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
Circle of Compassion
How can we keep our intention to be a compassionate presence alive and active in today's world?
Circle of Compassion is being established just for this purpose. We will discuss self-compassion, compassion of others, nature, and the world. We will also learn and practice compassionate listening.
The source for this group is Boundless Compassion by Joyce Rupp.
Facilitator: Joyce Martelli, Certified Facilitator-Boundless Compassion
Dates: Third Thursday - 8 Sessions
Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Dec. 15, Jan. 19,
Feb. 16, March 16, April 20, May 18
Time: 10:30AM - 11:30AM or 6:30-7:30 PM
IN PERSON at Mercy Spirituality Center
Fee: $100
Contemporary Conversations Book Group with Jane Sutter Brandt Series
Come join us again for this successful forum to talk about books written by contemporary authors. Books will tie-in to Christianity in the 21st century through a variety of topics that may include the current state and the future of the Christian church, mysticism, social justice, racism, LBGQT+, women’s equality, and so on. Participants will be encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas in a moderated and civil discussion where a variety of opinions are welcome.
The group will meet bimonthly throughout 2022 and 2023. Participants are responsible for obtaining a copy of the book on their own and reading the book before each session.
Nov. 16-“Do I Stay Christian? A Guide for the Doubters, the Disappointed, and the Disillusioned” by Brian D. McLaren
McLaren
Jan. 18-“Understanding and Combating Racism: My Path from Oblivious American to Evolving Activist” by W.E. “Bill” Wynne
March 22-“Wild Mercy: Living the Fierce and Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics” by Mirabai Starr
May 17- "Woman Between the Worlds: A call to your ancestral and indigenous wisdom" by Apela Colorado
All sessions will be from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST via ZOOM.
Fee: $25 per session
Journey Through Lent
Come join us during Holy Week as we explore the Passion of Jesus. This is the holiest week in the Christian year. It is a time to ponder who this Jesus is and why this tragic ending to his life. Through the use of a variety of different prayer styles we will walk with Jesus from his experience of the Last Supper to his being laid in the tomb. Who were the people who stood by him? Would you have been one of them?
Facilitated by: Pat Lawlor
Date: 2 identical sessions to choose from: Monday April 3, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. or Wednesday April 5, 2:00 - 4:00 pm.
Cost: $20
Follow up Session:
Journey Through Easter: The Paschal Mystery
Join us as we enter into the Easter Season through an exploration of the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. Through art, storytelling, reflection and prayer we will enter into the mystery of God’s continual involvement in this world through his Son. What are the challenges for humanity today when we profess that Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again? Where do we find this reality in our own lives and in the world today?
Facilitated by: Pat Lawlor
Date: 2 identical sessions to choose from: Monday April 24, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. or Wednesday April 26, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $20
Mug Up
Another Matt Rawle's, program. Jesus Revealed
Come join Sharon as we discover the “I AM” statements in the Gospel of John. This six-week session will explore the “I AM” statement as works of art that resonate throughout the Gospel and all of Scripture. What a wonderful way to open the Lenten season. We will be using Matt Rawle’s book, Jesus Revealed. Rawle is a pastor and author of many explorations into the word of God and loves to tell an old story in a new way.
Facilitator: Sharon Therkildsen
Dates: February 7, 14,21,28, March 7, 14
Time: 10:30AM - 12 PM via ZOOM
Fee: $60
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. Soup is included for lunch. Morning prayer is optional.
Facilitator: Sr. Gert Erb, RSM
Dates: 2nd Thursday of each month:
December 8
January 12
February 9
March 9
April 13
May 11
Saturday Options:
March 11
June 3
October 14
Time: 9:00 am-4 pm
9:30 am: Morning Prayer (optional)
Fee: $25
“Understanding and Combating Racism: My Path from Oblivious American to Evolving Activist” by W.E. “Bill” Wynne
Educated but untaught, involved but unknowing, Catholic but spiritually reserved, white but unwittingly blinded by the ubiquitous whiteness surrounding him. These are some of the many storylines Bill Wynne explores in this relevant account of his social and racial justice advocacy journey and conversation over the course of his life in the Rochester area. The author will join in the discussion.
