ssjd food for the soul 2010-2011 (toronto)

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The Sisterhood

of

St. John

the Divine

The Sisterhood of St. John the Divine

Food for the SOUL

2010 – 2011



FOOD FOR THE

SOUL2010 — 2011

The Sisterhood of St. John the DivineQuiet Garden Days Inspired by the Quiet Garden Trust in England,these are days to relax, renew, and rest in thebeauty of God’s outdoors, as well as to enjoythe Sisters’ chapel and library. In case of rain,there is plenty of space indoors to wander, sit,dream, and pray. We begin with a brief timeof prayer, and a Sister will offer suggestions onhow to use the day. The rest of the morningis yours. The Eucharist is celebrated at noon,followed by dinner, and the afternoon is again

free, with a brief gathering at 3 pm when we will have a closing time of prayer, and theoption of sharing the fruits of the day. Begins

9:30 am with gathering for coffee; ends

3:30 pm. Standard fee for Quiet GardenDays.

Individually Directed Retreats

This is an opportunity to be accompaniedindividually as a way to deepen your prayerlife, to explore particular issues or needs in yourrelationship with God, and to grow in sensitivityto the movements of the Spirit of God withinyou. You may choose a time that is convenientto you—mid-week, a weekend, several days oreven longer. You will have an individual guidefor your retreat who will meet with you dailyand help you discern and trust the movementof the Holy Spirit in your life. The scriptural

model for this kind of retreat is Mary’s visit to2

May 29

June 26

July 31

Sept . 25

2010



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her cousin Elizabeth who recognized that Mary was carrying within her the Son of God. Eachof us carries the God-seed within us. This kindof retreat is an opportunity to allow that God-seed to grow and flourish in our lives and to

grow in sensitivity to the movements of theSpirit of God within. Led by experienced

spiritual directors. $100 per 24-hour period includes your room, three meals, and a personal guide for your retreat.

God’s Story and Our Story

Bishop Douglas Blackwell is known forhis gift of story-telling and his passion forthe Biblical story. In this Quiet Saturday,he will explore ways in which our personalstories intersect with God’s story and whatthat means for our lives. Begins 9:30 am

with gathering for coffee; ends 3:30 pm. Standard fee for Quiet Saturdays.

Women at a Crossroads

Applications are closed for the 2010 program;see entry for July 5 - 31, 2011.

Taken, Blessed, Broken, Given

In the Eucharist, the ordinary gifts of bread and wine are taken, blessed, broken and given asextraordinary gifts for the world. This quietday will explore how we, as ordinary people,are taken, blessed, broken and given by God

as extraordinary gifts for the world. Led bythe Rev. David Harrison, Associate of SSJDand new incumbent of St. Mary Magdalene’s,Toronto. He is also an accomplished organist.Begins 9:30 am with gathering for coffee;

ends 3:30 pm. Standard fee for Quiet

Saturdays.

June 5, 2010

Sept . 18, 2010



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Oct . 16, 2010

Homecoming: With Henri Nouwen as

Guide

“Parental love is a limited reflection of anunlimited love . . . . Partly for this reason all of us feel the desire to search beyond home for

our belovedness, and we generally get caughtin many of the cultural movements that existaround us.” (Henri Nouwen, Home Tonight,Doubleday 2009). This “Homecoming”retreat promises to be a weekend exploringGod’s call to accept unconditional love andto come home to our true identity. Using the

life and books of the late Henri Nouwen, Sr.Sue Mosteller, CSJ will deepen the themesof coming home to self, coming home to lovedones, and coming home to the One whomade us. Sue is a Sister of St. Joseph and along-time member of the L’Arche Daybreak

Community in Richmond Hill. She workedclosely with Henri during his ten years atDaybreak and completed his last two booksafter his death. Begins 4 pm Friday; ends

1:30 pm Sunday. Standard weekend fee.

Knitting to God’s HeartbeatKnitters know that there is so much morethan the finished project. There is the joy of creating each stitch and with the creation of each stitch you can feel the pull into silence.Mindful knitting can become the gateway to acontemplative practice. Come and discover

with Sr. Amy, SSJD (who loves to spin andknit) how time spent with your handworkcontributes to both the experience andexpression of mindfulness. Bring a currentproject that you are working on and a skein of

worsted weight yarn and needles. Participants

Oct . 1 - 3,

2010



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should be comfortable with basic knitting skills(casting on, knit and purl stitch). Begins


3:30 pm. Standard fee for Quiet Saturdaysplus $7 for supplies.

