Catholics on (Last?) Call

August 5-9, 2014

Catholics on Call 

Young Adult Discernment Retreat

Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL

From the website:

This is what participants say about the conference:

“It was an amazing experience, one that I cannot fully express the enormous impact on my life and my relationship with God.”

“It gave me time to intentionally reflect, in community with others, on God's will for my life--where I've been, where I'm going.”

“Catholics on Call allowed me, for the first time, to be open to God's call in my life and not be afraid of what that could mean.”

Register soon!  This is only $100 for everything for a week, and we have had two alums attend and say great things about the experience.  Contact them (or Dr WD) for more information.

Lots going on in Campus Ministry

Office of Campus Ministry newsletter!  Check out the Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sept 5, SOUL India, Activities Fair on Aug 28th, and the Religious Vocations Open House, more....

Possible retreats this summer

Doesn't a retreat sound good right now?  You have options, lots of options....

At Broom Tree (Irene, SD, near Sioux Falls)
Ignatian 3 day silent retreats:

• one for women: August 15-18
• one for men: July 11-14

At Demontreville (Lake Elmo, MN).  Long weekend Ignatian silent retreats.  Demontreville serves men only.  Contact them for available dates this summer.

Pacem in Terris retreat hermitages are also in the Cities.

Arc Retreat Center is 50 miles north of the Twin Cities (this is an ecumenical retreat house).

A link to eight Catholic retreat centers in the Chicago area.

A link to multiple retreat houses in the Milwaukee area.

Marywood Franciscan Spirituality Center has directed retreats throughout the summer in the North Woods of Wisconsin.

There are some summer retreats (hiking retreats, iconography, etc.) available at the Franciscan Spirituality Center in LaCrosse.

There are also Catholic retreat houses in Iowa, contact them for information.  Not to mention New Mellaray Abbey's guesthouse.

More a conference than a retreat, but Steubenville Youth Conferences are widely known--this summer, the closest one to Winona is in Rochester (Steubenville North).  

And this list in not exhaustive!

***

All these retreat houses are different in approach and expectations, so ask questions or talk to people who know some of the options (I know some of these places but not all).  Summer can be a great time to make an extended retreat, so do consider it!

Summer Events: Life Teen's Leadership Conference

June 24-18, 2013 at Benedictine College in Kansas. ($475 registration, which is good for room, board, and what you are getting for a week!)  Register now if interested, or call for more info (number at bottom of webpage).

From the website:

LTLC. Inspiring tomorrow’s Church leaders. Today.

At the heart of the Life Teen Leadership Conference is a generation of teens rising up and taking their faith seriously. They no longer want a “feel good” faith; they crave depth and substance. These teens are changing their parishes, their schools, and their families. Because we see this movement happening, our response is the Life Teen Leadership Conference.
We’ve crafted a unique take on leadership training. Yes, we believe in empowering this new generation with practical leadership skills. But not without first teaching them how to serve both God and His people. Plus we recognize that young leaders are only as strong as the community that surrounds them. That’s why we give youth ministers and priests ample time to be with their youth group. The combination of these three elements transforms teens into the leaders that God is calling them to be.

Last call for Catholics on Call

Young adult conference 2013, August 6-10; Chicago, IL

Applications must be postmarked May 6th!  They can also be done online.

Find the application and more information here.  Campus Ministry has offered to help with some of the expenses (which are very low to begin with), but you need to contact Dean Steven McGlaun asap.

Summer Discernment Conference/Retreat. Perhaps for free?

One of the pieces encouraged in this program is participate in a discernment retreat.  This is one of your best options, right here: The Catholics on Call Summer Young Adult Conference 2013.  The dates are August 6-10, and it is in Chicago, at the Catholic Theological Union.  Participants rave about this experience and how it helps them think and pray through what God may be calling them to within the Church.  This is not just for people thinking about the priesthood and religious life (although that works too!).  And you get to meet young people from all over the country in the same boat.


If you are interested, talk to Dean of Campus Ministry Steven McGlaun about possible scholarship funding.  You may need to get yourself there, but the registration fee that covers room and board may be covered through OCM, assuming not everyone in the department decides to attend at once.

The application for the summer program is due May 6th, but they are taking applications now.  If you are interested, please don't delay.  And let us know you want to attend!

Much more here.

Lent is coming up...interested in an online retreat? Or different things from which to "fast"?

Creighton University has a ton of resources for Lenten devotionals, audio retreats, etc. If Lent has crept up on you, look at this page for inspiration and ideas.

