Fall - Winter September 2011 - February 2012
Volume 33, No. 1
UPPER ROOM OFFERINGS
A CENTER FOR COMPANIONING OTHERS
Spiritual Direction Directed Prayer Weekends/Weeklong Retreats
Spiritual Direction Education/Supervisor Training Professional Days for Spiritual Directors
A CENTER FOR CONTEMPLATION
Gathering Place for Taizé Prayer and Centering Prayer Private/Communal Prayer Spaces/Liturgy
Labyrinth
A CENTER FOR EDUCATION
Courses/Workshops on Prayer, Scripture, Spirituality Courses/Workshop on psychological and physical health
from a Godcentered perspective Retreat Days for parish and school communities and
other faith communities Professional development and leadership training in
many areas of personal and spiritual growth
Sixteenth Annual Spirituality Conference
Melannie Svoboda, SND
Saturday, November 12, 2011 Georgian Court University
Lakewood, NJ
FULLY ALIVE IN GOD RETREAT IN EVERYDAY LIFE
SEPTEMBER 2011 ~ APRIL 2012
Maureen Christensen, RSM Trudy Ahern, SSJ
Maureen Conroy, RSM
FULLY ALIVE IN GOD RETREAT IN EVERYDAY LIFE September 2011 ~ April 2012
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Presenters: Maureen Conroy, RSM, Trudy Ahern, SSJ, Maureen Christensen, RSM
Day/Time: Tuesday evenings, 7:00 pm ~ 9:30 pm (dates are above)
Fee: $450 (includes manual ) $100 deposit by September 17th
Limited number of partial Scholarships are available. Please email office@theupperroom for more information
“I have come that you may have life and have it to the full!” (Jn 10:10) God desires to give us a life full of God’s grace, permeated with God’s love. Jesus desires that we come to know him more intimately, to love him more deeply, to follow him more closelywhich will enable us to be fully alive in God.
The Upper Room is offering a “Retreat in Everyday Life” that will enable participants to enter more deeply into a life grounded in God’s presence. We will meet once a month for group sharing and input on a spiritual theme. Suggestions for prayer are offered; you are encouraged to pray daily for a half hour. Meeting with a spiritual director individually each month is recommended. This program is for those who:
• have a hunger for God and desire to deepen their relationship with Jesus; • desire to strengthen their prayer life; • are discerning a call or change in their life; and/or • are discerning a call to any ministry, including becoming a spiritual director By participating in this retreat, we are confident that God will abundantly bless your commitment to prayer
and desire for a deeper spiritual journey.
DATES AND TOPICS
September 27, 2011 “What are You Looking for?” (Jn. 1)
Our Desires and God’s Desires
October 18, 2011 “You are Precious in My Eyes” (Is. 43)
Experiencing God’s Love
November 8, 2011 “Have Mercy on Me, O Lord” (Ps.5)
God’s Merciful Love
December 6, 2011 “The Word Became Flesh” (Jn.1)
Knowing and Loving Jesus
January 10, 2012 “Come and See!” (Jn.1) Ministering with Jesus
February 7, 2012 “Come Follow Me.” (Lk.5) Responding to Jesus’ Call
March 6, 2012 “Unless a Grain of Wheat.” (Jn.12)
Dying with Jesus
April 3, 2012 “He is Risen”
Being with the Risen Lord
April 24, 2012 “Drinking of Living Waters.” (Jn.4)
The Fullness of God’s Love
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UPPER ROOM SPIRITUAL CENTER Sixteenth Annual Spirituality Conference
featuring Melannie Svoboda, SND
International speaker at conferences, parish missions, and retreats, poet, writer and author of over ten books including Traits of a Healthy Spirituality and When the Rain Speaks.
Holiness is Wholeness Signposts of a Healthy Spirituality
Saturday, November 12, 2011 ~ 9:00am 4:00 pm
Georgian Court University, Lakewood, NJ Please register through the Upper Room Spiritual Center
Fee: $65 ~ $80 (sliding scale) $5 late fee after November 7th _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name:______________________________________Amount Encl:_________________ Address__________________________________________________________________ City______________________________State:____________________Zip:__________ Phone:_____________________________Email:_______________________________
Box Lunch available for additional $7.00
Turkey Wrap _______ Vegetable Wrap ________ (includes Potato Chips, Fruit and Beverage)
Checks payable to the Upper Room and mail to the: Upper Room Spiritual Center
3455 W. Bangs Avenue, Building 2, Neptune, NJ 07753 www.theupperroom.org email: office@theupperroom.org
²Programs ²
Knitting and Prayer Learn how to combine your knitting/crocheting skills, prayer
and compassion and be rewarded with the satisfaction of creating a prayer shawl. Little or no experience required.
