Come Celebrate the Year of the Priest with Us
June 2009 to June 2010
For your convenience we are offering two retreat/workshops
After Christmas 2009 and before Lent 2010
February 7TH to 12TH 2010
Summer Session
July 18TH to 23RD 2010
Location For Both Of These Retreat/Workshops
Mount Mary Immaculate Retreat Centre, Ancaster Ontario, Canada
On June 13TH 2009 Pope Benedict XVI
ANNOUNCED A SPECIAL YEAR FOR PRIESTS
Commemorating and CELEBRATING THE YEAR OF THE PRIEST
June 13TH 2009 to June 13TH 2010
Pope Benedict XV1 would like us to focus on the Spiritual Development and the Human Growth of the Priests who Serve God's Church so Faithfully
We at The Journey Into Self Discovery Program are delighted that the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has called for this special year for priests. In the beginning of this commemorative year, he said that recently priests had been through some challenging times, and that during this “YEAR FOR PRIESTS”, he would like us to focus on the SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE HUMAN GROWTH OF THE PRIESTS WHO SERVE GOD'S CHURCH SO FAITHFULLY.
He would like to share the JOY of the PRIESTHOOD, in service of JESUS CHRIST and “His Church”.
WE AT THE JOURNEY INTO SELF DISCOVERY PROGRAM ARE INSPIRED BY THE HOLY FATHER'S WORDS. THEY REMIND US OF OUR OWN ONGOING COMMITMENT TO HELPING MEN IN MINISTRY FOCUS ON SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN GROWTH.
WE ARE CELEBRATING
A SILVER ANNIVERSARY 1984 to 2009
of
THE JOURNEY INTO SELF DISCOVERY
FOR MEN IN MINISTRY PROGRAM
CELEBRATING 25 CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF SERVICE
TO PRIESTS AND MEN IN MINISTRY
FOR 25 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR YOU!
HELPING PRIESTS AND MEN IN MINISTRY
TO STAY ALIVE IN A TIME OF FAMINE
We offer a safe PASTORAL ENVIRONMENT. We have a deeply SPIRITUAL commitment to assist you in the rediscovery and exploration of your life Journey. The simple ordinariness of human living; your difficulties, and struggles along the way; discern Your path; explore your Spirituality; examine your interpersonal relationships and your commitments; examine your struggles with addictions, compulsions and sexuality.
WE OFFER A PLACE OF SAFE COMPASSIONATE UNDERSTANDING
AN ENVIRONMENT OF RECONCILIATION
A PLACE OF HEALING, SUPPORT AND RENEWAL
A PLACE WHERE A NEW LIFE BEGINS
OUR RETREAT/WORKSHOPS REALLY HELP
WE SPONSER AND LEAD INTERACTIVE RETREATS/WORKSHOPS
EXCLUSIVELY FOR PRIESTS AND MEN IN MINISTRY.
WE PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THE INNER LIFE OF THE SELF IN A CHRIST CENTERED DIALOGUE.
MEETING THE CHRIST IN YOU,
LIVING WITH THE PRIEST IN YOU,
THE MINISTRY OF JESUS IN YOU THE HUMAN PERSON.
CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST
MEDITATIONS ON THE PASSION, MYSTICAL DEATH,
AND THE MEDIEVAL INVENTION OF PSYCHOTHERAPY
By Dan Mekur
Crucified with Christ offers a fascinating study of the psychoanalytic character of medieval meditation.
Most meditation practitioners imagined themselves in the place of an eye witness to the passion: however some including Bernard of Clairvaux, Francis of Assisi, and Bonaventure, introduced meditation from the perspective of Jesus. They felt the imagined crucifixion, passion, and death as experiences of their own and understood them in Pauline terms as “crucifixions with Christ”. As knowledge of mystical death experience accumulated over the centuries. It was noted that repeated mystical unions with Christ in his death could create personality change, imparting the sweetness of Jesus's personality to the mediators.
Author Dan Mekur illustrates that in both details and its goal the meditative process meets contemporary psychoanalytic criteria for psychotherapeutic change. The medieval practice of meditation, Merkur writes is comprehensible as guided imagery therapy that takes the mediator from the fear of death to forgiveness of persecutors – in psychoanalytic dissolving resistance through a capacity for concern and relationality.