Also, if you are looking for something off the beaten track to give up for Lent, Lifeteen has some interesting suggestions (although some are what to do rather than what to give up....):

Are you looking for something unconventional to offer up for Lent? We asked Life Teen missionaries and our friends on Facebook for cool stuff they’ve done in the past. This is what they shared:

1. “This year I’m giving up shoes as often as possible. I’ll still wear shoes if I’m doing a work project or if I have to fly on a plane. But I’m going to avoid going to places that require shoes.” – Paul, a Life Teen Missionary
2. “I’m addicted to caffeine so I gave up all drinks but water for Lent two years ago.” – Amanda
3. “Last year I didn’t give up anything for Lent, just added more prayer life. This year I am going to add more prayer life and give up Facebook.” – Josephina
4. “I gave up spoons and forks. I learned to use chopsticks. It was funny for my friends and made it easy to talk about Lent in a way that people were cool with. We laughed a lot.” – Matt
5. “I’ve heard of people giving up their beds for Lent. They slept on the floor or the couch.” – Anna
6. “I fasted for all of Lent one year. 1 meal a day really brings souls to Jesus, especially your own!” – Erika
7. “I’m going to treat my body as a temple of God during lent… everything I read, watch, listen to, eat, drink, do, say, etc…..focusing on being a temple of God.” – Paul
8. “One year for Lent I wrote a letter each day. I made a list of 40 people who have touched my life in one way or another. Each day of Lent, I wrote a person on the list a letter of thanks for how they touched my life and I prayed for that person on that day….it was a WONDERFUL experience!!!” – Patty

There is a lot more to get you thinking at their link.

Retreat opportunities

Many people are going to TEC (Together Encountering Christ retreat) this weekend (or you are on the TEC team!). Prayers and best wishes for a fruitful retreat!

One of the suggestions for the Vineyard experience is to make a discernment retreat. These can be arranged in retreat centers nearby, or perhaps even a busy person's retreat while in class, but discernment is often done best with some silence. To that end...the 2012 Broom Tree four-day silent Ignatian retreats! (Two of those days include travel.)

See more here, including links to typical conferences.

They also have 8 day and 30 day retreats this July, if you are interested in a more intense and lengthy discernment retreat (although you really shouldn't do a 30 day without an 8 day first). See here (left side of webpage, half way down).

The three day silent retreat dates at Broom Tree in South Dakota:

UPCOMING SILENT RETREATS

2012 Women's Ignatian Silent Retreats

February 2-5
March 1-4
May 17-20
June 7-10
August 16-19
September 6-9
October 18-21
November 1-4

2012 Men's Ignatian Silent Retreats

February 16-19
March 15-18
July 19-22
September 20-23

Silent Ignatian Retreats in 2011

Part of the Spirituality for the Vineyard "program" includes making students aware of offerings that help people grow in their spiritual lives, and discern vocations. A number of students last year did this through taking advantage of spiritual direction (if you want more information on spiritual direction, and who is trained in it in the Winona area, please contact Dr WD or Lynn Streefland in OCM). Small groups are also an option if people are interested in us setting them up for you.

This post is primarily about retreats. As usual, there are a lot of good retreat opportunities through Campus Ministry (Freshmen Retreat, TEC, more...contact them for details). But... if are you interested in a different type of retreat, one with more quiet, more focus on discernment...check out this is from the Broom Tree Retreat Center in South Dakota (approx. 5.5 hours from Winona):

What you can expect from a Four-Day Ignatian Silent Retreat at Broom Tree?

Starting on Thursday nights with registration at 6 pm, both our Men's and Women's Ignatian Silent Retreats generally conclude on Sundays at 5 pm.

The daily schedule contains four or five general conferences, each approximately a half hour in length. These conferences are based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Each conference is followed by a free period in which to reflect and pray on the given scripture presented and to apply them to one’s own life. There is also an opportunity for Spiritual Direction daily.

Each day the retreatant has the opportunity to participate in the Eucharist, the rosary, Sacrament of Reconciliation and Benediction. Being silent, waiting, and listening for God to speak - with nowhere to go, no agenda to keep, and no superficial social contact is the key ingredient for communicating with God. The beauty of the grounds also helps dispose oneself to hearing the Lord speak. Remember, Elijah did not find God in the earthquake, hurricane, or fire, but in the quiet breeze.(1 Kings 19:12).
...

Cost?

Broom Tree Retreat and Conference Center is sustained by the donations of the retreatants. All are welcome at Broom Tree. No one is excluded because of inability to make a retreat donation. Broom Tree's cost to provide meals and lodging for a Silent Retreat is $240/person ($80/day). We ask that you prayerfully consider this when making your donation.

What to Wear?

Casual clothing is recommended- slacks, sweaters, sports shirts, make for a relaxing weekend. Also, wear comfortable walking shoes and bring suitable outdoor wear for taking hikes on our trails.

What are the rooms like?

Each retreatant enjoys a private room, with a queen sized bed, private bath, and chair for relaxing with an over-sized window to admire the beautiful scenery God has created at Broom Tree. An Adoration Chapel is also available to share quiet time with God. There is also a large dining room and exercise facilities. We also have a gift shop and bookstore located in the retreat center.