Presenter: Lois Dougherty A spiritual director at the Upper Room and a very experienced knitter
Dates: Wednesdays, Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 16, Dec. 14, 2011, Jan. 18 Feb. 15, Mar. 14, Apr. 18, May 16, 2012
Time: 1:30 pm 3:30 pm Fee: $15
Registration required one week in advance. Participants do not need to attend all classes
Taizé Prayer A Contemplative Experience
“In the common prayer, the spirit of praise gives glimpses of the invisible. And within you comes
welling up the wonder of a love.” Brother Roger of Taizé
Come for a refreshing evening of communal contemplative prayer. This evening of prayer will use the format of the Taizé Community in France…psalm singing, Scripture readings, si lence, and prayer around the cross. Presenters: Faithful Love Music Group Date: Monday, September 12, 2011 Time: 7:30 9:00 pm
Free will offering gratefully accepted
A Women’s Gathering It Was the Women Who Stayed
Throughout Jesus’ life the loving support, faithfulness and friendship of women was evident.
Join a circle of women as we explore the sacred dimension of friendship through the lens of faith, tradition, scripture, and our own life experience. Using some references of Joan Chittister’s book, Friendship of Women, we will be looking at women of faith including the oftenoverlooked voices and experiences of women in Scripture.
Date: Saturdays, Oct. 15, Nov. 19, Dec. 17, 2011 Jan. 21, Feb. 18, Mar. 17, Apr. 21, May 5, 2012
Time: 10:00am Fee: $15 ~ $20 For further information call Cecilia Rahner at 7322232880
Centering Prayer Come to the Quiet
Come on Tuesdays and Thursdays to experience a silent com munion with God as a group of prayers. We will start with Lec tio Divina the reading, reflecting and being touched by the word of God, leading into contemplation, entering the silence that is Centering Prayer. Centering prayer practiced as a group is amazingly powerful and fulfilling. Come join us in the silence. Presenter: Bunny Scott
Spiritual Director at the Upper Room; Facilitator of Centering Prayer groups for many years
Dates: Every Tuesday from 11:30 am 12:30 pm.
Every Thursday from 6:30 pm 7:30 pm A DVD with the same themes as Tuesday Programs will be held on: Sept. 15, Oct. 13, Nov. 10, Dec. 15, 2011, Jan. 12, Feb. 16, 2012 Free will offering gratefully accepted
Spirituali-Tea Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, would
encourage her sisters to share a “comfortable cup of tea” with their guests. In this tradition, come for an afternoon tea and en joy a refreshment of body, mind, spirit and the company of oth ers. The time will include prayer and brief spiritual reflection followed by a traditional afternoon tea with assorted delectables. You’re welcome to bring your favorite teacup and hat!
Presenter: Maureen Christensen, RSM Upper Room Codirector
Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 Time: 2:00 pm 4:00 pm Fee: $25 ~ $35
Registration with a $10 deposit by Sept. 8th
Opening to the Presence of God Centering Prayer:
A Journey to Intimacy with God Centering Prayer is a practical way of implementing Jesus’
teaching on how to pray. Fr. Keating’s DVD’s will guide us on our journey to our center where God resides. Sessions include: Input, DVD, Discussion, Centering Prayer, and Lectio Divina.
Facilitator: Bunny Scott (See previous description)
Day &Time: Tuesdays 10:00 am 2:30 pm Fee: $35 ~ $45 (Light lunch provided)
The Ultimate Reality………………………...September 20, 2011 Prayer as Relationship……………………….October 18, 2011 Practicing Centering Prayer,………………...November 15, 2011 The Human Condition,……………………...December 20, 2011 Deepening your relationship with God ……..January 17, 2012 A Lifelong Journey………………………….February 21, 2012
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Liturgies The Eucharist is usually celebrated at 11:30 am on Thursday each week.
If you are coming from a distance, we recommend you call ahead to confirm.
Maintaining Sobriety One Day at a Time
Our Twelve Step Program of Recovery teaches us how to live this way of life by offering us three steps to maintain what we have received through the work of the first nine steps of recovery.