Sacred Art Journey

Sacred art is a prayer of awareness in whichthe visual image communicates more deeplythan words. As we “play” with art in thisretreat, we “pray” our longing for God andmove more deeply into experiencing God’s

longing for us. You do not need to be“artistic” to pray with art; you only need tobe willing to experiment and have fun. Ledby Sisters of SSJD. Begins 4 pm Friday;

ends 1:30 pm Sunday. Standard weekendfee, plus an additional fee of $10 for art

supplies.

The Psalms Speaking “For Us”

University of Chicago theologian, the Rev.Martin Marty, once said this about the psalms’unique role in biblical literature: “The Bible

speaks to us, but the psalms speak for us.”Expressing almost every human emotionimaginable, the psalms convey the honest– and sometimes shocking – sentiments of the human soul’s encounter with God. Assuch, they have ever been a rich source forprayer when our individual spiritual “wells”

are running dry. This day of prayer andlearning will encourage participants to engagethe psalms in new and life-giving ways,

Oct . 29 - 31,

2010

nOv. 6, 2010



6

while providing plenty of time for silenceand reflection. Led by the Rev. Claudine

Carlson, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Churchin Richmond Hill. She has taught coursesin spiritual formation at Waterloo Lutheran

Seminary and offered several workshops onthe relationship between psychological typeand spirituality. Begins 9:30 am with

gathering for coffee; ends 3:30 pm.

Standard fee for Quiet Saturdays.

Praying with Julian of Norwich

Julian was an anchoress and visionary of the14th century, a contemporary of Chaucer,

who withdrew from society in order todevote herself completely to prayer andcontemplation. She lived in a small roomattached to the outside wall of St. Julian’s

Church in Norwich, England. Although shelived the secluded life of a hermit, her counsel

was sought by many people. Come and learnsomething of Julian’s great love for God andher deep spirituality. Led by Sr. Elizabeth,

SSJD, Novitiate Director, Assistant to the Rev.

Mother, and a long-time fan of Dame Julian.Begins 4 pm Friday; ends 1:30 pm

Sunday. Standard weekend fee.

nOv. 19 - 21,

2010



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The Tender Compassion of Our God:

Advent Quiet Day for Associates,

Oblates and Friends

The Song of Zechariah (the Benedictus)expresses beautifully “The Tender Compassion

of our God”. Advent is a time to reflect onthe ways God reaches out to us in the comingof Jesus, as we cope with the confusion andchaos of our world and our church. Led byArchbishop Fred Hiltz, an Associate of SSJD and Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada. Begins 9:30 am with gathering

for coffee; ends 3:30 pm. Standard fee forQuiet Saturdays.

chriStMaS SeaSOn OppOrtunitieS

Come any time during the Christmas / New Year / Epiphany season, and spend as much

time as you like in a private retreat or simplyenjoying some peace and quiet, fellowship,and the liturgies of the season. Cost is ournormal per-day fee for the Guest House. If you would like to participate in a slightlymore structured way, consider the following

Christmas and New Year’s opportunities as well.

Christmas Retreat

Celebrate Christmas with the Sisters, enjoyingthe pre-Christmas and Christmas liturgies,

with time for both quiet reflection and festive

celebration. Sisters of SSJD will lead

Dec. 4, 2010

Dec. 22, 2010 -

Jan. 22, 2010 - . 22, 2

. 22, 2.0861



8

participants in a period of daily reflection, with opportunity to express their creativity indecorating the Guest House as well as joiningin the singing and celebrations of Christmas. Begins 4 pm Thursday; ends 1:30 pm

Sunday. Special holiday rate of $210 for thisthree-day retreat.

Celebrating the Past, Visioning the

Future

Tired of New Year’s Eve parties? Considerspending 28 hours (or more if you wish) at the

Convent, celebrating the New Year in liturgy,enjoyment of festive food, and fellowship.Sisters of SSJD will guide participants inreflecting on the blessings and challenges of the year past, and envisioning God’s invitationto each in the new year. Begins 9 am

Friday; ends 1:30 pm Saturday. Fee is$100 with a $20 deposit.

Fully Alive: a Christian Meditation

and Yoga retreat

For many people, yoga is just a popular fitness

routine. However, from its very beginnings,yoga was a spiritual path with the “still centre”as its goal. Christians are discovering that theancient practice of yoga can greatly enrichtheir prayer life. Built around the themes of:

Awakening the Heart, Befriending the Bodyand Honouring the Sacred, the retreat will

allow participants to more fully experiencetheir bodies and develop an awareness of the present moment as sacred. Beginners

welcome. Led by Casey Rock who has beenpracticing yoga and meditation for twenty

Jan. 14 - 16,

2011

Dec. 31, 2010 -

Jan. 1, 2011



9

years. She is a certified Kripalu yoga instructorand has a Master of Divinity from theUniversity of St. Michael’s College. Begins

4 pm Friday; ends 1:30 pm Sunday. Standard weekend fee.

