S.C., "Everything is Grace", p.27). A good Christian is the one who has a heart of a child! Eucharist will be part of the day.

Facilitator:
Joseph Dang, SVD

Cost: $35 (Includes Lunch)

DAY OF PRAYER FOR BEREAVED PARENTS
"God is Close to the Brokenhearted"

Oct. 18 (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.)

A day to prayerfully remember our deceased daughters and sons who are forever held in the arms of a loving God. God longs to be with us as we grieve such a significant loss…a loss that remains with us all our days however recent or long ago our daughters and sons made the transition from this life to the next. Eucharist will be an integral part of the day.

Facilitator:
Maureen Casey, SND

Cost: $35

ADVENT: JOURNEY FROM JOY TO HOPE!

Dec. 1, 8, 15 (10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.)

Facilitator:
Joseph Dang, SVD

ADVENT DAY OF PRAYER FOR WOMEN: THE GIFT OF VISITATION

Dec. 6 (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.)

Come and gift God and yourself with a day to ponder God's Visitation as expressed so powerfully in the story of Mary and Elizabeth and in our stories of Visitation that happen in the ordinary moments of each day. Eucharist will be an integral part of the day.

Facilitator:
Maureen Casey, SND

Cost: $35 (Includes Lunch)