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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:
December 20, January 17
February 21, March 21
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:
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
December 9, January 13
February 10, March 10
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:
December 11, January 8
February 12, March 12
Time: 9:00 am-4:00 pm; 9:30 am: Morning Prayer (optional)
Fee: $25
* 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.
Advent/Christmas Mug Up
Join us this advent and Christmas season 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
Date: Tuesdays
December 2 and 16
January 6 and 20
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Fee: $60
* Membership eligible program
Between Heaven and Earth: Lives of the Christian Mystics
Step into the world of the Christian mystics — women and men whose lives were filled with profound faith, deep prayer, and a burning desire for union with God.
Each month, this series invites you to explore the life and legacy of mystics who helped shape the spiritual landscape of Christianity. From the desert fathers and medieval visionaries to modern contemplatives, we will uncover their stories, struggles, and spiritual insights that continue to inspire today.
Together, we’ll learn who these mystics were, what they experienced, and how their courage and devotion transformed both their times and ours. Whether you’re new to Christian spirituality or have long been drawn to the mystical path, you’ll find this series both enriching and illuminating.
Facilitators: Allison Murphy & guest presenters
Date: Fourth Monday of the month
January 26, February 23, March 23
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Fee: $25 per session or $250 for the series
* Membership eligible program
Leaving the Shore: Experiencing Poetry as Prayer
In Leaving the Shore, spiritual director Colette Lafia invites us to see life through a contemplative lens and to notice what we so often miss. She asks, what if your life could be experienced like a poem: alive with meaning, attentive to nuance, and awake to the presence of the Holy in every moment?
There will be short readings from Leaving the Shore, a simple lectio-style way of praying with a poem, spiritual journal writing, and quiet pauses for listening, along with time for Q & A.
Facilitator: Colette Lafia
Date: Tuesday, January 27th
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Fee: Free!
Colette Lafia is a spiritual director, retreat leader, and award-winning author whose work invites a heart-centered encounter with Divine Love. As a graduate of the Living School, through the Center for Action and Contemplation, Colette has a passion for the contemplative path. She has worked in the spiritual formation programs at Mercy Center Burlingame and is a commissioned Centering Prayer presenter.
Saturdays with the Spirit - Let Go and Move Forward
In 2026, we are launching “Saturdays with the Spirit.” Once a month, on a Saturday, we will host a short retreat day that includes lunch and offers a meaningful spiritual experience. Each gathering is designed to help you draw closer to God, deepen your prayer life, or inspire new spiritual reflection.
Our January retreat is titled “Let Go and Move Forward.” This day will focus on the practice of letting go—whether that means releasing physical possessions, negative emotions, or stress. Letting go is both a physical and spiritual process and holding on too tightly can prevent us from welcoming in what truly matters: loved ones, a richer prayer life, and even God’s presence.
By releasing what burdens us, we make room for healing and growth.
Join us for a retreat dedicated to freeing yourself from what no longer serves you, creating space for clarity, peace, and renewed hope.
Facilitator: Allison Murphy (facilitators will vary)
Date: Saturday, January 24th
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Fee: $60 (lunch included)
* Membership eligible program
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.
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.