Competing Feasts
We all remember to celebrate Halloween on October 31st.
Few are aware that Jesuits celebrate on that date each
year the feast of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, a Jesuit brother
who lived from July 25, 1533, to October 31, 1617. Entering
the Society of Jesus at the age of 37 as a widower, Alphonsus
was assigned to the newly founded Jesuit college at Palma
on Majorca, where he served humbly as porter—answering
the door for all the visitors—for 46 years.
The feast of Alphonsus is celebrated even now as the special
feast of all Jesuit brothers, who continue to care for
the people of God as generously and quietly as did Alphonsus.
A special congratulations, then, (just a few days late)
to our own Brother Tom Koller, who is ever at the service
of the El Retiro retreatants and Jesuit community.
Brother Tom Koller with one of his Roman friends, just a few years back.
Experiencing with the Church
A particular gift of El Retiro’s ministry is our engagement with
the many people who care for the Church through their service in the
local dioceses. Frs. Ballard and Bush and Carroll and Hudson have all
been called upon, in the last couple of months, to preach retreats for
groups of deacons or priests of Oakland, San Francisco, or San Jose,
or through St. Patrick’s Seminary.
Frs. Ballard and Vu are teaming up this weekend with Ms. Leelamma
Sebastian, of our staff, and with Fr. Larry Percell, pastor
of our local parish, St. Nicholas. They will offer a tri-lingual
day of prayer (English and Spanish and Vietnamese), at St.
Patrick’s Seminary, for parishioners active at St. Maria
Goretti Parish, San Jose.
Many such opportunities over the course of each year (not
least of all, the annual El Retiro retreat for the bishops
of the San Francisco ecclesiastical province) keep us in touch
with the richness of the local Church. Our encounter with
the vision and the hopes of these people (and with the challenges
they face in ministry) is a great source of encouragement
and edification for us. Join us in grateful prayer that the
Spirit continue to bless their work for the people of God.
Rossi Chapel in the light of a summer sunset.
A Way of Caring
Get On The Bus, an annual
event, brings children (and their guardians) from throughout California
for a four-hour visit with their mothers and fathers in prison. The
program offers free transportation, travel bags for the children and
the caregivers, and a photo of each child with his or her parent. All
meals are included. On the trip home, each child receives post-event
counseling and a teddy bear, with a letter from his or her parent.
To assist, contact Sr. Claire Williams at 925-335-9314
or claire@getonthebus.us.
This chapel is the highlight of the Cameretta, the simple rooms of St. Ignatius
in Rome, from which he watched over the care for the poor and other apostolic
efforts of the first Jesuits.
Retreats Coming Up
Traveling Together ……..
On the weekend of November 12-14, we will offer a non-silent
retreat for Married Couples.
Fr.
Jerry Hudson, S.J., and Mary
and Mike Romo will be
the retreat directors, reflecting with us on Called to
Be One for the Journey. They will be assisted by
Ms.
Nancy McGaraghan and Jesuit Fathers Bernie
Bush, and
Jim
Flynn.
In this retreat we will consider the experience of couples
in their journeys of marriage, sharing insights from the
pilgrimage of St. Ignatius through the Spiritual Exercises.
For more information or to register for this retreat, give
us a call at 650-917-4000 or register on-line at Called
to Be One for the Journey.
Harvest Blessings to Share
We will offer a silent Thanksgiving retreat for men and
women on the weekend of November 19-21.
Fr.
Joe Fice, S.J., and Ms.
Anne Grycz, will be the retreat
directors, inviting us on Thanksgiving: the Heart of Prayer. They
will be assisted by Sr.
Ingrid Honoré-Lallande,
C.S.J., Fr.
Larry Percell, and Jesuit Fathers Kevin
Ballard and Duc
Vu.
As we reflect on this harvest season each year, we find
ourselves, as individuals, as families, as a nation, gathering
to share praise and thanksgiving, our response to all that
God has so generously shared with us. Let's count a few
blessings!
