N E W S L E T T E R F R O M T H E F R A N C I S C A N S P I R I T U A L I T Y C E N T E R

At the Center

The Enneagram

Dear Widows Retreat

Spiritual Direction Preparation Program

Series Offerings:

Illuminating Advent with The Saint John’s Bible

VOLUME 21 • NUMBER 4

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

920 Market Street • La Crosse, WI 54601 • 608-791-5295 • www.FSCenter.org

In this Issue:

Dedicated to anyone seeking God, meaning and wholeness.

Fr a nc i s c a nSpirituality Center

uring the summer of 2000, Mary Kathryn Fogarty, FSPA bid farewell to

the Franciscan Spirituality Center after 12 dedicated years as the director

of the Center. She left on sabbatical for a year, then became co-director of FSPA

Affiliation until she joined the FSPA leadership team. Luckily for us, she returned

to the FSC in the summer of 2006 to take on a new role as a spiritual director, a

supervisor in the Spiritual Direction Preparation Program (SDPP),

and the manager of the Sophia Bookstore.

We have all been very blessed over the past seven years with her dedicated

presence. Alas, it is time to say farewell again to Sister Mary Kathryn as she retires

from her current role at the FSC at the end of December.

We can’t thank her enough for her commitment to our mission and

we will greatly miss her many gifts and talents.

Sister Mary Kathryn has been the thread that connects some of the earliest

endeavors of the FSC to the present time. If we want to know why the FSC

decided to offer certain programs, how they did it, and the reason it connects

to our Franciscan roots—we go to Sister Mary Kathryn. She was present at

the beginning and helped develop two of our biggest offerings, now called

the Annual Conference—which began as the Spiritual Bazaar—and Journey

Toward Wholeness. In a very simple, humble and quiet way, Sister Mary

Kathryn has been a constant model of servant leadership for us all.

It is no accident that she has been the manager of the Sophia Bookstore.

Sister Mary Kathryn is like a librarian. When people are looking for a book

in the Sophia Bookstore, she’ll know where to find it. Her brain is also like a

library, filled with lots of wisdom. Every day, we challenge her brain to share

wisdom with us, and without hesitation she graciously shares it.

When we think of Sister Mary Kathryn what comes to mind first are her

smile and her laugh. We value both as symbols of God’s grace. We will

miss the joy and laughter she brings when she walks into the room. She is a

compassionate, giving, sympathetic, serene Sister. With all those gifts, how

could we keep her to ourselves?

Mostly we will miss Mary Kathryn’s presence. She helps us keep our

Franciscan feet to the ground. In her daily life and ministry, she models the

balance of contemplation and action. In the midst of chaos or crisis, she

offers a calming, consoling presence, giving assurance that “all will be well.”

Her quiet gentle spirit, her love for nature and her practical wisdom have

touched our hearts with such gratitude.

It does cause us to imagine and wonder what God has planned for this new

chapter of her life—her new beginning. We are convinced that it will be

amazing and wonderful, because that is who Sister Mary Kathryn is …

Please wish her well on her new beginning!

FSC Staff

D

Sister Mary Kathryn Fogarty

A new beginning

At the Center newsletter is published six times a year on earth-friendly paper with a higher recycled content. Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Franciscan Spirituality Center920 Market Street, La Crosse, WI 54601608-791-5295FSCenter@fspa.org • www.FSCenter.org

Identity

Franciscan Spirituality Center is a sacred place that welcomes everyone. We are rooted in the Gospels and sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.

Mission

The Franciscan Spirituality Center is dedicated to supporting anyone in their search for God, meaning and wholeness.

We live this mission because we believe:

• In each of us lives the Sacred.

• We need each other to recognize and honor that part of ourselves.

• Responding to spiritual hunger is necessary for growth, healing and peace.

• As we grow in wholeness, we contribute to the healing of all creation.

Core Values

In keeping with the tradition of our Franciscan founders, we hold these core values:

Sacredness: Believe that in every person and all creation lives the Sacred.

Respect: Acknowledge the dignity, diversity and worth of each person as a unique image of God.

Community: Through prayer, empathy and sharing, create a safe, peaceful place.

Hospitality: Welcome all with compassion, acceptance and celebration.

Professionalism: Commit to competence, quality, trust and personal spiritual development.

What We Do

The Franciscan Spirituality Center guides and directs processes for prayer and offers personal presence to anyone on their sacred journey as co-creators of a just and peaceful world. The Center offers individual and group spiritual direction, guided and preached retreats, day-long programs and events. Staff is available for off-site workshops, presentations and programs.

At the CenterArticles 2 Director’s Column 3 Spirited Friends - Monthly Giving10 29th Annual Conference

November/December Offerings 4 The Enneagram 6 November/December Offerings 8 Series Offerings 9 Intentional Parenting Series

News & Happenings 3 Spiritual Living10 Body, Mind and Spirit11 New Board Members12 Spiritual Direction

Preparation Program

2 0 1 3 N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R AT T H E C E N T E R PA G E 1

VOLUME 21 • NUMBER 4 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

Gift certificates are available for any dollar amount and are good toward a program, retreat, bedroom, hermitage or class at the FSC. If you are looking for a unique gift idea, consider giving the gift of

peace, prayer and solitude at the Franciscan Spirituality Center.