This program, on the Spirituality of the Maintenance Steps, will look at the wisdom of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous to create the way for persons in recovery to live a life “happy, joyous and free.”
Steps Ten, Eleven, and Twelve are the keys to longterm recovery from addiction.
Presenter: Maureen Murphy, OP A spiritual director and has many years with 12 Step Recovery and giving retreats.
Date: Thursday, September 29, 2011 Time: 7:00 pm– 9:30 pm Fee: $25 ~ $35
Registration with a $10 deposit by September 22nd
Knitting as a Time of Waiting A Retreat Day
Knitting provides the contemplative space and time to re flect on our inward journey as it unfolds and reveals God’s love for us. Join us for this wonderful day as we gather to knit, pray, and reflect on our journey of life. Bring a project in process or simple patterns to share.
Presenters: Lois Dougherty and Mary Reidy Lois and Mary are spiritual directors at the Upper Room.
Date: Saturday, October 1, 2011 Time: 9:30am – 3:30 pm Fee: $50 ~ $60 (Light lunch included) Registration with a $20 deposit required by Sept. 23rd
Introduction to Spiritual Direction When it Comes to God, What do you Long for?
Today many Christians, serious about their relationship with God, looking for God in their life circumstances and desiring to deepen their prayer, participate in spiritual direc tion. During this program we will define spiritual direction, discuss what a person brings to it and model a session with a spiritual director. The process is simple and the journey is profound.
Presenters: Trudy Ahern, SSJ, & Anne Ryan Trudy is Codirector of the Upper Room and educator of spiritual directors. Anne is a spiritual director and educator of spiritual directors.
Date: Thursday, October 13, 2011 Time: 7:00pm – 9:30pm Fee: $15 ~ $25
Registration with a $10 deposit by Oct. 6th
“Be Still and Know….!” Craniosacral Therapy for
Total Well-Being This fullday workshop will give an overview of Craniosac
ral Therapy, discuss the many health benefits, demonstrate techniques, and offer you a unique opportunity to experience the healing process of Craniosacral Therapy in the context of a spirituallygrounded environment.
Presenter: Maureen Conroy, RSM, D.Min. Codirector of the Upper Room, Practitioner of Holistic Modalities, Author
Date: Saturday October 15, 2011 Times: 9:30 am 5:30 pm Fee: $100 Please call or email for a brochure that contains a complete
description of the program. Registration with a $40 deposit by Oct. 8th
The Art of Caregiving
This program focuses on how one can make the difficult task of caregiving be a spiritual, lifegiving, meaningful, and posi tive experience. It will include: input, prayer and reflection.
Presenter: Anne McCoy, SSJ Serves as Chaplain at Cancer Treatment Center of America. She is an experienced spiritual and retreat director and has offered many programs on faith formation.
Date: Thursday, October 20, 2011 Time: 7:00 pm 9:30 pm Fee: $25 ~ $35
Registration with a $10 deposit by Oct. 13th
Saints: Here, There and Everywhere
In an age when we sometimes wonder who we are, and where we are going the saints offer us “lessons of encourage ment” that enrich our lives and offer us energy for our disciple ship. Come this evening to explore the communion of saints our beloved family and friends who accompany us even now. Our evening will include input, prayer, reflection, and sharing.
Presenter: Trudy Ahern, SSJ Codirector of the Upper Room
Date: Wednesday, November 2, 2011 Time: 7:00 pm 9:30 pm Fee: $25 ~ $35
Registration with a $10 deposit by Oct. 25th
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Advent Series
What Are God’s Dreams for You? Through presentation, group discussions, and guided medita
tion, we will explore together where God is inviting us, at this point in our lives, to healing, growth, and being more fully alive. It might be something big that you don’t dare to dream for your self or something less dramatic like repairing or strengthening a relationship. God’s energy may be moving us in certain direc tions, but it takes some work to become fully aware of it and let it partner with us in our life decision making.
Presenters: Jack Hudak and Jim Moseman Jim, a Spiritual Director at the Upper Room & at St. Anselm’s Parish, is a Systems Engineer at AT&T. Jack is Music Director at St. Justin Parish and a Life Empowerment Coach.
