Tuesday, January 20 and Tuesday, January 27, each time from 6:30 - 8:00 pm CT
Virtual via Zoom
Presented in collaboration with the Franciscan Federation.
The final years of Francis’ life saw his spiritual conversion reach completion. But these were hardly easy years for him. Instead, the complexity of his final years offers much for our own reflection on experiencing spiritual fulfillment and peace while living in a world that offers uncertainty and disorder. In this series, we will reflect on the process of ongoing conversion in our own lives by using stories from Francis’ life. We will go beyond the usual characterizations of Francis and explore the gritty realities of aging, retirement, and letting go as a process that can be both unsettling and freeing. This isn’t a path that we can skip and bypass. Instead, the journey through the process of letting go is where Easter is found.
These two interactive sessions include presentations, experiential meditations, and small group discussions. Participants are encouraged to journal in between sessions to reflect deeply on both the thoughts and visceral feelings that come up. All participants are asked to have 20 3x5 cards (or equivalent slips of paper) and a writing instrument with them at their computer for the first Zoom session.
**This program is the first in a four-part series in commemoration of the 800th anniversary of the Easter of St. Francis. Join us in April, July, and October to continue the series!**
Darleen Pryds, Ph.D. is a scholar of the Lay Franciscan Spiritual Tradition. She has written several books and articles on the subject, including Women of the Streets: Early Franciscan Women and their Mendicant Vocation (2010) and Enduring Presence: Diversity and Authenticity Among the First Generations of Franciscan Laity (2018). She is due to retire from teaching at the Franciscan School of Theology after 25 years of service in June 2026. She currently leads retreats and pilgrimages to Assisi. In her spare time, she volunteers at hospice and enjoys hiking with her husband, Scott, and their dog, Zoey.
$10 per person for each session; please register online at shalomretreats.org or by calling 563.582.3592 by noon on Tuesday, January 6.
You may also like the following events from Shalom Spirituality Center:
- Next month, 7th December, 02:00 pm, December Shalom Silent Book Club in Dubuque
- Next month, 15th December, 06:00 pm, Journeying Through Advent with Mary: An Advent Evening for Women in Dubuque
- Next month, 17th December, 11:30 am, December Lunch and Renew: Chair Yoga with Deb May, YogaCare in Dubuque
Also check out other
Trips & Adventurous Activities in Glenrothes,
Nonprofit events in Glenrothes.