This courageous text on a topic many would avoid as too controversial. There is urgent need to relate the classic religious literature of the West with the advances in psychology . It is to our cultural peril that we do not enter into a dialogue between these two areas of human experience.
by Carla May Streeter, OP, Aquinas Institute of Theology
Published by State University of New York Press
Note: Crucified With Christ
On The Road to Emmaus, as a theme, places the therapeutic Action of THE JOURNEY INTO SELF DISCOVERY program FOR MEN IN MINISTRY directly in the Action of The Crucifixion with the Heart and Resurrection of Jesus. The narratives of sacred scripture and guided meditation are an integral dynamic of the psychoanalytical and experiential approach to our therapeutic group process. We are delighted to recommend the above book to you. Sincerely Daniel McDonald
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A Prayer of Listening with the Heart
Spirituality, Wellness, Psychotherapy
LECTIO DIVINA became a listening with the heart as one does quite naturally and spontaneously while pondering or feeling any deep human experience or memory, particularly a memory of trauma). The Sacred Word falling softly on the Heart speaks to the soul through feelings, Dreams, moods and emotions. The relationship of the soul to body tenders a deep reconciliation, a healing of the rift between the soul, the body and the self. The mending of the split in the self. The self has a responsibility to God for our soul, as well as our body; we are one as the Father and Son are one.
Lectio Devina of Jesus On the Road to Emmaus; it was in the breaking of the bread that opened the hearts of the disciples, this is the power of transubstantiation. |
“The Resurrection can only be received and affirmed and be celebrated as the new action of God, whose province is to create new Futures to the People and let them be amazed in the Midst of Despair.” :: Walter Brueggemann, The Prophetic Imagination, Fortress Press
SUPPORTING THE HUMAN GROWTH OF PRIESTS
THE JOURNEY INTO SELF DISCOVERY FOR MEN IN MINISTRY
YOU WILL DO THE WORKS JESUS DOES
Truly, truly, I tell you,
The one who trusts me will also do the works that I do,
in fact, will do greater works than these
This is what Jesus is leading up to:
his disciples will continue his mission and his works.
But what is this mission?
It is to give life, eternal life,
and to reveal the face and heart of God to people.
It is to be a presence of God in the world
where there is an absence of God.
:: Jean Vanier–Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John, Novalis |
In the company of one another we travel; we are amazed and full of hope with the help of Scripture, prayer, the Eucharist, sharing our experiences, telling our stories, our dreams, learning how to relax, discernment, a gentle focus of psychotherapy, healing exercises, emotional bodywork, rest and rejuvenation for the body, mind and spirit. All of this and more.
Come CELEBRATE THIS SPECIAL YEAR FOR PRIESTS, as we begin a universal renewal of priesthood among us.
WE HAVE A NEED TO TRAVEL IN THE COMPANY OF ONE ANOTHER
ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
The Journey into Self Discovery for Men Ministry Offers an unique opportunity of immersion and a transformation in the Resurrection. To turn around and to recognize Who it is Who has been traveling with us.
Psychotherapy is a focused and compassionate process that encourages us to discover what may prevent our development; to clear the old pathways so that we may embody the new energized spirit of the Emmaus Journey.
“Celebrating the new action of God whose province is to create new futures for the people and let them be amazed in the Midst of Despair.”
“I was out of touch with myself despite what others would call and do call, wonderful achievements for the parish and the wider church. In a very gentle, professional and safe way I have come to see (through this retreat) how much my behavior has been addictive and defensive and terribly out of touch with the call of Christ. Jesus invites our hidden self to awaken and to grow strong.” : A priest & bioethicist.
“Thank you for this retreat/workshop On The Road To Emmaus. I am now have the courage to continue in my vocation as a priests. You gave me hope again.”
