By Susan Chase, SCL
October, the middle of the autumn season, vibrates with change. Some change energizes us, e.g., the scarlet and gold falling leaves, the russet and brown of roadside grass against the bright sky, the scent of fall in the air.
As Gerard Manley Hopkins so beautifully expresses in his poem, God’s Grandeur: “The world is charged with the presence of God.” Our lives, too, are charged with presence and because of that, possibility!
During this glorious season we invite you to attend one or more of our October offerings: to ponder the genius of Jesus shown in his inclusion of women in his ministry; to pray with Mary reflecting on how she responded to the many changes in her life; to learn from trees how to live communally with resilience; to come and spend time in peaceful silence and with the help of a guide to listen deeply to the God who loves you.
Some change does renew our energy and opens us up to a possible future. Yet some change distresses and enervates us, and we can become fearful and maybe apathetic. And some change actually dehumanizes and destroys.
Hopkins wrote God’s Grandeur at a time when the effects of the Industrial Revolution had become all too apparent. People migrating from rural areas to find work in city factories were crowded into tenements or shanties, breathing air filled with coal dust, drinking polluted water, suffering from unsafe working conditions, and receiving poor wages.
Consider joining us at Marilac Center for one of the following events:
The Spiritual Wisdom of Trees
October 6 & 20, November 3 & 17
2:30-3:45 p.m.
Facilitator: Sister Susan Chase, SCL
The Christian ecumenical celebration of The Season of Creation begins September 1 with the World Day of Prayer for Creation and ends with the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron of ecology. Viewed through the Lens of Christian faith, Marillac Retreat and Spirituality Center invites you to attend the 6-part series examining the science and Spirit of the forest and explore the ancient wisdom trees offer us for deep connections with each other and Earth. You are invited to one or all the sessions as we explore
- How to survive and thrive
- The importance of living in community
- Loss, resilience, renewal, and gratitude
- Living in the light, dark, and in-between times
Letting Mary Matter: Lessons in Compassion and Contemplation
October 9
9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Facilitator: Sister Judith Jackson, SCL
As we approach the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, join us as we reflect on Mary, the Mother of Jesus, with renewed energy and refreshed perspectives. We’ll focus on the mysteries of Mary’s life journey and how they continue to nourish us.
The Genius of Jesus, The World of Women
October 13-18
Facilitator: Kathy Coffee
The gospel is good news for women. Let’s explore Jesus’ welcome with daring imagination. A hint from Scripture is all the imagination needs to start an adventure. We will use the midrash technique to discover intriguing women hidden between the lines of the gospels. Who knows whether Zacchaeus had a daughter or Bartimaeus a wife? When there’s no definite answer, imagine away!
How to engage the women with whom we minister? Let’s look to Jesus, who lifted women’s relationships, changes, joys, and daily drudgery into a glimpse of God’s reign. His welcome to women broke the taboos of his day – and continues to us today. Let’s explore and model his inclusivity.