Find these new titles:

Song for Sarah: A Mother’s Journey through Grief and Beyond

by Paula D’ Arcy

Quiet Mind: One Minute Retreats from a Busy World by David Kundtz

New to Sophia Bookstore:

Now selling hand-crafted earrings created by Hannah Hoaglund of Pink House Designs,

and beautifully homemade, hand-crafted gift cards by Mary Knutson.

AT T H E S O P H I A B O O K S T O R E

11The Enneagram

9Intentional Parenting‘‘I sit on my favorite rock, looking over the brook, to take time

away from busy-ness, time to be . . . It’s something we all need for our spiritual health, and often we don’t take enough of it.”

~ Madeleine L’Engle

My brother-in-law, who lives in a remodeled farm house in Sauk City, loves to restore antique furniture in his barn. Even more than the restoration, he loves to hunt for hidden

potential treasures in old, and often condemned, farmhouses in the surrounding countryside. Rod has a knack for looking at a pile of what most of us would call junk and pull out some item that looks to me like everything else in the pile. Yet, after taking this piece of junk back to his barn, it’s amazing how he can transform it into something truly beautiful. Over time, what I’ve learned about the restoration process from Rod is that the really hard work is in stripping away all the years of gunk to get down to the original material. From there, the finishing process is relatively easy. I think Meister Eckhart and my brother-in-law have something in common.

Our souls are often like the distressed furniture in these rural farm houses. They were once beautiful, but over time, the original luster gets covered up with layers of dust and grime. But to their original creator, and to gifted “soul restoration agents” (aka spiritual directors), the beauty of the Spirit within is still apparent and can still shine through. Richard Rohr, OFM calls this hidden treasure of our true identity our “immortal diamond.”

As Eckhart and Rod have discovered, we can’t simply add a shiny new finish on top of the gunk. The process first requires uncovering layers of old wounds, fears, failures, disappointments, as well as layers of ego attachment, all of which serve to mask the beauty of true self that lies just beneath the surface. This is the process of subtraction, of letting go of that which we think we need for happiness, security, or power, but that which in reality can hide inner beauty. In terms of the ego, most religions teach in some way that we all must “die before we die” so something new can be born.

These themes of letting go and letting come are the focus of our November/December spiritual offerings at the Franciscan Spirituality Center. In November, we begin a three-part series on the Enneagram that engages an ancient personality typology to help with self-awareness so we can first recognize, and then let go of some of our layers of ego attachment. Later in November, we offer our annual widows retreat which provides an opportunity for participants to fully process grief as part of letting go and letting something new come forth. We also offer a four-part series in Advent which uses the art of The Saint John’s Bible to aid in a process of expectant waiting for the coming of Emmanuel. And to let go of some of the holiday busyness, we offer two opportunities to reflect and renew in December: Franciscan Day of Solitude and the Advent Day of Reflection.

As you read on, please look for details of these and other offerings that can help you rediscover the hidden treasure of your “immortal diamond.”

Peace and all good,

Jeff Dols, FSPA Affiliate

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Jeff DolsFSPA Affiliate

FSC Director

Mary Kathryn Fogarty FSPA Spiritual Director

Mary KnutsonReceptionist & Hospitality

Emily StricklerMarketing Communications

Coordinator

Rosalie Hooper Thomas, FSPA Affiliate

Spiritual Director

Amy Taylor FSPA Retreat Coordinator

DarleneWozneyFSPA Affiliate Hospitality

Steve SpildeSpiritual Director

Zoua VueReceptionist & Hospitality

Audrey QuanrudAssociate Director

Program Coordinator

Barb KruseSpiritual Director

Jenny Ehlke-WalterOffice Manager

Margaret CunninghamFSPA Affiliate Hospitality

Letting go, letting comeF R O M T H E D I R E C T O R

FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY CENTER

Staff

“The soul does not grow by addition but by subtraction.” - Meister Eckhart

Linda KerriganFSPA Affiliate

Spiritual Director

2 0 1 3 N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R AT T H E C E N T E R PA G E 3

Community Prayer is every Wednesday from 11:30-noon.We will “listen with the ear of the heart” to the Gospel for the coming Sunday and pray for the needs of the world, our community and each other. All are welcome, please join us.

Is Spiritual Direction for Me? This information session on October 30 at 5:30 p.m. is for those who want to know more about the spiritual direction options at the Franciscan Spirituality Center.

Evening Contemplative Prayer is the first and third Tuesday each month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. We provide the opportunity to experience prayerful silence in community. All are welcome, join us.

Depressed Anonymous is a 12-step group where people dealing with depression can generate positive energies, form friendships and find support. Meets every Monday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Call Vince Hatt at 608-386-7551 for more information. Freewill offering accepted.

Return & Recovery for Military Veterans Program of A4TH invites veterans and loved ones to come on Tuesdays from 1-4 p.m. September 10, October 8, November 5 and December 3 for free expressive art and support. Come and discover a unique way to treat PTSD and other mental health conditions in a welcoming and peaceful space with counselors, artists, mentors and other veterans who have shared experiences.

Enneagram Study Group is a discussion group for those interested in using the Enneagram to explore their spiritual life and relationships with family, friends and co-workers. The group meets monthly on the second Wednesday from 5:15-7 p.m. Freewill offering accepted.

Drumming Circle meets the second Thursday of the month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. This group explores drumming as a form of prayer. Interspersed with drumming, we share stories and reflections.

