Today I would like to share with you a letter from a friend of John XXIII.  Bob brings a different perspective to giving your time to the Lord in order to quench the spiritual thirst that you may not even realize you have in an article he wrote, entitled: “My Great Sacrifice?” 

My Great Sacrifice?

Sixteen years ago I gave up some time to attend a retreat.  At that point in life I felt it was a gift to God as I could not spare the time. Work, family and other obligations, you know, just too busy, can’t spare a moment. As it turned out, it was God’s gift to me, a gift that still resounds in my life today. Prior, I was focused on myself, my work, my obligations, my day, feeling there was never enough time to complete the list. This was my life before I gave God a small slice of my time, or perhaps I should say a small slice of my life. For time really is, a slice of my God given life.

Before my retreat I perceived time as my most precious commodity. What I had the least of and needed more in my life. What I had the most difficulty with was in sharing with others and giving what others needed the most from me. When I gave this slice to God I learned that it was His gift to me and my gift to share with others. I learned that if I involve Him in my time (my life) He helps me with priorities, helping to use time as a friend not a foe. Looking at work, family and other obligations as gifts not obstacles, changing my priorities to include God. Now, God, family and work are my day and with His graces in that order.

 What is your day? What would you like it to be? Give God some time to rearrange your schedule. Take a RETREAT from your stresses of life!

 Bob McCreary�
Friend of John XXIII

I would like to invite you to look over our updated website and see if any of the retreats are especially calling to you as we enter into this season of Lent. May God bless you as we journey together!

Welcome!  Thank you for taking your time today to go to our updated website and read “The Window Blog”.  I will be writing to you once a month here from the Director’s desk.  This month I would like to let you know that we still have a few openings in the Spiritual Companionship Program, so you are in luck!

Don’t miss this opportunity to join us for Spiritual Companion training. Our next session meets on Feb. 17-18 at John XXIII Retreat Center. Then there are only 8 more sessions after that until June of 2013. There is more information on our updated website: www.john23rdretreat center.com.   Register by Feb. 3^rd.  I’d like to share the article below with you, too. I hope that you can join us. God bless you!

 Are you really serious about your spiritual journey?  Do others seek you out to share intimately about their spiritual life? Would you like to offer yourself as a fellow traveler to others on this walk? If you answered yes to these questions, maybe the Spiritual Companionship Program is for you!

Take a few minutes and listen to how others have responded.

“If you possibly can, seize this opportunity!” said Mary Ann Williamson, as she spoke candidly about the Spiritual Companionship Program (SCP). “It was such a blessing to be a part of a program of this depth with the other participants and our leadership team of Sr. Joetta Huelsmann, PHJC and Dr. Roger Evans. I am very grateful for the opportunity to become a better companion for the spiritual journey of those I accompany!”  Mary Ann is just one of the many people from all walks of life who have completed the Spiritual Companionship Program.

“My journey into the SCP continues its ever opening, deepening and surprising path. The greatest and deepest opening is into contemplative listening, the very core of the SCP.  To listen out of, and for the Silent Whisper, has urged me into a depth I’d not experienced before…and be a willing cohort with The Beloved, Mysterious God of us all,” shared Jerry Lapp

Loretta Peters tells us,” I was a member of the first Spiritual Companionship group.  The class was a blessing for me as I experienced it both in my impaired mental state pre-brain surgery and post brain surgery.  It has been an extraordinary part of journey back to bodily/spiritual/mental health!”

Sister Pauline Bridegroom, PHJC, sums up her experience this way, “Participation in the Spiritual Companionship Program provides the opportunity for personal spiritual growth.  The readings, guidance, group interaction, writings and prayer in the program help to strengthen one’s confidence and ability to speak God’s word to others in a variety of ways.”

John XXIII Retreat Center in Hartford City, IN and Lindenwood Retreat & Conference Center in Donaldson, IN has begun the third  SCP this past Dec .  The two Centers have collaborated to train people to respond to the growing need for spiritual companions. Roger Evans quotes Henri Nouwen to tell us that,”…spiritual companioning is listening with another to the voice of God’s Spirit within and among us so that we might respond that voice at every moment of our lives…”  Roger believes, “It is welcoming and engaging the God who cares, heals, guides, challenges, confronts, and corrects as God leads us to wholeness, holiness and true intimacy.”

If you are interested contact Sr. Joetta Huelsmann, PHJC at John XXIII Retreat Center in Hartford City, IN at 888-882-1391 (toll free) or 765-348-4008, by e-mail: sjoettah@sbcglobal.net, or US mail: 407 W. McDonald St. Hartford City, IN 47348

May you hear the whisper of God’s invitation to come be a part of this wonderful group!

February 16, 2012 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Presented by Al Naseman, CPPS

Why Judas?
A personal relationship to Judas began some forty years ago at St. Patrick Church in Kent, Ohio.
The church exterior is about as generic as church gets, but inside the glass startles.
A surprise Judas window pictures Judas at the very depths of his regret.
When I looked at this Judas, I saw myself. Fr. Al

Click here to get more information about this retreat.