Date: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 Time: 7:00 pm 9:30 pm Fee: $25 ~ $35
Registration with a $10 deposit by Nov. 4th
Daughter of Darkness, Mother of Light
What does Mary have to teach us through our times of Advent? An evening designed to facilitate a deepening of one’s spiritual life, through the embrace of “What is.”
Presenter: Anna Saltzman, RSM Spiritual director, involved in Pastoral Ministry, Adult Faith Formation and currently Campus Ministry.
Date: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 Time: 7:00 9:00 pm Fee: $25 ~ $35
Registration with a $10 deposit by Nov. 23rd
Advent Taizé “In the common prayer, the spirit of praise gives glimpses of the invisible. And within you comes
welling up the wonder of a love.” Brother Roger of Taizé
Come for a refreshing evening of communal contemplative prayer using the beautiful chants of the Taizé community. This Advent evening of prayer will include…psalm singing, Scripture readings, silence, and prayer at the crèche.
Presenters: Faithful Love Music Group Date: Monday, December 5, 2011 Time: 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Free Will Offering
Advent Day of Recollection As the darkness and cold of winter are again upon us, we
retreat into the depths of our hearts to commune with the Spirit of God always present there and where we find constant light and warmth.
In this time of great busyness come for a day to nourish your spirit! The day will include Liturgy and a light lunch.
Presenter: Rev. Richard Rento Chaplain at Seabrook Village in Tinton Falls and a regular broadcaster on Station WPAT.
Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011 Time: 9:30 am 2:30 pm Fee: $50 ~ $60 (Light lunch included)
Registration with a $20 deposit by Dec. 9th
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Memorial Tree Of Lights
During November the Upper Room will illuminate a tree with many lights to re member your deceased loved ones. You are invited to sponsor a light on this tree and dedicate this to someone dear to you who is
deceased and living in God’s eternal light. Each memorial light is a $10 donation.
Your loved ones will be enrolled in a special memory book displayed at the Upper Room and at Liturgy every Thursday during November. Also, you will receive a spe cial memory card. These special Memorial Lights will shine throughout the month of November on a tree inside the foyer of the Upper Room.
The illumination of the Memorial Tree will take place on:
Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 11:30 am Liturgy
If you are interested in our special remembrance, please send us your name and address along with the names of the people whom you are sponsoring at $10.00 per Memorial Light. Please make checks payable to the Upper Room, See page 12 for our address.
Building Rental The Upper Room Spiritual Center is available for rentals for large and small groups, weekdays or weekends.
For fees, please call or email Maria Rogers at (732) 9220550 or maria@theupperroom.org
Entering the New Year with New Eyes!
As we enter the New Year, what can we reasonably expect from it? Probably pretty much what we found in this past year. Are we in a rut? Or is God speaking to us in the ordinary and inviting us to greater intimacy through the everydayness of our lives? We will celebrate the New Year through prayer, reflec tion and ritual.
Presenters: Trudy Ahern, SSJ and Maureen Christensen, RSM Upper Room Codirectors
Date: Thursday, January 5, 2012 Time: 7:00pm 9:30 pm Fee: $25 ~ $35
Registration with a $10 deposit by Dec. 22nd
Change Your Outlook, Change Your Life!!!
The Healing Power of Abundant Thinking
Jesus proclaims, “I have come that you may have life and have it in abundance”(Jn10:10). God desires that we live a life full of love, peace, joy, hope. Yet our outlook and thinking can limit our receiving God’s abundant gifts.
Come and reflect on the meaning of “abundant thinking” and learn ways to experience life in greater fullness including: visu alization, meditation techniques, focused intention and mindful ness practices.
Presenter: Maureen Conroy, RSM Upper Room Codirector
Date: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 Time: 7:00pm 9:30 pm Fee: $25 ~ $35
Registration with a $10 deposit by Jan. 11th
Reflecting on the Gift of Years Benedictine writer Joan Chittester tells us that the gift of our
older years is not merly being alive, it is the gift of becoming more fully alive than ever! Let’s reflect on this time of life with its gifts and many challenges using the wisdom of Sr. Joan and our own understandings as we too grow in wisdom, age, and grace. Come and discover or grow more appreciative of the “Gift of Years.”