“Choose life so that you and your

descendants may live” (Deut. 30:19)

It’s a new year! Are you wondering whereGod is calling you at this moment in time?

Are you considering new opportunities ortrying to decide between different options?

Come and learn about the art of discernmentand what forms of prayer might be mosthelpful in this process. Led by Sr. Elizabeth,

SSJD, Novitiate Director, Assistant to theRev. Mother, and a mentor of the summerdiscernment program. Begins 9:30 am


Neither in the World nor out of it:

Medieval Women Mystics.

“God grant that all who crave love be well

prepared for love . . . for what will harm them when they claim the sun, the moon, and allthe stars?” (Hadewijch of Brabant, 13th C.)The beguines were women of deep faith,committed to lives of prayer, modest poverty,and good works. But in medieval Europe,they did not fit into established categories;

the beguines’ independent, non-hierarchicalcommunities and their passionate descriptions

Jan. 22, 2011

Feb. 15 - 17,

2011



10

of divine love disturbed and threatenedChurch authorities. Through reflecting andpraying with the writings of Mechthild of Magdeburg, Hadewijch of Brabant, andMarguerite Porete, we will explore and learn

from a rich and unique understanding of the soul’s relationship to God. Led by the

Rev. Pauline Head, rector of St. John’sChurch in Rockwood and former professor of Medieval English at York University. Begins

4 pm Tuesday; ends 1:30 pm Thursday. Standard weekend fee.

The Surprising Path to Renewal

We live in a society often obsessed withstrength and success, in which we feel wemust hide brokenness. Yet we see in thelives of people in the bible (and our own

lives) that God teaches us through ourfailures, and accomplishes surprising thingsthrough our weakness. The cross is the moststriking example of how God turns commonideas of success and failure, strength and

weakness completely on their head. Come

and discover how Lent, a time during which we look honestly at our brokenness, can bea powerful time of renewal. Led by the Rev.

Judy Paulsen, Incumbent of Christ MemorialChurch, Oshawa. Begins 9:30 am with

gathering for coffee; ends 3:30 pm. Standard fee for Quiet Saturdays.

God Delights in You

There comes a time when all of us need toexamine our images of God acquired overthe years from parents, teachers, priests,friends, our own reading and experiences.

Mar. 5, 2011

Mar. 18 - 20,

2011



11

Whether positive or negative, conscious orunconscious, these images have a strongimpact on our lives. Come, listen and reflect

with Sister Anitra, SSJD, the Sisterhood’s Archivist and a spiritual director. Begins

4 pm Friday; ends 1:30 pm Sunday.Standard weekend fee.

Naked Before God

Lenten Quiet Day for Associates,

Oblates and Friends

Lent calls us into self-examination and

penitence. It calls us out of hiding fromourselves and from God so that we mightgrow into our call to holiness. We will reflectthrough scripture, meditation, prayer andconversation on the challenges of being ‘nakedbefore God’. Led by Bp. Linda Nicholls,

Bishop of Trent Durham in the Diocese of Toronto. Begins 9:30 am with gathering

for coffee; ends 3:30 pm. Standard fee forQuiet Saturdays.

The Paschal Garden:

Preparing for the Liturgies of Holy WeekLent begins with Jesus in the wilderness, butthe key events of the Paschal Triduum takeplace in gardens: Gethsemane, the placeof surrender, and Golgotha, the place of

Jesus’ death and resurrection. When MaryMagdalene first sees the risen Jesus, in John’s

Mar. 26, 2011

april 16, 2011



12

april 21 - 24,

2011

May 14, 2011

Gospel, she mistakes him for the gardener.Gardens are also places of growth andtransformation, and we will spend this quietday exploring ways in which the liturgiesfrom Maundy Thursday to Easter can be

such a place for us. Led by the Rev. AndreaBudgey, the Humphreys Chaplain at TrinityCollege and the University of Toronto. Begins


3:30 pm. Standard fee for Quiet Saturdays.

A Holy Week Retreat

Come and share the fellowship, silence, andliturgies of Holy Week with the Sisters, andreflect on the way the mysteries of Jesus’death and resurrection lead us on our ownExodus journey. Led by Sisters of SSJD.Begins 4 pm Wednesday; ends 1:30 pm

Sunday. Special Holy Week fee of $300, witha $50 deposit.