Bring your favorite drum. Freewill offering accepted.

Conversations that Matter is a men’s group that provides the opportunity to dialogue with other men on issues that matter in their lives. This group meets twice a month on either Tuesday or Wednesday evening from 7-9 p.m. Call Vince Hatt at 608-386-7551 for more information.

Saturday Morning Men’s Group enjoys coffee and muffins while discussing a current book related to spirituality. This group meets the third Saturday of the month from 9-11 a.m. Call Vince Hatt at 608-386-7551 for book information.

Spirited Friends is an easy and efficient way for you to make a monthly gift

and provide reliable support that is vital to the Franciscan Spirituality Center. Each year we give scholarships to those in need for spiritual direction and various programs and retreats at the FSC. Your monthly gift will help the Center live out our Franciscan mission to provide for those who seek support. By enrolling in the Spirited Friends program, you make a significant contribution throughout the year without the need to write checks, find envelopes, buy stamps and make a trip to the post office. Become a Spirited Friend and help others on their path to connecting with God, meaning and wholeness. Visit our website for a brochure and enrollment form. Thank you for your gift!

Planned GivingPlease remember the Franciscan Spirituality Center in your will. FSC is part of the FSPA, a 501c(3) non-profit organization. Our tax ID#39-0806386

Thank youfor your ongoing support.

The Franciscan Spirituality Center

is the place for people from all walks of life and spiritual paths to come

together to learn more about God and themselves and how to use spiritual

principles to build a peaceful life and world.

We hope this will be a place for you to find your peace and renewal!

Spiritual Living

FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY CENTER

Dorothy Lenard, Chairperson

John McHugh, Vice Chairperson

Rita Feeney, FSPA, Secretary/Treasurer

Rose Elsbernd, FSPA, FSPA Liaison

Emilio Alvarez

Blake Auler-Murphy

Karen Dunn

Ken Ford

Mike Hesch

Laurice Heybl, FSPA

Hannah Hoaglund

Steve Titus

Joan Weisenbeck, FSPA

Mike Woods

Tony Yang

Board of Directors

Spirited Friends

M O N T H L Y G I V I N G

PA G E 4 F R A N C I S C A N S P I R I T U A L I T Y C E N T E R

A PAT H F O R T R A N S F O R M AT I O NEnne

agra

mTH

E

3 SESSIONSFOR SELF

This year, the Franciscan Spirituality Center

is offering three unique weekend sessions

for individuals interested in self-awareness.

Each session will help you learn how to build

better relationships and discover a deeper

spiritual life.

The Enneagram is a system of personality

typology that combines psychology and

spirituality to achieve an understanding of

oneself or others. It is an invaluable tool for

understanding why we do the things we do

and feel the way we feel.

‘‘We must learn to move beyond

self-centeredness to make room within ourselves for others.

When you transcend yourself, the fact will be confirmed by the

quality of your life.”

- Don Richard Riso

2 0 1 3 N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R AT T H E C E N T E R PA G E 5

Registration Information

Please visit the Franciscan Spirituality Center’s website at www.FSCenter.org to register for each session. We accept PayPal for all online registrations and require payment in full at the time of registration. If you would like to pay in installments or register by phone, please call 608-791-5295 or by email at FSCenter@fspa.org. We accept credit cards, personal checks and cash for all registrations not completed online. Payment must be paid in full prior to the start of the program to be a confirmed participant.

We encourage you to apply early. Registration deadline for the first session: October 25, 2013.

Enneagram Basics

Dates: November 1-2, 2013 Friday, 7-9 p.m. & Saturday 9-4 p.m.Investment: $95 includes book and lunch on Saturday. Bedrooms are available for $42/night.Presenters: Rosalie Hooper Thomas & Marci Madary, FSPA Affiliates

Registration Deadline: October 25, 2013

Enneagram Basics is for those new to the Enneagram or for those who would like a review of the basic concepts of the Enneagram. In addition to an introduction to the Enneagram,

we will hear from a panel of individuals representing different personality types. They will share the discoveries they have made about their Enneagram type and how it impacts their lives.

Exploring Relationships through the Enneagram

Dates: January 24-25, 2014 Friday, 7-9 p.m. & Saturday 9-4 p.m.Investment: $95 includes lunch on Saturday. Bedrooms are available for $42/night.Presenters: Rosalie Hooper Thomas & Marci Madary, FSPA Affiliates

Registration Deadline: January 17, 2014

Relationships can be graced experiences or frustrating challenges. Whether personal or work-related, the characteristics of our relationships affect the quality of our lives. We sometimes can be confused by another’s behavior and certainly can surprise another by our choices. While a person can relate well with another operating on the same level, we may not understand why there is discord or misunderstanding with a spouse, friend or co-worker. In this workshop we will discover the biases and fears of each type and the skills needed to understand and find common ground with others.

The Enneagram and Your Spiritual Path

Dates: February 28-March 1, 2014 Friday, 7-9 p.m. & Saturday 9-4 p.m.Investment: $95 includes lunch on Saturday. Bedrooms are available for $42/night.Presenters: Rosalie Hooper Thomas & Marci Madary, FSPA Affiliates

Registration Deadline: February 21, 2014

In exploring our personality characteristics we gain a greater awareness of our motivations, behaviors and understanding of others. While this brings peace and harmony to our daily lives, we just have part of the journey. As we set aside our ego distortions, we allow space for a deepening awareness of our true nature and the experience of the Divine essence. This workshop focuses on the spiritual gifts of each type, using exercises, meditations and practices to open you to the transformative spirit of God.