Sr. Joetta and the staff of John XXIII are hoping that the Lord will bless you and your family in a special way as we all enter the New Year of 2012!

Our first retreat of 2012, Creating Sabbath Space in Our Lives, begins on Friday January 6th at 6:30 pm until Saturday 4:30 pm.  Come and Renew yourself as you rest in the Lord; this series will continue on Feb. 3rd. Come to one or both; register SOON!

We will meet from 9:15am-2:15pm. There is the option to stay until 4:30pm if you wish to have more time for yourself in the beauty of our retreat center.

The suggested donation is $20.00 and includes lunch. You have the option to stay overnight the night before or on Wednesday evening is also available for an extra fee.

This series will give you an opportunity to examine your own images of God and to help you see how that image might have changed throughout the years.

Series:

Mother Teresa of Calcutta: The God of the Abandoned
Presented by Sr. Joetta Huelsmann, PHJC
December 7, 2011  • 9:15 AM – 2:15 PM

After his mid-life conversion and transformation, Saint Ignatius was graced with a life of mystical intimacy with the Holy Trinity. His gift to all of who follow in his path is a step-by-step guide to mystical union with our loving God. This weekend will focus on Ignatius’ mystical graces about the Trinity, Creation, the Humanity of Jesus, and the Eucharist.

This retreat draws from a variety of primary sources about the life and person of Saint Ignatius, including:

• The Autobiography of Saint Ignatius
• The Spiritual Journal of Saint Ignatius Loyola: February, 1544 to 1545Translated by William J. Young, SJ
• Remembering Inigo: Glimpses of the Life of Saint Ignatius Loyola by Ignatius’ secretary, Luis Goncalves da Camara

Our prayer during this retreat will use prayer exercises from The Spiritual Exercises and meditations from An Ignatian Pathway: Experiencing the Mystical Dimension of the Spiritual Exercises by Paul Coutinho, SJ.

This retreat was first offered in September 2011 at the Jesuit Retreat House in Parma, OH. Some feedback from retreatants is below.

This retreat is scheduled for November 11-13, 2011 at the John XXIII Retreat Center in Hartford City, Indiana.

Feedback from others who have made this retreat:

From Jean who participated in the retreat at Jesuit Retreat House in Parma OH in September 2011
The retreat experience, with Patrick Cleary-Burns as the Spiritual Director, helped deepen my relationship with God. Through Patrick’s talks, prayer exercises and meditations, quiet prayer time and group discusions I came to realize that even though God is, and has been, with me always, I may not have always been with God. I need to want and desire His graces all the time. These are His gifts to me that will help make Christ the center of my life. Patrick expertly used several of the Ignatian exercises to lead our group into a weekend of soul searching and God-finding. He is compassionate and knowledgeable and his presentation style refreshing. I look forward to attending his other programs and feel blessed to have been part of this retreat.

From Kathy who also participated in the September 2011 weekend at JRH
I truly enjoyed the weekend. I primarily enjoyed learning about contemplative prayer and eagerly have started to use it. The weekend was reflective, prayerful, and relaxing and provided me with information I could not have received on my own. Your knowledge of Ignatius and how to apply his teachings to my everyday life was so valuable to my everyday prayer life. Thank you again, Pat.

It has been a busy February at John XXIII Retreat Center!On the weekend of February 4^th, the Women’s Spirituality & Peace Making group met and had another wonderful weekend. The topic for this session was Discovering New Responses to Conflict. During this time, they discussed CARA, the four steps to non-violent engagement. They also explored the habits of mutuality which include seeing the sacred in others and ourselves, acknowledging and respecting differences, and participating in supportive communities.

As a special surprise for the group, Laura Morgan, a group participant, crocheted prayer shawls for all the participants.(pictured above) The group will meet for two more sessions, wrapping up in June.

John XXIII also hosted a priest liturgical training on Tuesday, February 8^th. Priests from all over the diocese came to learn about the coming year’s new liturgical changes.Everyone enjoyed a meal together and had a wonderful time. (pictured above)

And finally, Friday, February 11^th saw John XXIII host our Valentine’s Day Date Night.This evening, presented by Roger and Delores Evans of Huntington, had couples enjoy a candle light dinner, a presentation, a time for sharing and prayer.

The remaining weeks in February offer a variety of retreats that will intrigue and enrich the lives of all who attend. On Saturday, February 26^th, join us for “Entering the Castle”, a continuing series based on the work of St. Teresa of Avila. This session will be focused on examining the Mystical Union and Being a Channel for Grace. Wednesday, March 2^nd will kick off our Day of Renewal series entitled “8 Spiritual Heroes”. We will examine a different spiritual hero from the past during each session and have time for prayer and fellowship as we give you the tools to renew your own spiritual journey.

If these events sound interesting and you want to find out more about them, please visit john23rdretreatcenter.com or call us toll-free at 1-888-882-1391