Come Celebrate the Year of the Priest with Us
Two Workshops to Choose From
Winter Session
After Christmas 2009 and before Lent 2010
February 7TH to 12TH 2010
Summer Session
July 18TH to 23RD 2010
Location For Both Of These Workshops
Mount Mary Immaculate Retreat Centre, Ancaster Ontario, Canada
THE IMPORTANCE OF STORY
“If men desire wisdom, she will give them the water of knowledge to drink, They will never waiver from the truth; they will stand firm forever, Alleluia.” (Sir.) 15
A LIFE JOURNEY QUESTION : HEARING THE CALL
a continuation from Spring issue, 2009
Remembered Mornings: Stories from childhood.
What will I be when I grow up,” I asked my mother one morning as she helped me to lace up my boots, for the daily journey to school.
“I don't know” she said. “perhaps you should ask God about that,”
“How do I ask God when I never see him.”
“You talk to God in the same way as we do when we pray every night. Remember how you kneel down by your bed and pray” she said as she pushed back her hair from her face.
“But I still can't see him,” I argued.
“We see God everywhere, in all the things that he has made around us.”
“What should I Ask him about?”
“Well silly, your question the one that you just asked me” she said a little vexed with me.
“What am I going to be going to be when I grow Up,” she nodded her head.
“Does God have all the answers to my questions?”
My mom, gave a final tug to my laces, “there” she said “you are now ready for school.”
“The one thing I know” my mom said “is that God calls everybody to be something special.
He also calls people to do many different things.
God says to us come and make a journey with Him. Let us walk and talk about what there is do in my Kingdom here on earth.”
She held out my coat for me to shove my arm into the sleeve.
“You mean God will let me know what it is that He wants me to do?”
“Yes something like that”, she said, nodding her head.
“How?”
“God speaks to us all the time, He speaks to our hearts,” she said as she gathered up my lunch things.
All of a sudden I had so many questions in my mouth, all at once.
“Mom, I want to know everything about God.”
Is God really a king?
Does God have a castle in heaven?
Where is His kingdom?
Why does God give everybody a special job to do?
Would God, who is a king, want to talk with me a little boy?”
“You are such a question machine this morning, my little darling. Right now you have to be off to school,” She said, as she gently patted me on my shoulder.
“Just one more question please mom,” I begged her.
“Alright,” my mother said, “one small question then off you go.”
“Does God listen to Children?”
“Yes, dear, God listens to everybody, big people and children.
God wants us all to be happy,” she said. Her voice told me this was the last question.
My Mom pulled her coat around her as we hurriedly walked to the crossroads where Mrs. Penngully would be waiting to give me a ride in her buggy. Mrs. Penngully drove us to school each morning along with her own children.
“Did God Call you and Dad to do something special?” This question just seemed to pop right out of my mouth all by itself.
“We have to move fast so we will not be late for Mrs. Penngully
Yes, I believe that God did call me,” she said. “He invited me to be a wife for your father and a mother to our children.”
“What about Dad?”
“I think you should ask Dad yourself, about that”
I could hardly stand up when I thought how God whispered things into my mother's ear and told her that he wanted her to be a mother for me, a mother for brothers and a wife for my father.
“Mom I am so glad that God did that.”
“Me too,” she said.
“Was God's voice like a big bang, like thunder, when he spoke to you,” I asked?
“No, God speaks softly and not always in words that we hear, more with the ears of our heart.”
“If God is so close that you can hear him when he speaks softly in the ear of your heart why can't I see him then?” I wondered out loud.
Just then we reached Mrs. Penngully's buggy and my mom gave me a kiss as she boosted me up into the buggy. “I will see you when you get home,” she said as she waved good bye. I watched as she stood at the crossroad and watching us go down the road in Mrs. Penngully's buggy
As the horse and buggy journeyed along the road towards the school, we passed all our neighbours' farms: the Winter's, the the Smith's, the Connor's and then we passed through the forest called O'Sullivan's big bush. It felt like nighttime, it was a bit scary and so dark inside the bush. When I felt scared I began to think about God and How He loved me. Then I began to feel how special I was and that God wanted me to be something and that he would give many choices of things to be.
Sitting back in the buggy, I began to think about all the things I liked about my life as a child. My mind began going over all the things I liked to do:
I like playing in the barn. My favorite place was getting up into the hay loft and jumping and rolling around In the hay. The hay always smelled so good to me; it reminded me of running through the fields.