EnneagramTHE

N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 3 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 4

A PATH FOR TRANSFORMATION

Rosalie Hooper Thomas, FSPA Affiliate (rthomas@fspa.org)Rosalie is a spiritual director, workshop presenter and facilitator. With the insights from the Enneagram, she helps people discover their own truths and develop skills to participate in a creative community. Rosalie received her certification through

Dr. Jerome Wagner at Loyola University and continues to study multiple teachers for a broad perspective on the gifts of the Enneagram. Rosalie joined the staff in 2002 after 25 years in marketing, sales and customer relations. She lives with her husband, Stan, and one cat in the country, where she draws on nature to teach and nurture her in the ways of harmony and peace.

Marci Madary, FSPA Affiliate (mmadary@fspa.org)Marci works as an affiliation co-minister with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. In addition, she is a poet, spiritual director and teacher of the Enneagram. Marci received her Enneagram training in the narrative

tradition with Helen Palmer and David Daniels. With a masters in pastoral studies, her background is in education and she has worked in parish ministry. Marci is a widow and has two young adult children.

T H E E N N E A G R A M P R O G R A M P R E S E N T E R S

The Essential Enneagram by David Daniels & Virginia Price

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2013 Retreat and Program Offerings

Dear Widows: A Retreat for Those Who Have Lost Their Beloved

On this traditional deer hunting weekend, this retreat invites not only our ‘dear widows’ but anyone who is suffering from the death of their life partner. It is a healing

opportunity for those to reflect on their journey and share with others who have walked the same road. We offer time for stories and poetry, silence and prayer, laughter and tears, as we explore the mystery of suffering, death and new growth that is at work in our lives.

As a widow and mother of two, Marci Madary deeply values relationships and appreciates unexpected journeys. She is an affiliation co-minister with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, a spiritual director at Integrative Therapies in La Crosse and an adjunct professor in the religious studies department at Viterbo University.

Intuition and Intention in Decision-Making

Learn how to balance intellect and emotion, reclaim your senses and use them for effective decision-making. In this workshop we will examine the “gut instinct” and

develop a personal process for trusting intuitive knowledge. Kristy Walz is a business coach, speaker, freelance writer and CEO of Confluence Consulting. With a background in marketing and metaphysics, Kristy loves to share with her audiences tools that incorporate the spiritual realm in slowing down, stressing less and having more fun in life.

November 22-23, 2013Friday, 7 p.m. through Saturday, 4 p.m.

Investment$95 includes lunch on Saturday. Bedrooms are available for $42/night.

Retreat Director Marci Madary, FSPA Affiliate

Registration deadline: November 15, 2013

Like us on Facebook for more information about these upcoming programs and events.

Retreat OptionsPrivate Retreat at the FSC:(no spiritual direction or meals)

• $42/night• $40/night (6 nights or more)

Directed Retreat at the FSC:(includes spiritual direction & meals)

• $102/night (5 nights or less)• $97/night (6 nights or more)

Registration & Scholorship information can be found on the inside back cover.

Private Retreat at a Hermitage:(no spiritual direction)

• $50/night• $48/night (6 nights or more)

Please call 608-791-5295 or email FSCenter@fspa.org for availability or additional information regarding bedroom, hermitage or meeting room space.

‘‘The most effective people are those who can “hold” their vision while

remaining committed to seeing current reality clearly.”

- Peter Senge, Director of the Center for Organizational Learning, MIT

January 3-4, 2014Friday, 7 p.m. through Saturday, 4 p.m.

Investment$95 includes lunch on Saturday. Bedrooms are available for $42/night.

Retreat DirectorKristy Walz

Registration deadline: December 20, 2013

Directed Retreat at a Hermitage:(spiritual director comes to you to meet)

• $95/night (5 nights or less)• $90/night (6 nights or more)

2 0 1 3 N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R AT T H E C E N T E R PA G E 7

N O V E M B E R & D E C E M B E R

Come and stay with us.

Our bedrooms have either private or shared bathrooms, a twin or full bed, an easy chair, and a desk and chair. Bath and bed linens are provided. Meals can be arranged.

$42/night, bedroom only

Franciscan Day of SolitudeReflect and Pray in Silence

Friday, December 6 • 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Seek out this sacred place of solitude and commune with God in silence.

Franciscan Day of Solitude - Advent

Francis of Assisi frequently spent time in solitude and prayer in order to sustain his active spiritual life. He encouraged his followers to do the same and gifted others with

days of solitude by ministering to them.

On your day of solitude, enjoy Franciscan hospitality, quiet and privacy in the peaceful environment of the FSC to rest and pray as you wish.

Advent Day of Reflection

Advent is a time of preparation and waiting in joyful anticipation. Together we will reflect on ways to be present in this moment in the midst of very busy lives. Come and

join the journey with John the Baptist as we explore pathways to God this Advent season. We will gather for prayer, discussion and private reflection.

Bonus: Attend both the Franciscan Day of Solitude and the Advent Day of Reflection at a special rate of $50. Experience the richness of both, prayer on your own in solitude and guided reflections in the company of others.