Presenter: Maureen Christensen, RSM Upper Room Codirector
Date: Thursday, January 26, 2012 Time: 10:00 am 2:00 pm Fee: $30 ~ $40 (liturgy and light lunch included)
Registration with a $10 deposit by Jan. 19th
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Sacred Eating The Art of Sacred Nourishment
This program will focus on “how we eat” versus what we eat. Through listening to the holy temple of the body one can identify “True Hunger” and how one’s body responds to dif ferent foods. We will explore how the manner in which we eat affects all areas of our life. A guided gentle eating experience will be included to support experiencing food and the body in a sacred way.
Presenter: Michelle P. Carlino B.A. in Special Education and Communications; Certified Yoga Instructor
Date: Thursday, February 16, 2012 Time: 6:30 pm ~ 9:30 pm Fee: $30 ~ $40
Registration with a $10 deposit by Feb. 9th
Ash Wednesday Retreat Day
What is the Invitation of this Season?
To accept our mortality in hope; to repent of our sinful ways; to reform everything antilife and antiChrist : these must be the chief goals of our Lenten efforts, which we begin well with ashes and Bread.
Presenter: Rev. Richard Rento Chaplain at Seabrook Village, Tinton Falls, NJ and Sunday broadcaster on WPAT.
Date: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 Time: 9:30 am 2:30 pm Fee: $50 ~ $60 (liturgy and light lunch included)
Registration with a $20 deposit by Feb. 15th
Savoring Lent Rev. Terrance Moran, C.SS.R. Thursday, March 8, 2012
7:00 pm 9:30 pm
It’s All In the Attitude Rev. Richard Rento
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 7:00 pm 9:00 pm
(descriptions to follow in next Newsletter)
Lenten Series
Tending The Mystic Fire
How can looking at the direct experiences of the di vine of mystics of a variety of traditions help spiritual directors to explore their own God experiences and those of their directees’?
Presenter: Rev. Terrence Moran, C.SS.R. Spiritual Director, writer, retreat director, international speaker in over 25 countries. Codirector of the Quellen Spiritual Direction Formation Program, Mendam, NJ
Date: Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Spiritual Directors Gathering from 4:00 to 5:00pm
Three Experiences of Darkness
We will explore three experiences of darkness: spiri tual desolation, the dark night, and depression and discuss how we can help others who are struggling with any of these experiences. The following questions will be ad dressed through input, discussion, and role play:
• What is spiritual desolation and what are its causes? How does a person work with spiritual desolation?
• What are characteristics of the dark night of the soul and how is it different from spiritual desolation?
• What is depression? What are the symptoms and causes of depression? What are some treatments for depression?
• What is the relationship between desolation and de pression, desolation and the dark night?
• How can a spiritual director companion someone who is desolate, depressed, and/or in the dark night?
Presenter: Maureen Conroy, RSM, D.Min. Codirector of the Upper Room
Date: Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Participating In Divine Compassion
We will explore compassion as the very nature of the God who moves toward us in the tenderness and who com pels us to move outward in works of justice in our deep experience of God. Spiritual directors, thus, participate in God’s compassion in our role as directors and this experi ence deepens our capacity for empathic listening and re sponse in our spiritual sessions.
Presenter: Janet Ruffing, RSM, Ph.D. Professor of the Practice of Spirituality and Ministerial leadership at Yale Divinity School; wellknown author
Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Spiritual Direction as Spiritual Practice
Spiritual directors are privileged to listen to the deep yearnings and desires of their directees. This deep listen ing can evoke material from the directors’ unconscious and result in inner transformation. Through input, case studies, and discussion we will explore:
• The power of the spiritual direction process for the transformation of both director and directee
• The synchronicity of who God sends to us as directees
• The call to our own integrity and integration by being a spiritual director
• Discerning what material to bring to supervision or our own spiritual direction process
Presenter: Don Bisson, FMS, D.Min Educator of Spiritual Directors and International Speaker.
Date: Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Spiritual Directors Gathering from 4:00 to 5:00pm
Professional Days for Spiritual Directors
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Each Professional Day Time: 9:30 am 4:00 pm Fee: $65 ~ $80 (includes lunch)
Registration with a $25 deposit due one week in advance
Note about Ronald Rolheiser and Spirituality Conference
Ron Rolheiser needed to postpone his presenting at the Spirituality Conference and will reschedule in the future. We are delighted that Melannie Svoboda, another wonderful
speaker and writer, will be the presenter this fall.
