Tag: Virtual Retreats

  • Virtual Remembrance Retreat

    Virtual Remembrance Retreat

    With All Souls’ Day, November 2, Catholic parishes and other faith communities begin a month-long remembrance for all who have died. In the same spirit, we share this retreat as a way to remember the people in your life who have died. This virtual retreat offers a chance for you to reflect more deeply on what they have taught you, as well as an opportunity to offer thanks and determine how their legacy will guide your life going forward. Click here to open/download a PDF of the retreat.

    Getting started

    Many faith communities have a Book of Remembrance in which people are invited to write the names of those who have died.

    Begin your retreat by writing down the names of the people you would like to remember. In order to not overwhelm yourself, list no more than five names per retreat. Write these names in your journal, on a writing pad, or on a small note board so they remain visible to you for a few days. Next to each name, write a two-word description of that person. No more than two words for now, you can write more later if you’d like.

    Here’s an example:

    Michael Davis – faithful friend.

    Finally, light a candle in memory of the one(s) you have named as a sign of hopefulness

    Prayer (based on Numbers 6:24-26)

    “The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!”

    Gracious God, Author of Life and Victor over Death, at this time of remembrance, I ask that you continue to bless and keep (say the names you listed above) who are now at rest in death. Smile upon them and give them your grace. Please continue to bless and keep me as well as any who were a part of their lives. May their rest be peaceful as you show them your kindness. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

    Giving thanks

    For each person that you’ve listed, speak or write something about that person for which you are thankful.

    Reflection

    Based on your relationship with each person you have named, select one of the four ways below to reflect more deeply. Your reflection will be structured as a conversation for you to have either with the person you have named, with yourself, or with God. Conduct the conversation as you wish (writing, speaking, praying). Go at your own pace and challenge yourself to move a bit beyond your comfort zone for the sake of healing, integrity, and insight.

    “I am still grieving over you.”

    • Talk about what you are feeling specifically at this stage of your grieving.
    • Talk about what you are doing to cope with your grieving. What support do you have?
    • Talk about what you hope for in the midst of the grieving.
    • Pray for comfort in this time of grief.

    “I really need/want to let go of something concerning you.”

    • Talk about why you need or want to forgive the person you have named.
    • Talk about what you are doing to help you let go. What support do you have?
    • Talk about any insights you have gained that might explain why the person you have named hurt or offended you.
    • Make a statement of your intention to let go and move on.
    • Pray for the strength to show mercy.

    “I wish I could have said this to you.”

    • Talk about what the person you have named means to you.
    • Talk about what specifically you wanted to say to them and why.
    • Talk about what you hoped for in your relationship with the person you named.
    • Pray for your peace of mind and heart.

    “I hope you are at peace.”

    • Talk about what the person you have named went through.
    • Talk about what you hope the person experiences in this time of rest.
    • Talk about how your perspectives and outlooks have grown in virtue because of knowing the
    • person you have named.
    • Pray for a peaceful rest for the person you have named.

    Legacy

    Here is an opportunity for you to mention what the person you have named has taught you and what you would like to carry forward in your own life. Use the guidelines below for creating your legacy statement:

    In the course of their life, (names from above) taught me to ___________. In gratitude and hope, I plan to live out their lesson by ___________, with the help of God.

    Closing prayer

    Excellent Lord, you are the God of the living and of the dead. In the moment of remembering (names from above) who have died, I take this time to commend so many who have died to your loving care. Especially remember those who have died alone, children who have died, those who have died from disease and poverty, and those who have died as a result of war or violence. May they truly rest in peace.

    For the ones who loved them, give comfort. Let them know your loving care through your presence and the presence of friends and community. May those who are grieving be touched by tangible expressions of consolation and support.

    God, in your grace, show those who have died your loving mercy. And, in your wisdom, let their legacies help us live better lives. Amen.

    Conclusion

    Here are a few suggestions for your ongoing remembrance:

    • Write the names of those you are remembering in your parish’s Book of Remembrance.
    • Light a candle in a church for the ones you have named in this retreat.
    • Create a page in your journal for each person you have named. Add photos and even funeral programs to your entries.
    • Use the legacy portion of this retreat with others. Plan a time with family or mutual friends to celebrate and remember the legacy of the deceased.

     

    Originally published on November 1, 2017.

  • Virtual Father’s Day Retreat

    Virtual Father’s Day Retreat

    Father’s Day is this weekend and it’s time to honor dear old Dad. Fathers share helpful advice and wisdom throughout our lives (or at least they try to). Even if we’re too busy or stubborn to listen, dads are giving us tips on how to make our lives the best they can be. This virtual retreat helps children and their fathers connect with those wisdom moments and one another. You can do this retreat on your own or with your dad! Live far away? E-mail Dad the link and get on the phone, Facetime, or Skype. So, in addition to a card or gift (don’t forget!) celebrate Father’s Day with your father in a unique way. Click here to download the PDF.

    Getting Started

    Find a comfortable place in your home or even outdoors for this retreat. Take a few minutes to think about your father and other men who have been wise and guiding figures in your life. You might want to light a candle in memory of wisdom figures who have passed away.