December 6, 2013Friday, 9-4 p.m.

Investment$30, includes lunch and bedroom for the day.

Retreat Directors FSC Staff

Registration deadline: November 29, 2013

December 7, 2013Saturday, 9-3 p.m.

Investment$30, includes lunch

Retreat Director Amy Taylor, FSPA

Registration deadline: November 29, 2013

Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center (one of FSC’s sister centers) in Hiawatha, Iowa, is offering a Silent Meditation Retreat November 1-3, led by Chris Klug, who has practiced mindfulness meditation for over 20 years. Join Chris for a weekend of meditation instruction, and a variety of guided meditative practices, all in the midst of 70 acres of natural beauty.

Silent Meditation Retreat • November 1-3

For more information go to www.Prairiewoods.org or call 319-395-6700

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Like us on Facebook for more information about these upcoming programs and events.

October 3 & 10 Thursdays, 9:30-11 a.m.Investment: $10/sessionPresenters: Joyce Heil and Carl Koch

In a youth-obsessed culture, the gifts of aging may be overlooked and negated. These remaining sessions are an opportunity to converse about the “winter graces.”

How do I love?

October 3 • Thursday, 9:30-11 a.m.

At the core of abundant life is abundant love. How can we celebrate significant relationships and continue to love wisely and well?

How do I turn suffering to wisdom, loss to gain and grief to joy?

October 10 • Thursday, 9:30-11 a.m.

As you are probably painfully aware, the accumulation of losses tends to mount. Loved ones grow ill and die. Losses raise serious questions and important opportunities in our spirituality. This is a chance to share the wisdom that has come from the well of your experience.

Presenters: Joyce Heil taught gerontology at Viterbo University’s School of Nursing for many years and presently works as a nurse for the retired Sisters at St. Rose Convent. She ministered as a hospice nurse and has also directed many retreats. She holds master’s degrees in nursing and in spirituality.

Carl Koch is retired as director of Ring Lake Ranch, an ecumenical retreat center in Wyoming. Before that he was program director at the Franciscan Spirituality Center and director of the Masters in Servant Leadership program at Viterbo University. Joyce and Carl are married and live in La Crosse with their two dogs. They kayak, walk to stay healthy and are learning about grace-filled aging themselves.

October 23 & November 20Wednesdays, 5:30-6:45 p.m.Investment: $10/sessionPresenters: Barb Kruse, Audrey Quanrud & Mary Kathryn Fogarty, FSPA

From the Hebrew Scriptures through the earliest days of Christianity, women stepped forward to lead because of their faith. They differ in their leadership styles and the circumstances of their lives, but in each case they are women who risked boldly. Each of us is called to lead; in these women, perhaps you will find inspiration. We invite you to come hear their stories and reflect on the ways their lives may touch our lives.

October 23: Deborah: The Prophetic Voice

November 20: Mary of Magdala: Bold Disciple

Eating Poems for Lunch

Session Two: October 11, 18 & 25; November 1, 8, 15 & 22 Fridays, Noon-1 p.m.Investment: $7/session (Registration is preferred, however you can pay at the door)

Presenter: Marci Madary, FSPA Affiliate

If you enjoy poetry, you will enjoy this casual weekly gathering. Every Friday Marci brings a diverse selection of poems, all related to a common theme, for the group to slowly read aloud and savor. Bring a brown bag lunch and feast on good poetry while enjoying a meal and great conversation.

Marci Madary is a poet and a co-minister with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. She works with FSPA Affiliates.

2013-14 Series Offerings

Grace-filled Aging:

Spirituality for the Later Years

S E R I E S S E R I E S

Women Leaders in ScriptureS E R I E S

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F A L L S E R I E S

Finding Time for Rest and Renewal

November 14 • Thursday, 6-8 p.m.Investment: $10/personPresenter: Ellen Rasmussen

In our busy culture, how do we honor rest, renewal and joy? Within the chaotic demands of family life and work, how do we create the

space to simply “be”—as an individual and a family? When the hours roll into days, weeks and months which all roll into years, how do you find the courage and energy to slow down? If these questions are stirring something within, you won’t want to miss this evening with Ellen and other parents. You will come away equipped with practical tips to create your rest and relaxation in your family.

For the past 20 years, Ellen Rasmussen has strived to create harmony in her life while raising two children by herself and navigating jobs in tourism, education, sales and the church. Since 2003, she has worked for The United Methodist Church and is currently the pastor at Wesley United Methodist Church on King Street in La Crosse.

November 14, 2013 and January 16, February 13 & March 13, 2014 Thursday, 6-8 p.m.Investment: $10/person

Intentional Parenting helps access the knowledge from within to explore a variety of ways to parent your children with thoughtful and deliberate intention. Enjoy a relaxing evening with refreshments and a presentation by a community speaker who will inspire and help you to consider new ideas. The presentation allows time for conversation and reflection.

Come and join this growing group of engaged and eager parents and other caregivers who are committed to discovering news ways to enrich their children’s lives every day.

