Foundations in Spirituality is a serious reflective study that opens our minds and hearts to the teachings and life examples of the great Christian spiritual teachers that continue to deepen our present spiritual journey.

Christ will make His home in your heart as you trust in Him.
Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.
- Ephesians 3:17

Explore the rich preaching of St. Dominic; the unbreakable faith of St. Teresa of Avila; the deep spirituality of St. John of the Cross; the life-giving wisdom of the Beguines; the fortitude of John Calvin; the daily prayerful life of St. Ignatius; and the lives of many more who continue to enrich our own faith and spirituality.

The course introduces the practice of contemplative prayer as grounding practices for living a richer spiritual life. Respond to the yearning in your heart for a deeper relationship with God by returning to the Foundations in Spirituality.

The objectives of this course are to:

• Grow in understanding and appreciation of the diverse ways God has been present to and involved in the lives of the great spiritual teachers and guides throughout history
• Encourage awareness, commitment to, and integration of the spiritual journey in daily life through writing and living a personal rule of life
• Develop an understanding of contemplative attitudes and presence as basic to living a spiritual life
• Provide opportunity for an introductory study of writings from the spiritual classics for the purpose of reflection, discussion, and personal appropriation
• Foster respect for the diversity in past and present theology and spirituality.
• To present basic principles and tools for discernment that are useful for personal, prayerful decision making

Until it is possible to gather in person, Foundations in Spirituality will meet via Zoom. Help is available for those new to this technology. You will receive details regarding Zoom prior to our first meeting in September.

Details

• Registration: $600, plus book fees

Dates
The Foundations in Spirituality program meets Mondays, 6:30-8:30 pm:

• September 21, 2020
• October 5, 2020
• October 19, 2020
• November 2, 2020
• November 16, 2020
• December 7, 2020
• December 21, 2020
• January 4, 2021
• January 18, 2021
• February 1, 2021
• February 15, 2021
• March 1, 2021
• March 15, 2021
• April 12, 2021
• April 26, 2021
• May 10, 2021
• May 24, 2021

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Foundations in Spirituality was transformative for me. It expanded my understanding of who God was, is, and will be through exploring the spiritual practices and experiences of the mystics. I grew up with one narrow understanding of God. It was an image that was unsettling and distant from the Spirit that lives in me and I often felt like my spirituality was incorrect or even irreverent. The Foundations course gave me the much needed “permission “ to experience God's presence that uniquely dwells in My spirit, how the spirit communicates with me, and how I partner with God in bringing Love into this broken world.
~ Ruth N.

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We yearn for spiritual strength as we move through these uncertain times and as we try to quiet the static and noise around us ...

We look for spiritual wisdom, especially as our worship places limit their availability ...

We are a community seeking spiritual deepening ...

Journey with us on our online Ignatian Retreat ~ Seeing God's Presence in our Daily Lives Journey as we introduce a discipline and practice that will move you to a spiritual depth. The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola immerses you in deep noticing for the Divine in all things, revealing the face of God in our daily lives. Prayer practices (spiritual exercises) and weekly Scripture passages will guide and support us as we pay attention to the holy around us.

Materials will be provided and explored to guide your weekly prayer. Retreatants will also join as a community of practice once a month for eight months. Spiritual Directors facilitate each monthly gathering. While this may be a new discipline for you, the Spiritual Exercises have a rich 500-year history.

Ignatian Retreat Dates

• Second Tuesday of each month (6:00 – 8:00 pm)
• 2020: October 13, November 10, December 8
• 2021: January 12, February 9, March 9, April 13, May 11

All Sessions will be online via Zoom.

Registration fees support the ongoing mission of Dominican Center.

Maximum Capacity:  24 participants

Centering Prayer is a modernized prayer method based on the intuitive prayer rooted in Lectio Divina. It is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience the Divine’s immanent presence with us. Centering Prayer is grounded in relationship with God, through Christ, and is a practice to nurture that relationship.

Centering Prayer complements and supports other modes of prayer — verbal, mental, or affective prayer — and facilitates resting in the Divine Presence. Centering Prayer offers a way to grow in intimacy with God, moving beyond conversation to communion.

As Thomas Keating emphasizes, the source of Centering Prayer, as in all methods leading to contemplative prayer, is the Indwelling Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The focus of Centering Prayer is the deepening of our relationship with the living Christ. The effects of Centering Prayer are ecclesial, as the prayer tends to build communities of faith and bond the members together in mutual friendship and love. (source: https://gravitycenter.com/practice/centering-prayer/)

Gatherings Held Via Zoom
By using the link below, you will enter the Dominican Center Zoom waiting space. No registration required.
Participants will be greeted around 11:50 am. Come early and please feel free to invite a friend or family member to join.

Centering Prayer link : https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82042706178

NEW TO ZOOM?

• View this short video tutorial on how to use Zoom
• If you experience problems with Zoom, please email us at dcmreceptionists@dominicancenter.com

As polls close on this historical 2020 Election Day, join the village at Dominican Center in a virtual gathering and as a community of faith for an election night peace prayer vigil. During our time together, we will call on the wisdom from a Cloud of Witnesses who continue to inspire us and invite us to live nonviolently and to work for peace always. As votes are casts and as people stand in long lines, we pray for safety and just voting practices. We come together as neighbors, connected to each other by our common humanity, grounded in our faith in God and in the belief in the common good. Come as you are to pray, to reflect, and to be together as community. Should you find yourself standing in poll lines, Zoom in from your phones.

Dominican Center village dedicates this evening to Sister Ardeth Platte, OP, a justice preacher (1936-2020) who continues to inspire us to be peace, live with peace, and work for peace.

LOOK FOR AN EMAIL: You will receive an email from Dominican Center with a Zoom link after you register.

If it moves you, please consider a donation.
A small gift makes a big impact as we continue with the transformative work of Dominican Center.
Feel free to adjust the amount of gift below. Suggested donation ~ $10.
Gratitude abounds and much work to do!

Going Virtual, Staying Personal

Join the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids for ADVENTure 2020: Going Virtual, Staying Personal and celebrate the coming of the Light of the World as we bring this favorite annual event from our home to yours.

This uniquely Dominican evening will provide balm for your soul and joy for your heart as we close out a year unlike any other.

• There is no cost to join this online event, but you must register.
• If you’d like to make a gift you can do so during checkout — thank you!
• If you don't have an existing account, there is an option to check out as a guest.

You'll receive a private link to join the ADVENTure 2020 event in early December.

Important!

Please list ONLY the number of DEVICES (ipad, computer, phone) you will be using to watch the event, NOT the number of people participating. The number of devices is limited.

Questions?

Please contact Deb Kalinka Manning at dkalinkamanning@grdominicans.org or by calling 616.550.1177.