January 18, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST via Zoom
“Wild Mercy: Living the Fierce and Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics” by Mirabai Starr
Our world has long suffered the toxicity of unbalanced masculine rule, but the feminine is rising. Starr shares the subversive wisdom and fierce compassion of feminine mystics. From saints and sages such as Mother Mary and the Sufi poet Rabia, to goddesses and archetypal energies including Kuan Yin and Gaia, to inspiring contemporary teachers and seekers, you’ll meet women who blazed a path that will illuminate your own.
March 22, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST via Zoom
"Woman Between the Worlds: A call to your ancestral and indigenous wisdom" by Apela Colorado
"Woman Between the Worlds: A Call to Your Ancestral and Indigenous Wisdom" by Apela Colorado.
Apela shares her lifelong journey of connecting with the essence of indigenous spirituality and culture in her work around the world. With gentle grace and generous insight, this book lovingly teaches us to honor the power, beauty, and potential of indigenous wisdom, and explores how it continues to resonate in modern life. Virginia Fifield, who is Mohawk from Akwesausne and Turtle clan, will lead the discussion.
May 17, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST via Zoom
Ignatian Spirituality
Exercises of St. Ignatius In All Of It's 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.
Walking in Their Footsteps: The Journey to Sainthood
Each session of this monthly program will take a more in-depth look at the life and work of one of these holy role models. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about a lesser recognized saint, or a different perspective on someone you thought you knew. Every month will be enlightening. More information on the subject of the month will be featured as each session approaches.
February:
St. Josephine Bakhita -- a contemporary saint who died in 1947 and was canonized in 2000. Josephine was born into a prosperous family in Darfur. As a child she was kidnapped by Arab slave traders and spent years in servitude. Learn more about her journey -- walking hundreds of miles through deserts, sheltering with the Canossian Sisters in Venice, and receiving the sacraments from the Pope. A young student once asked Bakhita: "What would you do, if you were to meet your captors?" Without hesitation, she replied: "If I were to meet those who kidnapped me, and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands." She certainly sounds like she has much to teach us on forgiveness! St. Josephine is the patron of victims of human trafficking and the nation of Sudan.
Date: Second Tuesday of each month in 2023
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Fee: $240 for the series; $25 per individual session
A God For All Seasons
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven,” says the author of Ecclesiastes. God is revealed in scripture as fire, wind, rock, tree, bird, water, and all manner of creation. And Fr. Thomas Merton reminds us, “Nothing has ever been said about God that hasn’t already been said better by the wind in the pine trees.” This year, we invite you to join us as we engage God in each season of Creation. Through discussion, prayer, scripture, and contemplative practices, we will explore the unique lessons the Creator reveals through each season, as we transition between Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, and pause to embrace the holiness of God in each of them.
Facilitated by: Br. Kevin Hershey
Dates:
Spring – March 18
Summer - June 10
Autumn - September 23
Winter - December 16
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Fee: $40 per individual session; $120 for the series
Creation of your Lenten Journal
Once again, we are offering an opportunity to create your own spiritual journal for Lent. Joyce will introduce you to a new style of journal creation and give you many ideas for your front, back and insides of your personalized journal. What a great way to keep your thoughts, clippings, cards drawings, and other spiritual keepsakes.
You will learn a binding that will allow you to take the pages out when they are full and insert new pages to start again. We will use collage techniques along with painting and drawing. All are welcome. Bring your lunch, favorite pictures, cards, letters, etc. and create with us all day.
Date: Saturday, Feb. 11
Time: 10:30AM-3:30 PM
Location: MSC
Cost: $60
Creative Meditation in Color
This 4-week session will start with a meditation on passages from the Bible or other spiritual writings. To extend your meditation we will use Lectio Divina, Visio Divina, and different forms of art media to open your mind to God’s Word.
No art skills are needed! Just bring an open mind, heart and a childlike spirit. We will go back to those childlike days when your coloring and drawing were all beautiful. Back to that free time to create and think without worries!
Dates: March 21, 28, April 4, 11
Time: 10:30 p.m.-12:00 p.m.
Via ZOOM
Cost: $100