Additional topics in this series...January 16: Fostering Creativity with Jerilyn Dinsmoor

February 13: Forming Family: Blending Our Differences with Tom Roberts

March 13: The Personality Factor with Audrey Quanrud

S E R I E S

Intentional Parenting

November 19 & 26; December 3 & 10 Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m.Investment: $30/4 sessions or $10/sessionPresenter: Audrey QuanrudRegistration deadline: November 12, 2013

Advent is the time of year for quiet reflection

and expectant waiting for Christ, who comes as a light in the darkness. Come ponder the mystery of the Incarnation and the meaning of Christmas for us today. We will use scripture and illuminations from The Saint John’s Bible, a modern, handwritten and illuminated Bible (NRSV).

November 19: Angels and Thin PlacesAngels figure prominently in the events leading up to and following Jesus’ birth. On this evening, we will reflect on angels and those “thin places” between heaven and earth in the illumination, Jacob’s Ladder.

November 26: King of KingsIn the illumination, Messianic Predictions, we see the hopeful words of the prophet Isaiah. They are familiar words if you have ever listened to Handel’s joyous Hallelujah Chorus. On this evening, we will reflect on our own hopes and our image of the Messiah, Jesus.

December 3: O WisdomOn each of the seven days before Christmas the church remembers a name given to Jesus in the prayer of the O Antiphons. On this evening, we will reflect on the first of those names, Wisdom, a feminine image of the divine found in scripture and in the illumination, Praise of Wisdom.

December 10: All Creation WaitsThe Incarnation has been described as an act of great love and reconciliation among God, humanity and all of creation. On this evening, we will reflect on the meaning of Christmas with the apostle Paul using the illumination, Fulfillment of Creation.

Illuminating Advent:

Meditations on the Art of The Saint John’s Bible

In the spirit of Francis and Clare, we honor and respect those in search for spiritual healing, growth and renewal and will not turn anyone away because of inability to pay. Our scholarships are based on need and on the type of program or retreat. We give scholarships to anyone who asks for financial assistance for spiritual direction and partial scholarships for programs and retreats. Please contact us for more detailed information about scholarships and payment options for specific retreats and programs. We do not offer scholarships for bedrooms or hermitages.

Contact the FSC at 608-791-5295, email: FSCenter@fspa.org or online at www.FSCenter.org for more information.

Scholarship Information

PA G E 1 0 F R A N C I S C A N S P I R I T U A L I T Y C E N T E R

Vinyasa Yoga

Session Two: Mondays, October 21 & 28; November 4, 11, 18 & 25 Wednesdays, October 23 & 30; November 6, 13, 20 & 27 Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.Investment: $48/6 classes, register for Monday & Wednesday: $86/12 classesPresenter: Bernice Olson-Pollack

Vinyasa yoga has been practiced for thousands of years for its health benefits. These include mental focus, balance and flexibility, relaxation and stress relief. Wednesday sessions will also include strength training.

Golden Yoga

Session Two: Tuesdays, October 15, 22 & 29; November 5, 12 & 19 Thursdays, October 17, 24 & 31; November 7, 14 & 21 (Thursday class limited to 12)Time: 11:15-NoonInvestment: $36/6 classes, register for Tuesday & Thursday: $65/12 classesPresenter: Bernice Olson-Pollack

For Thursday sessions, participants should feel comfortable getting down on the floor. Please bring a yoga or exercise mat that is at least ¼ - ½” thick.

In the Tuesday sessions, traditional yoga poses are modified using a chair so participants do not need to get on the floor. Both sessions provide a safe approach to improved flexibility, strength and balance.

A New Year for Me

Time: Saturday, January 11; 8:30-NoonInvestment: $40 per personPresenter: Bernice Olson-Pollack

Begin the New Year with a new plan to live well. We will explore holistic ways to balance our needs for rest and activity, nourishing food, personal growth and soulful practices. We will begin the morning with light refreshments.

Bernice Olson-Pollack is a staff member of the Wellness Center at St. Rose Convent, La Crosse, Wis. She holds a masters in counseling and has years of hands-on experience in life coaching, personal training and yoga instruction.

She is a registered Yogafit Instructor and a Certified Personal Trainer with the American Council on Exercise.

It has been many years now since Paula D’Arcy’s world came crashing down around

her feet. At the age of 27, Paula, her husband, and their 21-month-old daughter Sarah were riding in a car when a drunk driver came careening across the highway, hitting the D’Arcy car head-on. Paula was pregnant and critically injured; her husband and daughter both died that same week.

The deep black hole of numbing grief became a crucible from which Paula emerged—forever changed—whole and awake to God’s life-giving presence.

Years later, while addressing a conference in Barcelona, Spain, Paula was surprised at the number of people who filled her session on the transformation of pain. “The path is not always the same,” she writes. “It begins with the power of knowing that the power is not in the circumstances I face, but in what I meet them with. It is my response to what happens to me that determines the course of my life.”

The Franciscan Spirituality Center is honored to bring Paula D’Arcy to La Crosse on May 2-3, 2014 for our 29th Annual Conference. Paula is the author of Song for Sarah, Gift of the Red Bird, and A New Set of Eyes: Encountering the Hidden God. Conference participants will have an opportunity to meet Paula and have her sign copies of her books.

Paula, a retreat leader and former psychotherapist, worked for several years with Norman Vincent Peale. In recent years she has been teaching A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life with Franciscan priest Richard Rohr. The second half of life presents enormous opportunities for spiritual growth. Paula writes, “I sense, deep within, that there is more: more to know, more to experience, more reality than my careful definitions of God.”

