Dear Friend,

I hope you have spent the last couple of months welcoming the invitation to receive life in our bodies as one of God’s good gifts. I pray that even in these challenging times, you have maintained care for your body and that you are finding new ways of experiencing your body as a place of gut-level wisdom, joy and pleasure, and beyond-words communion with God.

As you prepare for our upcoming retreat, know that we praying for you and looking forward to being together again soon!

Many blessings,

Reflecting on the Last Quarter


Our most important encouragement since last retreat has been to do whatever helps you be more intentional about noticing, caring for, listening to, and praying in your body as a spiritual practice. As you prepare your paper and also to share with your small group:
  • Notice resonance and resistance as you interact with the biblical and theological perspectives on the sanctity of the body and honoring the body as a spiritual discipline.
  • Describe the practices you chose to explore relative to honoring the body. How did you encounter God in and through these practices? What gifts and challenges did you experience relative to these practices?
  • How have you responded to the teachings and reflections on gender and race as a fundamental experience in the body through which we can learn more about God? What are your reflections on the connection between sexuality and spirituality?    
  • Describe the effect of these reflections and practices on your life and well-being and how you have experienced God in the practice of honoring the body.

Papers


Many of you have already sent your reflection papers from the last quarter but if you haven't yet, please email your paper to TC17papers@transformingcenter.org prior to the retreat.

Preparing for the Upcoming Retreat


Our upcoming retreat, April 3-5, is on experiencing transformation through self-examination, self-knowledge, and confession. Please plan to have your copy of Mulholland's Invitation to a Journey with you.

COVID restrictions have been lifted in the State of Illinois and at the University of St. Mary of the Lake. Masks are no longer required but we are fully supportive of anyone who chooses to continue wearing one. USML continues to regularly clean and disinfect their common areas and have hand sanitizer readily available for all guests. 

Don't Forget—Extended Retreat


This retreat ends at 4:00 p.m., please plan to stay with us through the end. If you would like to extend your retreat (or need to because of flight options), please reach out to USML (847-970-4908) to book a room for Tuesday night. Since important things are happening right up until the end, you will not want to miss a moment of our time together!
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