I like to visit with my grandfather when he summer ploughed in the fields. I like walking along side of him and his three horses who pulled the big three furrow plough.
I like listening to granddad's stories.
I like driving to mass, in our old family 1928 Whippet Touring Car. I like it when the rain curtains were flapping in the wind as we drive along. I am so happy when I stick my arm out of the car and into the wind, before my father shouts out how dangerous it was to have your arm outside the automobile. Some of our neighbors still came to mass in their horse drawn buggies.
Inside the church we sat in our own pew. The pew was ours because my Grandfather rented it. I watched longingly as the altar boys, taller than me, did things up on the altar like lighting the big tall candles and bringing out the wine and water cruets. I liked thinking that how some day I would like to be a priest like Father Hickey. He was a nice man and he had the power to turn ordinary bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus. To me this was the most powerful thing a man could do.
I like it after mass when the men stood around and chatted about all kinds of matters and plans for their crops, their cattle and what they had to sell at the cattle auction. I listened deeply with interest when they spoke about things coming up in the community: ploughing matches, the county fairs and auction sales. If I were lucky, it might mean that I could go with the adults. Sometimes I could go with the men when they helped out their neighbours like when the thrashing machine came to our area.
One Sunday, I heard one of the women telling my mom that she seen in a department store catalogue a new electric iron that all you had to do was plug it into the electricity. “You could sit down while you are ironing, and rest your feet,” she said. “Just turn the dial for what temperature you wanted and the iron would get hot and stay at that temperature. No more putting the iron on the kitchen range and running back and forth from the stove to get it hot so you could iron.” I wondered how could electricity make the Iron get hot.
We children had a chance to meet and play with some of our friends. We could run around the lawn beside the church and play tag. But mostly we just waited for our grown ups.
Sometimes I thought that I would like to be a teacher and I could help all the kids like by brother Bernard to learn his arithmetic and his spelling.
I thought that I might like to be a doctor, but then I remembered that I could never cut someone open to fix them up, I could not poke them with a needle either. It made me sick and I wanted to puke. So,I think that maybe it might be too hard for me to be a doctor.
I always wanted my father to stop the car so we could watch the trains. Sometimes he would tell us how the big locomotives made steam so that they could run faster than the wind. “But Soon,” my father added that, “all the trains would be big powerful diesel locomotives that were cleaner and safer, and less expensive to operate.”
Oh how much fun it would be to drive a steam locomotive. I would like to be locomotive engineer. I could sit at my engine window and stick my arm out the window as far as I wanted too, and then blow the big whistle, as the train raced down the tracks moving across the country to strange sounding places like Halifax, Winnipeg and Vancouver. I wanted to go everywhere. The big locomotive engine was so strong that it could climb right up the side of a mountain. The passenger train could also take you right to the ocean.
I could be a missionary priest and go to far away countries like China. Someplace deep inside me, I heard a little voice saying that this was what I wanted to do most when I grew up: to be a missionary.
But I never told my mother about what I wanted do because I was not sure enough yet. I loved our farm, but I knew I never wanted to be a farmer. Living on the farm was great and I felt so connected to nature. But I wanted more than doing the same thing over and over all the time. I knew for sure that I did not want to be a farmer. I did not want to tell my Dad because I felt it would make him feel sad.
Bernard wanted to be a farmer and I thought that he would make a very good farmer. I knew that My father would be happy that Bernard wanted to live on the farm and milk the cows, and plough the fields, as he does.
I have listened and followed the call all my life. God has encouraged me to answer many different calls to do things in His Kingdom. They have been rich experiences and life fulfilling gifts to me. But the best gift I have ever received are those things that my mother I talked about in mornings, as she helped me put on my boots and buttoned up my coat, and make me ready for my journey to school. In certain constant ways I have embraced all those whisperings and held them in my own heart and carried them into the experience of my life.
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Tne Centre is located in the heart
of downtown Toronto
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For more information contact Daniel McDonald
Journey into Self Discovery for Men in Ministry Program
A Division of C.P.E.B. Therapies Inc.
145 Spadina Road
Toronto ON M5R 2T1 Canada
Tel 416.928.9570
Fax 416.921.7464
Email |