Paula is a gifted storyteller, often using humorous stories to reflect on our response to divine love and the challenges of life. Her stories and reflections reveal someone who continually grows in her capacity to sense God’s compassionate care and presence in all of the experiences of life. This divine presence is symbolized by the red bird, whose story is found in Gift of the Red Bird.

Mark your calendars now for May 2-3, 2014. More details on FSC’s 29th Annual Conference will be coming soon.

body, mind & spirit Annual Conference

May 2-3, 201429th

The power that can change your life

2 0 1 3 N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R AT T H E C E N T E R PA G E 1 1

Karen Dunn has been a banker in the La Crosse community for over 25 years. She currently is a senior vice-president and chief credit officer at Coulee Bank. Karen has a background in finance and has had the opportunity to serve on several non-profit boards, both as a committee member and also in a leadership position. To name a few: past chair of the Western Wisconsin Workforce Development Board and the Coulee Region Business Incubator; past president of the Seven Rivers Alliance and Stepping Stones (child advocacy center); past secretary of the La Crosse Public Education Foundation and treasurer of the American Cancer Society. Karen is a current board member of the

UW-La Crosse College of Business and has recently been appointed to the La Crosse Redevelopment Authority.

For 13 years, Mike Hesch has been with Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Healthcare. For the past 5 years, Mike has had the opportunity to be a participant and facilitator at the FSC and is interested in providing both perspectives in his role on the board. In 2012, he had the opportunity to be a pilgrim on the trip to Assisi which deepened his respect for the teachings of St. Francis. Mike hopes to help the Franciscan Spirituality Center be as successful as it can be to meet the mission in a way that is cost effective and reaches the most people with great services.

N E W B O A R D M E M B E R S

Welcome our newest leadership

Tony Yang came to this country from a Thailand refugee camp with his parents in 1987 when he was 14. He lives in Onalaska with his wife and four beautiful children. Currently, Tony is the Hmong coordinator for the School District of La Crosse where he provides advocacy and intervention services to support the Southeast Asian students and families. He also manages and coordinates many of the after school programs targeted to students with academic, personal and/or life challenges. Tony’s most recent volunteer experiences include: Chairman of HMAA-HCCC Cultural Committee, AMOS-Hmong Advocacy Task Force and La Crosse Hmong New Year Chairman.

Sometimes you just need someone to listen as you work through the complexities of life.

The process of sharing your story and opening up to the conversations in your heart with a

trusted confidante, or a spiritual director, offers a deeper self-awareness and understanding

of your relationship with others, including God.

Schedule your first one-hour appointment with a spiritual director by calling the FSC at

608-791-5295. Scholarships are available for your first visit.

Our guiding light

S P I R I T U A L D I R E C T I O N

Mary Kathryn Fogarty, FSPA

mfogarty@fspa.org 608-791-5600

Linda Kerrigan, FSPA Affiliate

lkerrigan@fspa.org 608-791-5276

Barb Krusebkruse@fspa.org

608-791-5612

Rosalie Hooper Thomas, FSPA Affiliate rthomas@fspa.org 608-791-5268

Steve Spildesspilde@fspa.org

608-791-5297

Our Spiritual Directors

Group Spiritual DirectionSteve Spilde is leading group spiritual direction at various congregations in the greater community. If you would be interested in experiencing group spiritual direction in another setting like church, school or work, please contact Steve. He would love to explore the possibilities of bringing this powerful and ancient practice into new settings that work for you. Contact Steve by email at sspilde@fspa.org or by phone at 608-791-5297.

Please welcome new, but familiar faces to the Franciscan Spirituality Center’s board. These members were elected to their first term, which is a four

year commitment, in May. We thank them for their commitment and their time. Introducing Karen Dunn, Mike Hesch and Tony Yang.

PA G E 1 2 F R A N C I S C A N S P I R I T U A L I T Y C E N T E R

Reflections from the Center are a collection of peaceful prayer meditations from voices

in our community that are emailed out to subscribers every Monday morning. To

receive these weekly reflections, please join our email list by clicking “Join Our Email

List” on our website or email Emily at estrickler@fspa.org. To learn more or to read

past reflections, visit www.atthecenterreflections.blogspot.com.

Reflections from the Center

Doralyn Benson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cedar Rapids, IAMarcia Bentley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Madison, WIRodney Bluml . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marion, IALinda Carleton . . . . . . . . . . . .Chebeague Island, MECarol Crevier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Merrill, WIJane Dietzman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Turtle Lake, WIKen Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Crosse, WICandice Haight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glendale, WI

2014-17

Spiritual Direction

P R O G R A M

Application deadline: June 30, 2014

Preparation

Since 1985, the staff at the Franciscan Spirituality Center has trained over

300 people in the practice of spiritual direction. This innovative program

provides a mix of workshops and real-life experiences to prepare individuals to

move into their communities and jobs as trained spiritual directors.

The Spiritual Direction Preparation Program (SDPP) extends over three years, giving participants an opportunity to integrate theory and practice. While the SDPP prepares the participant to direct others regardless of their spirituality, this program teaches from the Judeo-Christian tradition.

A new class is forming and will start in September 2014. The application deadline is June 30, 2014. Contact the co-directors for a brochure and application. Scholarships are available.

