Sacred Space

  • Come Back to God During Lent

    Come Back to God During Lent

    February 20, 2024

    Change your life, not just your clothes. Come back to God, your God. And here’s why: God is kind and merciful. He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot, This most patient God, extravagant in love, Always ready to cancel catastrophe. Who knows? Maybe he’ll do it now, Maybe he’ll turn around and […]

  • Savoring Daily Discoveries of God's Presence

    Savoring Daily Discoveries of God's Presence

    July 11, 2023

    In the fullness of life, there is no shortage of retreat opportunities; we attend professional, marriage, writing and silent retreats. While retreats differ in purpose and practices, participants are generally expected to intentionally step away from life’s regular rhythms for 1-7 days and immerse in a particularly focused topic or activity. Last fall, desiring a […]

  • A Silent Retreat To Remember

    A Silent Retreat To Remember

    June 29, 2023

    Fifteen retreatants recently attended a 5-day silent retreat at the St. Augustine Center in Conway, Michigan. The retreat was completely silent, except for time spent with one’s spiritual director each day. Each retreatant was free to decide the shape of silence: some took long solitary walks on nature trails or the beach; some took their […]

  • Foundations in Spirituality Interview with Phillip Johnson Ph.D.

    Foundations in Spirituality Interview with Phillip Johnson Ph.D.

    June 15, 2023

    What to Expect If you are considering The Foundations in Spirituality formation intensive at Dominican Center Marywood at Aquinas College, this video from a graduate of the program may be helpful. Phillip Johnson, Ph.D. completed Foundations in Spirituality in 2020. In this video, Dr. Johnson reflects on how his experience in Foundations transformed his approach […]

  • Summer Solstice Celebration June 21 in St. Francis Sculpture Garden

    Summer Solstice Celebration June 21 in St. Francis Sculpture Garden

    June 12, 2023

    The word “solstice” ultimately derives from the Latin solstitium, which comes from the parts sol  “sun,” and sistere, “to stand still.” During the June solstice the Sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky, and for a brief period of time the Sun’s path does not change. The summer solstice is the astronomical beginning of […]

  • Grief as a Practice of Love

    Grief as a Practice of Love

    August 23, 2022

    As we edge into autumn, Dominican Center Marywood — in collaboration with six area hospices, Kaufman Interfaith Institute, Michigan Humanists, and the Grand Rapids area Baha’i community — is poised to host its 8th annual remembering ceremony, We Remember Interfaith Memorial Service, on the Aquinas College campus on Tuesday, September 13, 6:30-8:00 pm. This event is […]

  • A Message from Diane Wilson: We Are All Related

    June 21, 2022

    "Change the story, change the future," Diane Wilson states in her call to action for all people to explore our own relationship to the world and creation. Watch now a personal message from Diane as she introduces us to her experience looking at the world and our relationships through the eyes of indigenous seed keepers, […]

  • Dominican Center Emerges Anew

    Dominican Center Emerges Anew

    January 12, 2021

    We remain grounded in Dominican roots that guide us to pause and contemplate, stilling the uncertainty surrounding us. We do this resting in God's compassionate love while breathing in trust and breathing out hope. We know the gifts of Dominican Center rest on serving the community by providing programs, retreats, and experiences that help shape […]

  • Insights and Wisdom Regarding My Spiritual Direction Ministry

    Insights and Wisdom Regarding My Spiritual Direction Ministry

    April 13, 2020

    This post is part of Dominican Center's series Stay in the Light ~ Stories of Prayer and Hope During a Pandemic. At Dominican Center, we believe we are prayer in action, and that connection, contemplation, and creativity will see us through these unsettling times and help us find and be in light. We invite you […]

  • Stories of Prayer and Hope During a Pandemic

    Stories of Prayer and Hope During a Pandemic

    April 7, 2020

    As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps through our world bringing its people to a collective pause, many of us find ourselves with unforeseen time on our hands and anxious thoughts in our minds and hearts. We may wonder how we can fill our days and spirits with hope as this pandemic threatens to sicken our loved […]