For more information or to register for this retreat, give us a call at 650-917-4000
or register on-line at Thanksgiving: the Heart of Prayer.
A Weekend of Gratitude and Serenity
On the weekend of November 26-28, we will offer a
non-silent recovery retreat for both women and men.
Fr.
Tom Weston, S.J. will be the retreat director. He
will be assisted by Mary
Cross, Ph.D., Sr.
Stephanie Still, P.B. V.M., and Jesuit Fathers Kevin
Ballard and Joe
Fice.
This will be a time of gratitude and serenity for
the members of the Recovering Community. We will
look together at the Steps, the Traditions, and the
Principles of Recovery. Old Timers and New Comers
are most welcome!
For more information or to register for this retreat,
give us a call at 650-917-4000 or register on-line
at A Weekend of Gratitude and Serenity.
My Spirit Rejoices!
We will offer an Advent Day of Prayer, non-silent
retreat for both women and men on Wednesday, December
8.
Fr.
Jim Flynn, S.J., and Mrs.
Cathy Collins will
be the retreat directors. Fr. Flynn and Mrs.
Collins will be assisted by Fr. Bernie Bush, S.J.
In this retreat, we will gather to sing with Mary, "My
soul magnifies the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God
my Savior." The Day of Prayer will prepare
us to celebrate the fuller coming of Emmanuel into
our lives at this Christmas of 2010.
For more information or to register for this retreat,
give us a call at 650-917-4000 or register on-line
at My Spirit Rejoices!
The Message: Loud and Clear
On the weekend of December 10-12, we will offer a
non-silent recovery retreat for men.
Msgr.
Terrence Richey of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles,
will be the retreat director. His retreat,
titled Carrying the Message, will help us reflecting
on renewing our commitment—and our gratitude. Msgr.
Richey will be assisted by Sr.
Patricia Galli, R.S.M. and Jesuit Fathers Kevin
Ballard, Joe
Fice, and Jim
Flynn.
For more information or to register for this retreat,
give us a call at 650-917-4000 or register on-line
at Carrying
the Message.
Sing Aloud in Celebration of Advent
We will offer a silent (yet singing) retreat for
women and men on the weekend of December 17-19.
Fr.
Tom Carroll, S.J., and Ms.
Julie Paavola will
be the retreat directors, singing and praying with
us of the desire of each Advent and of the grace
of God-with-us on Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day! Fr.
Carroll and Ms. Paavola will be assisted by Ms.
Randi Schmidt and Jesuit Fathers Kevin
Ballard and Duc
Vu.
The chants and songs, carols and hymns of Advent
and Christmas invite us to contemplate the entire
mystery of God's saving action in our world.
For more information or to register for this retreat,
give us a call at 650-917-4000 or register on-line
at Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day!
Something Old (Out), Something New (In): all together in Recovery
On the weekend of December 31 to January 2, we
will offer a non-silent New Year recovery retreat
for both women and men. (Retreat fee: $340, deposit:
$150)
Fr.
Tom Weston, S.J., will be the retreat director,
focusing with us on steps, traditions, and the
principles of recovery on Fellowship, Celebrated
in a Sacred Space. He will be assisted by
Ms.
Mary Peterson, Sr.
Stephanie Still, P.B.V.M.,
and Jesuit Fathers Kevin
Ballard, Jim
Flynn, Jack
Mitchell, and Duc
Vu.
Let's let go of the old and welcome in the new.
Spend New Year 2011 peacefully with women and
men in recovery. Old Timers and New Comers
are welcome!
For more information or to register for this retreat,
give us a call at 650-917-4000 or register on-line
at Fellowship,
Celebrated in a Sacred Space.
El Retiro’s 2010-2011 Season
The 2010-2011
retreat season calendar is posted on our website,
along with information on each of our retreats and on
each person working on our retreat teams. You’re
invited to stop by the website and
browse around—and
to book another retreat soon!
Donate
ONLINE to
The Jesuit Reteat Center of Los Altos, and please remember
the Jesuit Retreat Center in your will or estate planning. |