General Information:

All workshops begin at 7 p.m. on Friday and conclude at noon on Sunday. The practicum is a six day workshop, which begins at noon on Sunday and concludes at noon on Saturday.

Participants are expected to have a spiritual director by the beginning of the program and to make a 6-day directed retreat by July 1, 2016. The program will begin in September 2014. Participants who satisfactorily complete the three-year program will receive a certificate of completion.

Co-directors:

Barb Kruse 608-791-5612 or bkruse@fspa.org

Linda Kerrigan 608-791-5276 or lkerrigan@fspa.org

Debra Hamm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Belgium, WIMarita B.Hoffart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minot, NDDiane Horne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Milwaukee, WIMary Ellen Hynes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oak Park, ILBrenda Keenan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .North Liberty, IAKatherine Krage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Crosse, WICarlene Larson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Muskego, WIShari Mason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Austin, MN

Carol Jean Meyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Winona, MNMary Morrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hastings, MNTeresa Romain . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wisconsin Dells, WISteve Spilde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Onalaska, WIAnne Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clarksville, IABonnie Vize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mayville, WIBarbara Winters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lansing, IA

Congratulations! The following people completed the Spiritual Direction Preparation Program in July 2013. This was the 11th class to complete this intense training program teaching redemptive listening and compassionate communication.

For more information visit us online at www.FSCenter.org

2 0 1 3 N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R AT T H E C E N T E R PA G E 1 3

Sophia BookstoreTucked away inside the Franciscan Spirituality Center, the Sophia Bookstore is a treasure waiting for your discovery. Full of books and interesting gift, it is a wonderful, quiet place to sit and enjoy the quiet buzz of life and energy inside. The room has three tables, free wi-fi and complimentary coffee.

Open Monday-Friday from 8-5 p.m.

Please stop by to browse!

I M P O R T A N T I N F O R M A T I O N :

M E E T I N G R O O M S

The Franciscan Spirituality Center offers a wide variety of rooms to fit the needs of your meetings,

retreat and training sessions.

We offer five meeting rooms to accommodate groups from 2-72 participants. Each room is bright, attractive,

comfortable, quiet and can be tailored to meet the needs of your group. In addition, we provide a wide range of audio/visual equipment for no additional charge. Refreshments and catering are also available.

Call 608-791-5295 or email FSCenter@fspa.org to reserve a room today for your group’s next meeting.

Where to find usFranciscan Spirituality Center is just west of Mayo Health System-Franciscan Heathcare and one block north of Viterbo University at 920 Market Street. The Franciscan Spirituality Center shares the building with St. Rose Convent.

Fr a nc i s c a nSpirituality Center

Telephone: 608-791-5295 • Email: FSCenter@fspa.org • On the web: www.FSCenter.org

Solitude Ridge HermitagesThree individual hermitages are built on the edge of a woodland and provide the peace and quiet of a rural setting. These small buildings were designed to provide a space for the silence and solitude necessary for a deeper experience with God. Hermitages are $50 per night. Email or call the FSC to make your reservations today.

Telephone: 608-791-5295

2013 November 14

2014January 16

February 13March 13

Thursday, 6-8 p.m.

$10/person per session

ntentional ParentingIRegistration Process

Please visit the Franciscan Spirituality Center’s website at www.FSCenter.org to register for each session. We accept PayPal for all online registrations and require payment in full at the time of registration. If you would like to pay in installments or register by phone, please call 608-791-5295 or by email at FSCenter@fspa.org. We accept credit cards, personal checks and cash for all registrations not completed online. Payment must be paid in full prior to the start of the program to be a confirmed participant.

Refund Policy Some of our events require a non-refundable registrationfee; the balance will be refunded to you if you cancel priorto the event start time.

Registration Deadlines Many programs/retreats now have a registration deadline. This will help us make important decisions regarding the status of the program/retreat. Many programs fill quickly; early registration is recommended to guarantee placement. Prompt registration also helps reduce the possibility that a program or retreat might be cancelled due to insufficient enrollment, an issue that inconveniences participants and presenters.

Scholarship InformationIn the spirit of Francis and Clare, we honor and respect everyone in their search for spiritual healing, growth and renewal and will not turn anyone away because of inability to pay. Our scholarships are based on need and on the type of program or retreat. We give scholarships to anyone who asks for financial assistance for spiritual direction and partial scholarships for programs or retreats. Please contact us for more detailed information about scholarships and payment options for specific retreats and programs. We do not offer scholarships for bedrooms or hermitages. Contact us at 608-791-5295 or by email at FSCenter@fspa.org, or visit us online at www.FSCenter.org for more information.

FSPA • 912 Market StreetLa Crosse, WI 54601

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. PostageP A I D

La Crosse, WIPermit No. 535

Fr a nc i s c a nSpirituality Center

C O M I N G I N E A R L Y 2 0 1 4

The Sound of Bowlswith Tom Roberts January 7: Tuesday, 6-7:30 p.m.

Intentional Parenting: A Home for Creativity with Jerilyn Dinsmoor January 16: Thursday, 6-8 p.m.

Exploring Relationships throughthe Enneagramwith Rosalie Hooper Thomas & Marci MadaryJanuary 24-25, 2014

Franciscan Day of SolitudeJanuary 29: Wednesday, 9-4 p.m.

Brush Wisdom: Messages from the Contemplative Heart with Tom Roberts January 31-February 2