²Retreats²
Directed Prayer Weekends A directed prayer weekend is an opportunity for
individuals to spend time with God in a personal way. As well as enjoying an atmosphere of prayerful silence, each person meets with a spiritual director daily to share what happened in his or her prayer and dialogue with God. It is an occasion similar to the type that Jesus offered the disciples in the midst of their busy ministries and lives:
“Come away with me to an outoftheway place and rest awhile.” (Mark 6:31)
Fall Winter October 2123, 2011 March 911, 2012
Arrival: Friday, 7:00 pm Departure: Sunday, 3:00 pm Fee: $150 (two nights) Deposit: $75 (with reservation,
nontransferable, nonrefundable)
Registration one week in advance
Six-Day Directed Retreat “Take, Lord, and Receive…”
Come for a special opportunity for solitude, prayer with Scripture, and daily spiritual direction. This retreat is offered in the spirit of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Date: Friday, May 18 Friday, May 25, 2012 Time: 7:00 pm Arrival 10:30 am Departure Fee: $450 (seven nights)
Registration required with a $100 nontransferable and nonrefundable deposit by May 4th
Directions to the Upper Room From North Garden State Parkway South to Exit 100B (Rte. 33 East) At third traffic light turn left onto W. Bangs Avenue. Turn left (past the school) into Holy Innocents driveway. The Center is straight ahead in the back of the parking lot.
From South Parkway North to Exit 100 (Rte. 33 East). Follow directions above.
From West Rte. 195 to Parkway North to Exit 100. Follow directions above.
What is Spiritual Direction? Spiritual Direction is a ministry in which one person accompa
nies another in the process of growing in intimacy with God. The focus of a spiritual direction relationship is the directee’s
experience of the Holy One in his or her life of prayer, and the way that communication happens between God and the directee. Life circumstances and struggles may be discussed in spiritual
direction sessions. Problemsolving, however, is NOT the focus of spiritual direction. Regular meetings with a spiritual director help one to pay atten
tion and to become aware of God in self, others, events, all of life! For more information please email or call Maria Rogers
(732) 9220550 or maria@theupperroom.org
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Gift Certificates…
For workshops, courses, and retreats are available at the Upper Room. Give a friend a unique opportunity for growth. Certificates may be purchased for any program. They
may be for full of partial payment. (Call the Upper Room 7329220550)
In Remembrance
Remember your loved ones in a special way. Memorial bricks are available for placement in the Pieta Memo rial Garden and the Labyrinth Reflection Grove. A do nation of $100 per brick includes engraving. For more information email or call Maria Rogers at the Upper Room 7329220550, maria@theupperroom.org
Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat Rachel’s Vineyard is a safe place to renew, rebuild and
redeem hearts broken by abortion. Weekend retreats offer you a supportive, confidential and nonjudgmental environ ment where women and men can express, release and recon cile painful postabortive emotions to begin the process of restoration, renewal and healing.
Date: Friday, September 9 Sunday, September 11, 2011 Time: 7:00 pm Arrival 4:00 pm Departure Fee: $125
For registration and information please contact: Judy Warenkiewicz 7325366871 or email: [email protected]
Formation in Spiritual Direction TwoYear Certification Program
September 2012 – May 2014
A twoyear program for those discerning a call to the ministry of Spiritual Direction, that is, those who accompany others on their spiritual journey.
