Shalom Place Offers

An Advent Day Retreat

This is a longer than usual notice about a Shalom Place program but I wanted to give you an idea of what is planned and the reason for choosing this format, so I hope you’ll take the time to read it.

The genesis for this silent day retreat began with a column by Fr Ron Rolheiser. In the column a young monk comes to a desert father and asks for a word. The old man responds, “Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything.” In another column Rolheiser writes of the practice of the Quakers to sit together as a community in silence because waiting together for God gave them a unity they could not give themselves. And then in Caroline Oakes’ book “Practice the Pause” Ms Oakes tells of a time she asked John-Julian, an Episcopalian monk, “What do we have to do if we want a deeper spiritual life?” He responded, “If you want a deeper spiritual life, you have to find time to be alone, in quiet, with God.” Alone. In quiet. With God. Now this was included in the chapter on Lectio Divina. And that’s when the light bulb lit. What if we had a silent day retreat where people could come together in community to be quiet in the presence of God’s word?

And so, on Saturday November 29 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM you are invited to attend a silent day retreat at Shalom Place at 90 Ontario Avenue (the former Mount St Joseph College) to spend time reflecting on the readings of the four Sundays of Advent using Lectio Divina.

The reaction to Lectio Divina is one of three (that I can think of):

1. I do that already and it is great.

2. Been there, done that, not sure I want to again. It’s old hat.

3. Ooh, those are Latin words and it is either hard to do or more spiritual than I can handle.

Well, it is great, it’s not really old hat and it is not hard. It’s for everyone. We’ll give a brief presentation that will help you begin, see it anew and confirm you of its value. And then you will have a day alone (in community), in quiet, with God to prepare for Advent.

Couldn’t I do this at home or couldn’t you offer it on Zoom? Yes to both but it probably wouldn’t be as effective. Taking the time to be in a place where this is the sole focus will allow you to go deeper. We will take care of lunch and make sure the coffee and tea are always ready so that those distractions are eliminated. No phones. Nobody dropping in. Nobody asking you to do anything but be present to God and God’s word.

To register: email shalomssm@shaw.ca, visit our website www.shalomplace.ca or phone 705-254-4690.