The Transformative Power of Grief

We live in a death- and grief-denying culture.This workshop will explore the central

theme of grief as a transformative healingpower in our lives. Through conversation,guided meditation, personal reflection andbody prayer, we will attend to the theoryand practice of grief. This workshop will beof value to those caring for the dying andgrieving, as well as those needing to tend to

their own grief. Led by the Rev. Dr. AnneSimmonds who teaches Ministry withDying and Grieving Persons at Emmanuel(Theological) College, University of Toronto.She has had extensive experience with the



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dying and bereaved as Director of Chaplaincyat the former Wellesley Hospital, as a formercongregational minister and a former nurse.She is an experienced and gifted workshopand retreat facilitator. Begins 9:30 am


SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY:

KATHLEEN NORRIS

The Search for Hope and Meaning:

Real World ReligionLaundry, Liturgy, and “Women’s Work,” ASpirituality for the Real World — this retreatis designed to provide some quiet time forreflection, and encourage us to find theheart of our spirituality in our ordinary daily

activities. Led by Kathleen Norris, award- winning poet, writer, and author of The New York Times bestsellers The Cloister Walk, Dakota: A Spiritual Geography, Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith. Exploring thespiritual life, her work is at once intimate and

historical, rich in poetry and meditations,brimming with exasperation and reverence,deeply grounded in both nature and spirit,sometimes funny, and often provocative.Begins 4 pm Friday; ends 1:30 pm

Sunday. Fee is $250 with a $50 deposit.

“Got Acedia? Who Cares: Why a WordNo One Knows Is So Important”

Special Public Lecturewith Kathleen Norris

Sunday, May 29,2011

7:00 p.m.

May 27 - 29,

2011

SunDay, May 29,

2011

7:00 p.M.



14

June 21 - 23,2011

June 11,

July 9,

auguSt 6,

SepteMber 10,

2011

Quiet Garden Days

Inspired by the Quiet Garden Trust inEngland, these are days to relax, renew, andrest in the beauty of God’s outdoors, as wellas to enjoy the Sisters’ chapel and library. In

case of rain, there is plenty of space indoorsto wander, sit, dream, and pray. We begin with a brief time of prayer; then a Sister willoffer suggestions on how to use the day. Therest of the morning is yours. The Eucharistis celebrated at noon, followed by dinner,and the afternoon is again free, with a brief

gathering at 3 pm when we will have a closingtime of prayer, and the option of sharing thefruits of the day. Begins 9:30 am with

gathering for coffee; ends 3:30 pm. Standard fee for Quiet Garden Days.

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY:RETURN OF JOHN BELL

Renewing the Song of God’s People

An opportunity to reflect on the place andpurpose of the church’s song, and how its

vitality can be recovered, especially for clergy,church musicians and others who love to singtheir prayer. John Bell of the Iona Communityis an inspiring speaker and the composer of many well-known and loved contemporaryChristian songs and hymns used in the IonaCommunity and around the world. Begins 4

pm Tuesday; ends 1:30 pm Thursday.Fee is $250 with a $50 deposit.



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FOR WOMEN SEEKING DIRECTION

IN THEIR LIVES

Women at a Crossroads

This four-week program, held each summer,

is for women who are intentionally committedto seeking God’s guidance in living out theirbaptismal call — in business or professionalcareers, in homemaking or lay careers, inthe church, in ordained ministry or life in areligious community, or in the many other

ways in which we may serve God.

You may be called to participate in thisprogram if you are interested in:

community

prayer, service, study, rest and recreation

Christian life and vocation

your prayer life

There is no fee for room and board, butparticipants contribute to the life of theCommunity by sharing in the Sisters’ work.

A monetary contribution (tax deductible) maybe made to the Sisterhood.

July 5 - 31,

2011



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Pre-

view

forFall

2011

PREVIEW FOR FALL 2011Jesus was a carpenter: Sept . 17, 2011

the Benedictine

spirituality of work

Sr. Elizabeth Ann, SSJD

Living the Oct . 28 - 30, 2011

Beatitudes

The Rev. Kevin Flynn Healing Relationships nOv. 12, 2011

— With God, Self,

Others and Creation

The Medicine Wheel Teachings.Esther Wesley

Loving Intent – nOv. 25 - 27, 2011

Deep Listening –

Compassionate ActionSr. Elizabeth, SSJD

Waiting for God Dec. 3, 2011

The Rev. Sr. Constance Joanna, SSJD

Christmas Retreat Dec. 23 - 26, 2011Sisters of SSJD

Celebrating the Past, Dec. 31, 2011

Visioning the New - Jan. 1, 2012

Sisters of SSJD



17

FEES FOR FOOD FOR THE SOUL

Guided Retreats: Standard fee is $200,including accommodation for two nights, sixmeals, coffee breaks, and honorarium forretreat leader / directors. Deposit of $35.

