THE TRANSFORMATION OF DAILY LIFE
How do we grow spiritually? Do we have to go to seminary, or
become a monk or a hermit? Or can daily life be transformed so that
our everyday lives, with all their ordinary events and relationships,
become our monastery, our school, and our seminary? The events of
our daily lives, and the relationships that we have, can become the
primary material out of which we grow spiritually -- if we learn how to
stay awake and pay attention to life as it unfolds.
What are the blockages that keep us from growing? Why are
some things in our inner life so hard to change? Can we
change? Why is prayer so difficult? Why is it so hard to
be quiet and still? How do we better connect our inner
spiritual life to our daily life?
God is not waiting around for our peak moments in order to
bring us holiness. The Spirit of God is dependent neither on
our timetable nor our game plan. Each day is transformative
for those who can recognize the Spirit's promptings while the
"stuff" of life goes on around us. How do we prepare
ourselves to respond to the divine initiative of the moment?
And what is to be our part in the process?
Topics discussed on this retreat include understanding
spirituality in daily life, opening ourselves to
transformation, everyday prayer, undertaking discernment and
action, and creating a holistic-contemplative spiritual
program.
ABOUT BERNIE TICKERHOOF
Fr. Bernie Tickerhoof, TOR is a friar of the Third Order
Regular of St. Francis. He is the Director of Franciscan
Pathways, a ministry of spirituality and reconciliation
sponsored by his religious community.
Through these ministries he offers retreats and spiritual
programs in retreat centers, parishes, and religious
congregations. These are tailored to the particular needs
of the specific groups and organizations. He has developed
a variety of programs on holistic spirituality, faith and
conversion, the enneagram, and dream work.
Bernie received his Master of Divinity (MDiv) from St.
Francis Seminary, formerly in Loretto, PA, in 1978, and a
Master of Theology (ThM) in the Institute for Spirituality
and Worship through the Jesuit School of Theology at
Berkeley, CA in 1979. He received a Doctor of Ministry
(DMin) at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 2001. He also
pursued graduate studies at the Franciscan Institute at
St. Bonaventure University and at the Catholic University
of America.
Bernie was ordained in 1978, and has been involved in
spiritual ministry and retreat work since 1979. He has
traveled widely throughout the country in a ministry of
preaching, spiritual conferences, and retreats. He served
on the formation team for his religious community as
Vocation Director from 1993 to 1996, and has done extensive
work in Franciscan Spirituality through the Franciscan
Federation of the U.S. and as a spiritual assistant for the
Secular Franciscan Order at the local, provincial, and
regional levels. Other interests include spiritual
direction, storytelling and liturgical expression.
Bernie is the author of Conversion and the Enneagram:
Transformation Of the Self In Christ, and Paradox: The
Spiritual Path to Transformation.
RETREAT REGISTRATION
Cost of the retreat is $75, and includes lodging for two
nights, and 6 meals. Please contact Bob Sabath for more
information, or to reserve your space. Some limited
scholarships are available.
Plan to arrive between 4-6 pm Friday evening, August 20.
We will have a meal at 7:00, followed by an evening
session. We will conclude with lunch on Sunday.
Join us for stimulating discussion with Bernie, delicious
home cooked meals, time to walk and hike and be alone,
daily worship, and energizing conversations with other
retreat participants.
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