Come Apart Into Solitude: Winter Sabbatical at The Prairie

January 25, 2018 - February 27, 2018
All Day

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A five-week contemplative experience in the heart of a Midwest prairie. The Prairie offers exquisite beauty, profound silence and deep communion with God in this holy place. Take time for rest and renewal while experiencing the revelation of the divine through creation in winter. Experience the labyrinth, cosmic walk, reflection by the pond and meditative walking on our many trails. Practice contemplative seeing through the arts: photography, water color, SoulCollage® and the creation of mandalas that tap into your hidden energy and new dreams. Explore current Christology and the mission of Christ as foundational for your life. Trust this fallow time of the year to focus your abundant gift of life.

Arrival (January 25) Orientation: January 26-28 Shared Morning Prayer Daily 

Week One: January 29 – February 2 

Contemplative Seeing through the Arts: Contemplative Photography, SoulCollage©, Circle of Life (Mandala Prayer), Contemplative Prayer in Watercolor (need not be an artist to benefit from these activities)

Week Two: February 5- 9 

Drawing Living Water from the Well of Story 

Mary Ann Zollmann, BVM

From the beginning of time women compelled by an insatiable thirst have gathered around wells drawing life-giving water from the depth of their shared experiences. Kin to these women, we come to the well in companionship with women of the scriptures bringing to word our stories as women, as women religious. Drawing from the deep well of our lives where our thirst for God meets and becomes one with God’s thirst for us, we listen to water bubbling up within us and overflowing through us as life for our world.

February 10 — Ministry Experience in the Quad Cities Spending time with Humility of Mary Housing and Shelter; serve and share a meal to the homeless at Café on Vine.

Week Three: February 12-16 

Our Sacred Universe 

Maxine Pohlman, SSND

Together we will explore our sacred universe story as the foundation for awakening consciousness of Earth as the primary revelation of the Great Mystery. We will travel from the broadest context of the universe to our most local context, our common home, as we deepen our relationships to the Divine, one another, and all creation. The week will include presentations, ritual, dialogue, readings, and contemplative time on the land.

Week Four: February 19-23 

Wellness and Wholeness 

During the final week presentations will focus on aspects of our lives that may take on new meaning following a sabbatical: Spirituality, Strength-Finder©, Healing and Health, Aging, Healthy Eating.

Closure Process Time: February 24-26 

Days of reflection preparing to answer, “Now What?” after the sabbatical.

Weekends are free for further exploration of topics presented during the week, hiking, shopping, site seeing, practicing the arts, enjoying the beauty of The Prairie or learning a new skill.

Come into Solitude—Winter Sabbatical at The Prairie 

January 25-February 27, 2018 

Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, 2664 145th Ave, Wheatland, IA 52777 563-36-8414 chmiowa.org/retreat 

Download a flyer for more information and to register.