[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Thanks. God Bless

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Defenders of the Faith!!

I want to pick your brain ping!

God Bless

[Campion]

Maybe the friars at Marytown (Libertyville) can give you some ideas.

Opus Dei has a retreat center in the Chicago area, I believe it's in NW Indiana somewhere. You might talk to them.

Campion (NU undergrad class of '83)

[nika]

Hello, I wonder if it would be fruitful to introduce them to the Church Fathers A study of the letters of St. Ignatius (St. Ignatius was a disciple of the Apostle John), for example, might be enlightening. Here is an excerpt from The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans:

Do ye, therefore, notice those who preach other doctrines, how they affirm that the Father of Christ cannot be known, and how they exhibit enmity and deceit in their dealings with one another. They have no regard for love; they despise the good things we expect hereafter; they regard present things as if they were durable; they ridicule him that is in affliction; they laugh at him that is in bonds. They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they confess not the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and which the Father, of His goodness, raised up again. Those, therefore, who speak against this gift of God, incur death in the midst of their disputes. But it were better for them to treat it with respect, that they also might rise again. It is fitting, therefore, that ye should keep aloof from such persons, and not to speak of them either in private or in public, but to give heed to the prophets, and above all, to the Gospel, in which the passion [of Christ] has been revealed to us, and the resurrection has been fully proved. But avoid all divisions, as the beginning of evils.

[drstevej]

Make it a memorable retreat with your truly as the key note speaker.

[rcath60]

Hi. I have no idea where you are, but I suggest you contact the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal out of New York City. Go to franciscanfriars.com and follow the links to their grassroots renewal site, or you can email them at Youth2000@aol.com. The friars travel all over the country for retreats and are awesome!

[undirish01]

NWU,

I recommend highly The Fathers of Mercy mission priests.

These guys ROCK! They do not hold back, and tell it like it is. They are located just west of Bowling Green, Ky. Using a baseball term, these guys can "bring it"!

http://www.fathersofmercy.com/contact

[Desdemona]

Daily Mass and rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, priests available for confession, lots of "quiet" time for personal reflection. A keynote speaker would be nice, but be sure to find someone REALLY orthodox.

This is supposed to be a renewal, so ditch the canned music - you know what I'm talking about, electric harps and the other trendy acousitcal crap. You might find a soloist to lead chant and song. Or, if you can find a good a cappella choir to sing some Renaissance (particularly Italian) music. That stuff is realy good for the soul.

[Mamzelle]

I am seeking to ask a question of someone RC involving being a Catholic in good standing, being able to take sacraments.

I am not Catholic--

I am aware that divorced people may not be able to take communion, but what is the status of the cohabiting, the "shacking up"--the living in sin? Are they "in good standing"?

TIA.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Here is the Brainstorm list I ultimately submitted, thanks again for all your input.

1. more time for silent, individual prayer, more relaxing, more centering, think it would be useful.
2. If we do a human continuum -- have Fr. Ken, yourself, one of the leaders explain the Church teaching on the issue (i.e. gay marriage, contraception -- the moral absolutes) so that it isn't left at a whatever you feel like is ok
3. Adoration -- maybe at night set it up for a vigil, everyone takes a half-hour till morning, something like that.
4. If we do witness talks, some educational talks to (e.g. if we have a witness talk on someone's faith, then have an educational talk on a well-formed conscience or on the call to Evangelize, etc)
5. A little study of the Church fathers (e.g. St. Igantius (plus it is a cool name) of Antioch letter to the Smyrnaeans (or one of his six others)) -- see and appreciate the apostolic foundation of the faith
6. Maybe pray the Liturgy of the Hours as a priest would, so morning prayer, etc through the day, keeping prayer and personal prayer as a focus
7. Gospel of John, as this is Springtime, focus on the light, hence John's Gospel is excellent in its imagery
8. Utilize the Readings of the Day for Friday/Saturday for themes of the retreat
9. Group prayer in the evening, break off into small groups and pray aloud together.
10. short daily Mass on Saturday
11. pray Rosary, Divine Mercy