Learn By Doing
Our retreats and programs go beyond good teaching. When you join us, you will be invited to enter into experiences to discover or deepen your spiritual practice—and bring it into your daily life.
Registration is now open
Men's Spirituality Group
Amazing things happen when people gather to grow in their faith and encourage each other. We are envisioning a new opportunity for men as another part of the ministry of Mercy Spirituality Center.
We invite you to join us as we gather together in community. Our meetings will offer an opportunity to share a meal or refreshments together. We will explore spiritual readings and reflect how those readings expand our faith.
Our goal is to experience God’s grace and guidance together and deepen our connection to God and to other men in our daily lives. In January, we will also have a 1/2-day retreat.
Coordinated by: Ed Redmond, Rev. Harry Heintz, and Michael Salamone
Dates: Third Saturday of the month:
note: September date will be the 4th Saturday
October 18
November 15, December 20
Location: MSC
Time: 8:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Cost: $20 per individual session
$110 for the series
* Membership eligible program
Where Two or More Are Gathered
When two or more of us are gathered in his name, Jesus is there among us. We know prayer works, and when we pray God will give us what we need.
We will gather monthly via Zoom and pray collectively for a group or petition in which our world needs prayers.
Facilitated by: MSC Team
Date: third Tuesday of each month:
November 18, December 16
Time: 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.
Place: Zoom
Cost: FREE!
Centering Prayer
Join us this fall for our centering prayer group. If you are unfamiliar with centering prayer, it is a contemplative form of Christian prayer, designed to center awareness on the presence of God.
Prayer begins with a reading by Thomas Keating, followed by a 20-minute quiet and seated contemplation. This is followed by walking and then another 20 minutes of seated contemplation. Prayer ends this hour long gathering.
Dates: Second Tuesday of each month except for July and August
October 14, November 11, December 9
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: MSC
Facilitator: Mary Coughtry
Suggestion donation: $10 per session
* Membership eligible program
Day To Call Your Own
Come and enjoy a day to yourself in your own, private, comfortable room at Mercy Spirituality Center. You will be able to pray, contemplate, read and relax without being disturbed. A simple lunch of soup and bread is included. Morning prayer is optional.
Facilitator: Sr. Gert Erb, RSM
Dates: 2nd Thursday of each month:
October 9, November 13, December 11
Time: 9:00 am-4:00 pm; 9:30 am: Morning Prayer (optional)
Fee: $25
* Membership eligible program
The Twelve
What do we truly know about those who were closest to Jesus? This series takes a deep dive into the lives of the Apostles, as men, as professionals, and as followers of Christ. What were their lives like before joining Jesus in his public life? What happened to them after the Ascension? Were they martyrs? Did they die of old age? Join us for this most enlightening discovery. Each session will focus on a different disciple.
Date: second Monday of the month
October 13, November 10, December 8
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Facilitator: Allison Murphy
Fee: $25 per session or $250 for the series
* Membership eligible program
Honoring Your Grief During the Holidays
The grieving process is unique for everyone and there is no predictable timeline. This is truer than ever when we approach times such as the holidays, anniversaries and significant life events.
Whether you are grieving the loss of a loved one, anticipating the loss, experiencing the loss of a beloved pet or the loss of a job, these days can be especially challenging.
Together we will share a simple meal, prayer and conversation in support of one another at this vulnerable time. There will be a brief presentation and facilitated sharing.
Each gathering time is a stand-alone event, so plan now to join us for one or both Sunday afternoons. We can even pause on December 14th to check the Bills score!
Facilitator: Sr. Karen Dietz, SSJ
Dates:
Sunday, November 23
Sunday, December 14
Time: 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Fee: $25 per session or $40 for both
* Membership eligible program
Sr. Karen is a Sister of St. Joseph and has served in many pastoral roles around the diocese over the years. She is a certified Spiritual Director and currently serves as a member of the Pastoral Care Team at St. Ann's Community.
The Pilgrimage Home
Explore the many levels of meaning evoked by the imagery of the journey home at this time of year when so many people travel. Through experiential learning activities we’ll examine the significant aspects of pilgrimage and consider how they may apply to our life’s inner journey.
Just as an artist often applies layers of color to the canvas, likewise we apply layers of meaning to our lives. Throughout our time together, the process of pilgrimage can provide a portal into our own inner landscape revealing insight, comfort and spiritual sustenance to continue the journey.
Facilitator: Mary Pilat, Ph.D
Date: Thursday, November 20, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Fee: $80 (lunch and art materials provided)
* Membership eligible program
Mary Pilat, Ph.D. is an Education and Human Development Specialist with a Doctorate from Vanderbilt University with a focus on social justice at both the personal and organizational levels. My international work has taken me on multiple pilgrimages and journeys. In places such as Afghanistan, Central Asia, the Middle East, and China interacting with children, women, and men around global leadership issues, I’ve used art and imagery as a vehicle of communication. I’d like to share these with you as we journey together through the day.
Advent/Christmas Mug Up
Join us this advent as we read the newest book by Christine Valters Paintner, "Give Me a Word: The Promise of an Ancient Practice to Guide Your Year."
In this Mug Up, we will take the time to "practice the pause" by studying some of the thirty different ways Paintner suggests we use for contemplation and creative practice.
We will listen for our word that will guide us for the upcoming year. We will reflect on our word through deep listening, inner growth, and spiritual discovery.
Facilitators: Pat Lawlor and Allison Murphy
Dates: Tuesday's
December 2, December 16
January 6, January 20
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Fee: $60
* Membership eligible program
Processing Grief and Loss Through Art
In this two-part series, designed in a retreat-like fashion, participants will learn how visual art experiences can aid in the processing of most forms of grief and loss. Personal sharing of experiences is not part of this program. No art experience is necessary. All materials will be provided for you.
Please note: This experience is not intended to replace counseling, but rather to introduce participants to an alternative approach to processing grief. The facilitator will have resources available for counseling services if the need arises.
Facilitator: Sr. Melissa Gernon, SSJ
Dates:
Friday, November 7
Friday, November 14
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Fee: $75 (art supplies included)
* Membership eligible program
Ignatian Spirituality
Exercises of St. Ignatius In All of Its Forms
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in all of its forms, create an awareness of God in all things—all people, all creation, every human experience, and especially in the person of Jesus. We offer a model of the Spiritual Exercises designed by St. Ignatius for use in daily life which takes place over 30 weeks, rather than 30 days. This program is currently being offered virtually.