"Morning of Reflection and

Evening of Reflection"

We invite the faithful to come and be nourished by food and the Holy Spirit. 

Each morning or evening of reflection includes a meal, a conference with Father Kent Hemberger, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Mass. 

Mornings begin at 9:00 am with a conference and end just after lunch at 1:00 pm. 

Evenings begin with optional evening prayer at 5:15 pm followed by dinner at 5:30 pm and conclude with Mass beginning at 8:00 pm.

September Topic: Spiritual Freedom

Spiritual Freedom is the goal of the Beatitudes and the direction Jesus is leading us through much of his teaching. We will explore what is true Spiritual Freedom, what are the obstacles and how we can allow God to bring us to greater spiritual freedom in our lives.  So come and take part in a Morning or Evening of Reflection, learn, pray and rejoice in God’s grace.

Looking ahead: Reflections for October will be on October 13 (morning) and October 14 (evening)

2010-2011 RELIGIOUS STUDIES PROGRAM

Once again we will offer courses in the Religious Studies Program throughout the year, from September through April.  Each course will be presented in two parts, part 1 will meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a Saturday, with the conclusion of the course one month later.  Participants may choose some or all of the courses offered.   

“Introduction to the New Testament” with David Wall, M.D.
Saturday, September 11 and Saturday, October 9, 2010. 

“The Sacraments” with Fr. Pat York
Saturday, November 13, 2010 and Saturday, December 11, 2010

“Catholic Doctrine” with Fr. Sherman Orr
Saturday, January 15 and Saturday, February 12, 2011

“Introduction to Moral Theology” with Fr. John Lanzrath
Saturday, March 12, 2011 and Saturday, April 9, 2011

Registration details for "Introduction to the New Testament" is listed below.

Religious Studies Program

“Introduction to

the New Testament”

Countless volumes have been written about the New Testament over the centuries. True to the title of this course, students can expect an introduction that paints a picture of the overarching issues you will find here. We will explore authorship and intended historical audience, oral traditions behind the written gospels and the process of canonization (what books are included—and why). This course also examines genre – with “broad strokes”, and interspersed with more detailed analysis of particular aspects of the documents – the different portrayals of Jesus within the four gospels, the development of Paul’s theology, and the underlying message of Revelation.

“Introduction to the New Testament” material is offered on two Saturdays one month apart, and is led by David Wall, M.D. who is currently studying for a Masters of Theological Studies from Newman University. Although mostly self-educated, students will find that Dr. Wall brings a passion for teaching, especially about the New Testament.

“I like to challenge my students to look at Sacred Scripture not so much as an historical document, but a window into the mind of God,” explains Dr. Wall, a member of St. Jude’s Parish in Wichita. “It is an invitation to join with Him in a faith relationship that integrates head knowledge and spiritual experience into daily living. I hope that those who come are stimulated to read more in the New Testament at the conclusion of the course.”

 

 

 

"The Spirituality of Aging:

Creating a Successful Retirement"

The mass media is filled with advertisements and enticements targeting people who are approaching retirement age—pitching everything from financial planning to retirement living and much more. But now that you have “arrived,” what are you to do now? Many seniors find that the end of their working days is less fulfilling than they might have expected. They seek a clearer vision for their own faith life as well as their purpose in the world.

During this special day at the Spiritual Life Center, Dr. Richard Johnson outlines a spiritual and practical path leading toward a deepened personality vigor in the so-called “retirement years.” Come join us for a day of insights and growth you won’t soon forget, and discover that the “Spirituality of Aging” is more exciting than you ever thought it could be.

Richard P. Johnson, Ph.D., PCSG

Dr. Johnson is nationally recognized for his pioneering work in Maturing Adult Faith Formation and Spiritual Gerontology. He is invited into many parishes, dioceses, and religious communities for consultation, workshops, retreats, and other educational work. Dr. Johnson has given keynote addresses and presentations in conferences including: ACA, AADA, NACPA, NOCERC, LCWR, NFPC, NACSW, NACFLM and others.

He has taught hundreds of maturing adult ministry leaders. His fresh ideas and enthusiasm on the spiritual aspects of adult development and aging have inspired scores of maturing adults to follow their hearts and live more abundant lives in Christ. He is a dynamic, engaging, and compassionate teacher who delights in seeing his students grow personally and spiritually. He has written many articles and twenty books all focused upon God's expansive grace in the maturing years. Visit his web site at: http://www.senioradultministry.com.

Dr. Johnson is a practicing Roman Catholic; he and his wife Sandra live in St. Louis; they have three grown children and four grandchildren.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Five Love Languages"

Maintaining healthy relationships is a daily, lifelong pursuit.   But it doesn't have to be that hard.  What if you could say or do just the right thing guaranteed to make your spouse or children feel loved? The secret is learning the right love language! Millions of people have learned the simple way to express their feelings and bring joy back into their marriages and families. 

John and Mary Mertes will present this two evening workshop using materials from The 5 Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman.

 

"Healing our Grief:

Rediscovering Ourselves

Through Our Spiritual Strengths"

Grief can be hazardous to your health; it can rob you of your zest and your vitality; it can take away your spiritual “luster.” Are you suffering from a loss? Spouse? Child? Parent? Family Member? Close Friend? Loss of finances, job or career? Have you often wondered what is happening in your spiritual life as a result of the grief that you are encountering? Come to the Spiritual Life Center to learn a revolutionary new method to help you heal your grief – discover your spiritual strengths. This is a very good retreat for those who are grieving—or those who minister to the grieving.