Individually Directed Retreats (IDRs):Standard fee is $100 per day, includingaccommodation, all meals, snacks, andindividual spiritual direction. Special rateof $80 per day for full-time students at thetheological colleges. Deposit of $35.00. IDRscan be arranged at any time through theGuest House subject to the availability of experienced directors.

Quiet Saturdays: Standard fee is $25including coffee breaks ($15 for Associates

and Oblates. Bring a bag lunch; coffee andtea provided. (A hot meal is available in therefectory for an additional $15.00.) Deposit of $10.00.

Quiet Garden Days: Standard fee is $20

including coffee breaks, $5.00 of which goesto help support the Quiet Garden Trust. Bringa bag lunch; coffee and tea provided. (Ahot meal is available in the refectory for anadditional $15.00.) No deposit required.

Personal Retreats: Standard fee is $70per night, including three meals. Individualspiritual direction is an additional $25.00 perday.

(Continued next page)

Fees

for

Food for

the

Soul

(fees subject to possibleincrease in

2011)



18

Seniors and Student Rates: A reduction of $10 per night is offered for seniors and full-timestudents.

Bursary Assistance: No one is turned away

from a retreat because of inability to pay.Please let us know if you cannot afford the fullcost of a retreat (even at senior / student rates).We can assist with a special bursary fund givenby other guests who pay more than the cost of a retreat to allow others to come.

DESIGN YOUR OWN PROGRAM

See our website or contact the Guest House forinformation on the following:

Personal retreats scheduled to suit your

timetable, for a day, a week, or longer

Group retreats, quiet days, and workshopsscheduled to suit your church or fellowshipgroup (bring your own leader or ask for a Sisterto lead)

Personal sabbatical time: come for amonth or longer and enjoy the prayerful,peaceful environment of the Convent chapel,library, and gardens as well as comfortableaccommodation and delicious meals.

Fees(continued)



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Guided RetreatsHomecoming: With Henri Nouwen as Guide Oct. 1 - 3, 2010

Sacred Art Journey Oct. 29 - 31, 2010

Praying with Julian of Norwich Nov. 19 - 21, 2010

Christmas Retreat Dec. 23-26, 2010

Celebrating the Past, Visioning the Future Dec. 31, 2010

- Jan. 1, 2011

Fully Alive: a Christian Meditation and Yoga Retreat Jan. 14 - 16, 2011

Neither in the World nor out of it Feb. 15 - 17, 2011

God Delights in You Mar. 18 - 20, 2011 A Holy Week Retreat April 21 - 24, 2011

The Search for Hope and Meaning May 27 - 29, 2011

Renewing the Song of God’s People June 21 - 23, 1011

Living the Beatitudes Oct. 28 - 30, 2011

Loving Intent—Deep Listening—Compassionate Action Nov 25 - 27, 2011

Christmas Retreat Dec. 23 - 26, 2011

Quiet SaturdaysGod’s Story and Our Story June 5, 2010

Taken, Blessed, Broken, Given Sept. 18, 2010

Knitting to God’s Heartbeat Oct. 16, 2010

The Psalms Speaking “For Us” Nov. 6, 2010

The Tender Compassion of Our God Dec. 4, 2010

“Choose life. . . .” Jan. 22, 2011

The Surprising Path to Renewal Mar. 5, 2011Naked Before God Mar. 26, 2011

The Paschal Garden:Preparing for the Liturgies of Holy Week April 16, 2011

The Transformative Power of Grief May 14, 2011

The Spirituality of Work in the Benedictine Tradition Sept. 17, 2011

Healing Relationships—The Medicine Wheel Teachings. Nov. 12, 2011

Waiting for God Dec. 3, 2011

Summary of Retreats/Quiet Days

June, 2010 - June 2011

Special Evening LectureKathleen Norris“Got Acedia? Who Cares: Why a Word No One KnowsIs So Important”

May 29, 2011



TO REGISTER FOR ALL FOOD FOR

THE SOUL EVENTS:

Please fill out a registration form and mail

it to St. John’s Convent with your deposit.Registration forms can be downloadedfrom our web site at www.ssjd.ca or can berequested from the Guest House office (416-226-2201, ext. 305 or [email protected]).

St. John’s Convent Guest House

233 Cummer Ave.

Toronto, ON M2N 2E8

Phone: 416-226-2201, ext. 305

e-mail: [email protected]

www.ssjd.ca

ssjd food for the soul 2010-2011 (toronto)

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