Yearly Components
• At least twelve evening classes, September May • Instructional content on key aspects of Spiritual Direction • Offering spiritual direction to at least three directees the first year and six directees the second year • Individual and Peer Supervision • Required Readings • Professional Days and Workshops • Directed Prayer Weekend • Discernment Day
Prerequisites
• A felt call to spiritual companionship with others • A willingness to discern this call with a spiritual director and with the Upper Room Program Staff • A participating member of a faith community • Receiving spiritual direction on a monthly basis for at least one year (required), two years (recommended) • At least 35 years old • Background in Theology, some experience of ministry, and evidence of personal maturity • A sixday/eightday directed retreat or a 19 th Annotated Retreat
Application Process
• A Letter of Intent stating your reasons for applying and desires concerning the ministry of spiritual direction
• Letter of Intent due by March 16, 2012 • Application and recommendation forms will be sent • Interview with program staff • Fee of $25 submitted with application
Tuition • Approximately $2,400 per year
For more information please call or write to:
Trudy Ahern, SSJ, Upper Room Spiritual Center
3455 W. Bangs Ave , Building 2, Neptune, NJ, 07753 Phone # 7329220550 email – office@theupperroom.org
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Calendar of Events September 2011 March 2012
DECEMBER 5 Advent Taizé 6 6 Fully Alive in God Series:
“The Word Became Flesh” 2 14 Knitting and Prayer 4 15 Advent Day of Recollection 6 17 Women’s Gathering 4 20 Centering Prayer:
The Human Condition 4
JANUARY 5 Entering The New Year With
New Eyes! 7 10 Fully Alive in God Series
“Come and See!” 2 17 Centering Prayer: Deepening
your Relationship with God 4 18 Knitting and Prayer 4 18 Change Your Outlook,
Change Your Life!!! 7 21 Women’s Gathering 4 26 Reflecting on the Gift of Years 7
FEBRUARY 1 Participating in Divine Compassion 8 7 Fully Alive in God Series
“Come Follow Me” 2 15 Knitting and Prayer 4 16 Sacred Eating:
The Art of Sacred Nourishment 7 18 Women’s Gathering 4 21 Centering Prayer:
A Lifelong Journey 4 22 Ash Wednesday Retreat Day 7
MARCH 6 Fully Alive in God Series
“Unless a Grain of Wheat” 2 8 Savoring Lent 7
9 ~11 Directed Prayer Weekend 9 15 Journey of a Celtic Heart 12 17 Women’s Gathering 4
SEPTEMBER 911 Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat 9 12 Taizé Prayer 4 14 SpiritualiTea 4 20 Centering Prayer:
The Ultimate Reality 4 21 Knitting and Prayer 4 29 Maintaining Sobriety One Day at
A Time 5 27 Fully Alive in God Series:
“What are You looking for?” 2
OCTOBER 1 Knitting as a Time of Waiting
A Retreat Day 5 4 Tending The Mystic Fire 8 13 Introduction of Spiritual Direction 5 15 Women’s Gathering 4 15 “Be Still and Know…!” 5 18 Centering Prayer: Prayer as
Relationship 4 18 Fully Alive in God Series:
“You are Precious in My Eyes.” 2 19 Knitting and Prayer 4 20 The Art of Caregiving 5
21~23 Directed Prayer Weekend 9
NOVEMBER 2 Saints: Here, There and Everywhere 5 3 Memorial Tree of Lights 6 8 Three Experiences of Darkness 8 8 Fully Alive in God Series:
“Have Mercy on Me, O Lord” 2 12 Spirituality Conference 3 15 Centering Prayer:
Practicing Centering Prayer 4 16 Knitting and Prayer 4 16 What Are God’s Dreams for You? 6 19 Women’s Gathering 4 30 Daughter of Darkness,
Mother of Light 6
Date Page
Registration Form
Name______________________________________ Address____________________________________ City_________________State______Zip__________ Phone No._________________________________ Day(s) Desired_____________________________ _________________________________________ Amount Enclosed $_________________
Registration Form
Name______________________________________ Address____________________________________ City________________State_______Zip__________ Phone No._________________________________ Day(s) Desired_____________________________ ________________________________________ Amount Enclosed $_________________
Date Page
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Mark Your Calendars! “Swing into Spring”
Golf 2012 Wednesday, May 9, 2012 Eagle Ridge Golf Course
For further information, contact Maria Rogers at 7329220550 or
maria@theupperroom.org
UPPER ROOM NEWS
Upper Room Spiritual Center 3455 W. Bangs Avenue Bldg. 2
Neptune, NJ 07753 Phone: (732) 9220550 Fax: (732) 9223904
www.theupperroom.org office@theupperroom.org
CoDirectors: Trudy Ahern SSJ
Maureen Christensen RSM Maureen Conroy RSM
Ria Rogers, Publisher Maureen Conroy RSM, Coordinator
Circulation: 4,000
Upper Room Spiritual Center
Pot of Gold Monthly Raffle 10 Monthly Drawings beginning March 17, 2012
$750.00 cash prize each month
Price: $50 (that’s only $5.00 a month!) Tickets available through the Upper Room
NONPROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE
PAID PERMIT NO. 632 RED BANK, NJ
JOURNEY OF A CELTIC HEART
CARMEL BOYLE Thursday, March 15, 2012
9:30 am ~ 4:00 pm Friday night Concert and
Saturday Workshop
David Haas
April 20th and April 21st St. Justin’s Parish Toms River, NJ