There is also a podcast with a couple of the conferences given there on the spiritual retreats page.

2011 Women's Ignatian Silent Retreats

September 15-18
October 20-23
November 3-6

2011 Men's Ignatian Silent Retreats

September 22-25

If you are interested (and OBVIOUSLY check your class schedule to see if this would be possible for you, because this will entail unexcused absences from class), contact Broom Tree asap. Contact information is on the website page.

Retreat options this semester (or summer)

Hello everyone!
We've taken into account the students retreat survey from December 2010, and have decided to postpone a discernment retreat until Fall 2011. In short, the upperclassmen were not as interested in an SMU retreat as the 1st year folks, and because Th 209 had to be canceled for this semester, we will be offering it in the Fall...along with a retreat option for students who are interested in growing their discernment of vocation and "trying out" lay ecclesial ministry.

In the meantime, if you want to do a retreat this semester off campus, here are some options:

• a silent Ignatian retreat at Broom Tree Retreat Center in South Dakota (about 5 1/2 hr drive)
• a silent Ignatian retreat at Creighton University's Retreat Center in SW Iowa (again, about a 5 hr drive)
• a directed retreat at Villa Maria Retreat Center in Frontenac, MN (about 1 hr away)
• a directed retreat at the Franciscan Spirituality Center in LaCrosse, WI (about 40 minutes away)

Of course, there are other options out there as well!

These retreat centers are rather different from each other, and you may want to do some research before making a reservation and hitting the road.

Also, if students are interested in spiritual direction, Dr. WD and Lynn Streefland in OCM each have a list of directors in the Winona area to contact.

"Retreat in the real world" opportunity

From the online ministries department at Creighton University, a source of many good resources:

Make a retreat designed for people too busy to make a traditional retreat.

Experience a relationship with God coming alive in the midst of everyday life.

Come to know a freedom and peace too often out of reach in the modern world.

A simple Guide each week places themes, reflections, questions and desires into the background of our busy lives. We learn to find greater focus and to let one week build upon another.

It really works. Any busy person can do this retreat in the background of a very full life. Thousands of others have done so.

Begin any time, but if we begin the week of September 19th, the retreat fits with the Liturgical Year.

Make the commitment alone, with a spiritual director, or form a group to make the retreat together.

If you are "on the fence," read what so many others said after they completed the retreat.

Here's How to Get Started.

See more about the weekly "retreat in the real world" here.

What is "the Spirituality for the Vineyard"?

Is there a spirituality--specifically, a formation and discernment process--that is particular to young adults considering pastoral and youth ministry? We think there is. This website is a place for SMU theology, pastoral and youth ministry, religious education majors and minors to learn more about how you could pray, think, and live out your discernment regarding who God is calling you to be. You cannot ignore the need for knowledge and professionalism when you are in leadership...but there are spiritual needs as well.

In order to complete what we call "The Vineyard Experience," we ask you to accomplish the following:

1. Seeing: Encounter your world. Participate in one extended cross-cultural service experience (for example, a SOUL trip or equivalent, verified in advance by your advisor), attending to and learning from the vulnerable in our human family.
2. Learning: The Vineyard Colloquia. Attend three Vineyard Colloquia an academic year, for two years. The Vineyard colloquia offer a chance to hear leaders in our area share their wisdom and experience on the challenges and opportunities of various lay ministries in the Church. There will also be a focus on the spirituality of lay ministry.
3. Exploring: Praxis for ministry: Complete the Pastoral and Youth Ministry internship (waived if you are a Theology major or minor). There are also other volunteer ministries--through SMU and in the local churches and dioceses--that students may count toward this element.
4. Clarifying: Small group support and reflection. Participate in small sharing groups, facilitated by local lay ecclesial leaders. These groups of three or four students meet monthly to share a meal and discuss how issues of life discernment and lay formation are going. Ideally, students in the major should be in one of these groups from the time they declare a major. Regular attendance is expected for at least one academic year.
5. Discerning: Prayer and retreat. Participate in one discernment retreat for majors and interested minors, usually offered in January. Students may attend their junior or senior year (or both years). A time away can help a person recognize and name their vocation, and return to classes with new questions and fresh vigor.

In addition, students in the program are encouraged to seek other methods of formation: spiritual direction, the 19th annotation of the Spiritual Exercises, regular participation in Catholic liturgical life, etc. We can point you in the right direction for all that if you wish. But the five above are a baseline.

Completion of The Vineyard Experience merits recognition of work above and beyond the academic elements of the major, and helps fulfill the spiritual formation elements of the National Standards for Lay and Ecclesial Ministries.

Explore the site or talk to one of the members of the theology department. We're excited--you should be, too!