Spiritual Exercise

  • 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 […]

  • Emergence

    Emergence

    April 19, 2023

    Does the anticipation of spring bring your spirit new awakening energy? Emergence is a noun that goes back to the Latin root emergere, meaning “bring to light”. Are there certain spiritual practices that lighten your heart and help you recharge and feel renewed, practices that energize your ability to envision new paths? Thomas Merton said, […]

  • What to Remember Upon Waking

    What to Remember Upon Waking

    March 28, 2023

    This past weekend Kent Dobson presented an introductory workshop on Dreams and Dream Work at Dominican Center Marywood on Aquinas College campus. According to Kent, “dreams deliver material in poetic form.” He shared many insights with the group of participants. When speaking of the soul or “psyche” he stated “the soul gives us clues or […]

  • Have You Wondered How Dreams Relate to Your Spiritual Life?

    Have You Wondered How Dreams Relate to Your Spiritual Life?

    March 9, 2023

    Have you ever wondered how dreams relate to your spiritual life? “Dreams are the back door into the Spiritual life,” says Kent Dobson, author, teacher, and spiritual guide. In the modern world, we have lost this way of listening deeply to the Soul, to the Divine, and we often resist the hidden chambers that dreams […]

  • Join Us in a Care for Earth Challenge

    Join Us in a Care for Earth Challenge

    March 7, 2023

    Dominican Sisters are Refusing to Use or Buy Single-Use Beverages in Plastic Bottles During Catholic Sisters Week We decided to join the Sisters and invite friends of Dominican Center and Aquinas College to join the challenge. The Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids, Michigan are one of many congregations of Catholic Sisters taking up the “Refuse […]

  • Continuing Formation for Spiritual Directors at Dominican Center

    Continuing Formation for Spiritual Directors at Dominican Center

    January 26, 2023

    "Tending the Call" programs for spiritual directors remind us that as practitioners we need to care for ourselves and continue growing in the Spirit. Offered a couple of times a year, "Tending the Call" welcomes spiritual directors to return to the works of foundational spiritual companions and contemplative practices introduced in Practicum I and II. […]

  • A New Year Message from the Director

    A New Year Message from the Director

    January 5, 2023

    Look for "stars"... that direct your journey, that offer new perspectives, that induce wonder and awe, that call us to risk, that entice us to sing, dream, hope, dance, march.   What a meaningful message to welcome in the new year. It's from an Epiphany prayer by Sr. Mary Ann Barrett, alumni engagement officer at […]

  • Pure JOY at Dominican Center Marywood at Aquinas College

    Pure JOY at Dominican Center Marywood at Aquinas College

    May 10, 2022

    In this life, there is Just One You (JOY). You are a creator and the subject of your creation is your joyful life experience. At our recent JOY Retreat, mentors, staff, and spiritual directors with Dominican Center Marywood at Aquinas College invited guests to a variety of guided prayerful practices. It truly was a morning […]

  • The Yearly Return of Life: Lent

    The Yearly Return of Life: Lent

    March 2, 2022

    Is it time for Lent again? It seems like the year just flies by. No one ever says: Is it time for Spring again? We long for the melting of the ice and snow revealing the frozen ground and the dead, dried-up leaves. Because under that mulch the snowdrops and the crocuses are pushing up […]