As Dr. Richard Johnson states in his book, Discover Your Spiritual Strengths, “Healing means placing your primary trust in the core spiritual strengths that lay at the center of the real you. As you do, you gradually transcend the old and find rebirth in a new spirit; you discover the true power of your personality.”

Come away, and transcend your grief into rebirth.

SPIRITUAL STRENGTH FINDER—YOUR ONLINE TOOL BEFORE THE RETREAT
Before arriving to the Spiritual Life Center on October 15th, go to www.healyourillness.com and take the Spiritual Strengths Finder inventory. The cost is $29.95 and you can pay directly online. It takes about 30 minutes to complete. Please bring the 20 page print out of your Spiritual Strengths Finder with you to the retreat as we will use it throughout your time here. All other materials will be provided at the retreat.

ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL STRENGTH FINDER
The Spiritual Strengths Finder combines the latest statistical and psychological technology with solid qualitative research; it then wraps all this into a personal plan that stands on solid principles embraced by the Catholic Church. This program is not some New Age hocus-pocus. Like the woman with hemorrhage, in the scripture story, we are each called to reach for the hem of his garment. Remember what Jesus said to the crowd that day? “Someone has touched me, I can feel the power draining from me.” That power is still with us today; God has placed it in us freely, we can tap into it, but we need a plan and we need the tools.

The Spiritual Strengths Healing and Spiritual Direction Program provides the tools and the plan for you. The Spiritual Strengths program is a healing program, not a curing program! The Spiritual Strengths program is designed to augment, not replace, any existing medical and/or psychological treatment.

The Spiritual Strengths Finder also identifies your personal healing blocks or obstacles, negative forces that have been holding you back from receiving maximum healing benefit. It can be a crucial tool in healing one’s grief as we rediscover our spiritual strengths.

YOUR RETREAT MASTER
Jason R. Lewis serves as Director of Bereavement and Older Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Cleveland in the Catholic Charities Health and Human Services System. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies with a minor in Music and a Master of Arts degree in Ministry, both from Ursuline College in Cleveland, Ohio. Jason is a certified Pastoral Care Specialist in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. On weekends, Jason serves as Organist and Director of Liturgy for St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Mentor, Ohio. As Director of Bereavement for the diocese, Jason trains new Ministers of Consolation in parishes using program and materials from the National Catholic Ministry to the Bereaved. Jason was a member of the Ministry of Consolation team that was here at the Spiritual Life Center in January of 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Encounter with the Dying:

Accompanying Those in Need"

“Jesus did not come to explain away suffering or remove it. He came to fill it with his presence.” --Paul Claudel

“Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.”
--Deus Caritas Est (“God Is Love”) Pope Benedict XVI

“Christianity, even before being a sum of doctrines or a rule for salvation, is thus the “event” of an encounter.” Pope John Paul II in his letter to Luigi Giussani on the 20th Anniversary of the Movement of Communion and Liberation

Caring for the dying and those nearing the end of life requires, more than anything else, our presence – that we be attentive, receptive and responsive to those in need. As family members, friends, physicians, health care professionals and others involved, the most important thing we can give to the dying person is our love and friendship.

All too commonly there is the impulse to “explain away” or reduce the situation to “lofty ideas”. This does not meet the needs of the person and their family now. Or we may hope we can “remove” the problem by making and rationalizing the right “ethical choices”. This does not address the desires, the hearts of the person and family members. Many of the key issues and concerns in end of life care today reflect this tendency to reduce the drama of caring for the dying to a ‘spiritualism’ of ideas and explanations or to a ‘moralism’ of acts, doctrines and choices.

This special evening is an opportunity to explore some of the issues surrounding the end of life and how we are to respond. There is much beauty and wisdom in the teachings of Mother Church. This is an opportunity to become better informed and prepared so as to not be pressured into decisions made under the duress and emotion of a medical crisis.

We are joined by Gerard Brungardt, MD, BeL, Medical Director for Harry Hynes Hospice of Wichita. Dr. Brungardt recently earned his masters degree in bioethics from the Regina Apostolorum in Rome and offers his perspectives rooted in the Magisterium.

Among the topics to be explored:

• Advance Directives--an attempt to decide the acts and choices now for situations that will arise in the future. This covers the basics of decision-making including a look at terms like “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR), “Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care,” “health Care Proxy,” and more.

• The notion that we all die a natural death is overshadowed by a Therapeutic Obstinacy that entraps the person and family in a ‘prison of technical mercy’ (Berry). Put another way, there is a point at which medical treatments to prolong a life are not good—and even abusive if they do not serve the good of the patient. What is “ordinary” treatment vs. “extraordinary,” or what is obligatory treatment in contrast to that which is optional.

• The provision of Medically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration (this may involve providing food and/or water by a tube) is often treated as if it is an “on-off” choice, i.e. that one either gets the full allotment of food and water that an active healthy adult would get or else one receives nothing at all in the way of food and water.

We will explore these and address any questions or concerns you have. This is an ideal program for the elderly, middle-aged daughters and/or sons who may soon face these questions regarding their aging parents, healthcare professionals, Consecrated Religious and clergy.

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS OFFERED
Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice is approved as a provider of continuing nursing education by the Kansas State Board of Nursing.  This course offering is approved for 2 contact hours applicable for RN or LPN relicensure.  Kansas State Board of Nursing Approved Provider Number: LT0126-1205.  Other participants will receive a certificate of attendance. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Registration deadline: Tuesday, November 2, 2010

"Advent Day of Prayer:

Lectio Divina"

This section is currently being updated.

More information coming next month.