Day of Renewal

Morning of Spiritual Renewal
Saturday, January 23 2010
8:00 am – 1:00 pm

(Registration and payment deadline: January 18)

This wonderful morning of renewal for your body, mind and spirit will include provocative programs, opportunities for prayer and reflection, a delightful lunch and wonderful women – all within beautiful St. Norbert Abbey and Spirituality Center.  A perfect way to spend a Saturday morning in January!

Cost: $25.00 includes sessions, coffee, pastries, refreshments, lunch

Sessions

Please select one presentation within each of the three sessions.

SESSION A

1A) Women in John's Gospel:  A Shape of a Church – Sr. Shawn Madigan, CSJ

According to scripture scholars, John's community in Asia Minor lived the equality preached by Jesus. This affected the way women are treated by Jesus in John's Gospel. John refuses to use titles for men or women because love is what matters. These themes will be developed with reflection on how they could effect the church of the future.

2A) Kinesiology – Dr. Pamela Rabas, N.D.

Muscle testing's greatest strength is that it allows a person to individualize and customize herbal and health needs.  Learn to analyze the body's structural, physical, nutritional and emotional strengths and weaknesses.  Join Dr. Pamela Rabas as she shares her knowledge and skills about muscle testing.  You will leave with the knowledge and materials to read your body energy and the energy of others.

3A) Prayer in the Midst of Daily Life –
Centering Prayer Made Practical – Ms. Patricia DeGroot

Centering prayer is going deeply within ourselves and finding there…the Lord. Many paths lead to the center. These will be explored as well as what to do during the prayer time with distractions and time demands. Time will be spent praying together.

SESSION B

1B) Catholic Feminist: A Contradiction in Terms? – Dr. Bridget Burke Ravizza

Some argue that Catholicism and feminism are at odds with one another. For example, in 2004, Vatican representatives issued a letter that condemns the "distortions" and "lethal effects" of feminism.  Others argue that feminism and Catholicism are compatible, and—in fact—feminism and gospel values are tightly linked and should not be separated. How can one make sense of such dissimilar claims? Is it possible to be both Catholic and feminist?

2B) Herbology:  Changing Our Medicine Cabinets – Dr. Pamela Rabas, N.D

Learn the basics about herbs and why they are effective for many ailments.  There are herbal alternatives to turn to when looking to enhance one's health without detrimental side effects.  We will examine alternatives to pharmaceuticals and open your eyes to the wonderful world of "God's Pharmacy."

3B) Is Our God Too Small:  The Rest of the Story – Sr. Judy Miller, CSJ

Christian tradition has many images/stories of God, Jesus and the institutional church. Some images have been overlooked or ignored in favor of more dominant ones. This session will explore lesser known stories which may help correct an imbalance in our present perceptions of God, Jesus and the church.

SESSION C

1C) Splashes of Spirit:  Watercolor, A Metaphor for the Spiritual Life –
Rev. Dr. Tricia Matthew

Tricia Matthew, minister member of Winnebago Presbytery, watercolor artist and instructor, will present a multimedia program exploring what watercolor has to teach us about prayer and living the life of faith.

2C) Suffering as Transformative Power – Sr. Shawn Madigan, CSJ

This presentation will explore some particular women whose lives knew suffering and who used that suffering as a transformative power to better their world.  Presentation and discussion will apply the concepts of suffering to transformation and power.

3C) What Truths Does My Body Hold? – Sr. Judy Miller, CSJ

Energy centers in our bodies hold sacred truths for our spirit.  An awareness of their power can help us overcome the loss of energy that comes from fear or negative thinking. This session will provide a tool to evaluate our daily choices and the consequences of those choices for our energy system.

• Optional Abbey Tour – 1:00 pm
• Optional Personal Prayer and Reflection Time  - 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Day of Renewal: Nourishing Your Body, Mind and Spirit

Select the components that you believe would be most nourishing to renew your weary body and soul: talking with a spiritual guide, a massage, a quiet room of your own, a few laps in the Abbey swimming pool, walking on the tranquil Abbey grounds, praying with the Norbertine Community or simply sitting in the magnificent Abbey church or cloister garden. While you do need to reserve your day, most activities do not need to be scheduled ahead of time. The renewal sessions that need pre-registration (and are reserved separately) are listed below with the corresponding fee.

Cost: $15.00
Includes: private room, lunch, refreshments, as well as all of the Abbey amenities

The following resources are available at the Abbey, but must be scheduled individually. Please call
the corresponding numbers if you wish to schedule an appointment.
Massage $60.00 - Eric Peters, Massage Therapist - 920.366.0899
Spiritual Guidance $35.00 (see spiritual direction page for numbers)