    Now, settle into the moment…

    • Close your eyes and breathe deeply
    • Recognize that God is with you

    Prayer

    Heavenly Father, we thank you for our fathers. They gave us life and continue to give us the wisdom to live our lives. By their examples of love, we know ourselves. By their examples of faith, we know you better. Invigorate our fathers with the love and respect of their children so that they may be encouraged, inspired, and greatly blessed. Amen.

    Reading

    Proverbs: 23:22-25

    Listen to your father who begot you,
    do not despise your mother when she is old.
    Buy truth and do not sell:
    wisdom, instruction, understanding!
    The father of a just person will exult greatly;
    whoever begets a wise son will rejoice in him.
    Let your father and mother rejoice;
    let her who bore you exult.

    Thoughts on the Reading

    Mark Twain once said, “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” It always seems that when we are children (or not so much children) of a certain age, we think we know it all. We believe we have all the answers. And our parents just don’t get it. It’s so easy to become dismissive and turn away from sources of real wisdom, opting instead to rely on our own resources. Yet, if we pay attention, we may be fortunate enough to see that though our fathers grew up in a different time with different options, they have the wisdom to know how certain situations will progress. Having been through, or at least seen, most everything that we go through, they can provide advice, warning, instruction, and insight that can help us make better decisions in our lives. The wisdom that fathers give can help us to know who we are and what we are able to do. It can help distinguish between things that are good for us and things that will harm us.

    The parental pride moment in the Proverbs scripture happens today when we translate tried and true wisdom from Dad, Mom, and others into our current reality. When we’re teaching old wisdom in new ways by lives that are characterized by love and justice, our fathers are proud. And we further a legacy that we pass on to our families and to the world.

    Reflecting on the Reading

    Take a few moments to think about (or even write down) your responses to the following. If you do this retreat with your father, share your reflections with one another.

    • For daughters and sons – What wisdom and truths about your life has your father passed on to you? How has your father’s example given you the strength to deal with the realities of life?
    • For fathers – What wisdom and truths have your children shared with you that enable you to live better in today’s world? What challenges do your children face in today’s world that will show off their strength, character, and talents?
    • For new fathers – Name three truths you hope to teach your children. How has this new role of father helped you to better appreciate your own father?

    Praying for the Community

    God, we give thanks today for our fathers and for all they have done to share wisdom and truth. We especially remember fathers who struggle to maintain their families, single fathers, and fathers who bravely face social injustice for the sake of their families – that from their sacrifice come children capable of changing the world. We remember fathers who have lost children through death – that they may receive the consolation that gives peace and hope. We remember fathers who have died – that their legacy of wisdom and love may be a sturdy rock upon which we proudly stand. We also pray for fathers who are imprisoned, fathers who suffer from addictions or abuse, and fathers who have left or harmed their families – that the mercy and love of God may guide and strengthen their hearts and minds to repair what has been broken.

    Add your own: God, we remember fathers who….

    Make a Commitment to Share Wisdom

    Using your reflection responses as a guide, make a personal commitment to share the wisdom you have learned from your father or another wisdom figure in your life.

    Ideas: send an e-mail or personal note to a friend or family member who could use some of the same fatherly advice you’ve received. Incorporate this commitment into your role as someone’s godparent. Serve as a mentor, tutor, confirmation sponsor, or other volunteer who works with young children and teenagers.

    Conclusion

    God of all fathers, in your wisdom and love you have made all things. As we honor our fathers this Father’s Day, help us to live a father’s example. May our minds and hearts become stronger in the wisdom and love that we share. Help us to promote truth, value necessary instruction, and foster mutual understanding as we go through life. And may a spirit of greater respect strengthen us all. Amen.

  • Virtual Memorial Day Retreat: Remembering Those Who Serve

    Virtual Memorial Day Retreat: Remembering Those Who Serve

    On Memorial Day weekend we dust off the grill, break out the lawn chairs, and head to watch the first parades of the year. But wait! Memorial Day isn’t just the unofficial start of summer. It’s a day to remember those who have made an extraordinary sacrifice in the service of their country and local community. Busted Halo’s Virtual Memorial Day Retreat guides you through moments of reflection and thanksgiving for the soldiers, police officers, and firefighters who have given their own lives in the service of others. To download a copy of this retreat, click here.

    Getting started

    Take a few moments to appreciate the rights and freedoms that are important to you:

    • Drive or walk around your town paying special attention to the police and fire stations, flags waving, and memorial ribbons for soldiers serving abroad
    • Reflect on having the right to vote, practice your own religion, and gain an education
    • Finally, remember that women and men have given their lives to defend these rights and freedoms

    Now, settle into the moment…

    • Find a silent or peaceful place
    • Close your eyes and breathe deeply
    • Recognize that God is with you

    Prayer

    Loving God, Jesus told us, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). At times we take for granted the peace and freedoms afforded us through the sacrifices that soldiers, police officers, firefighters, and others before us have made. We do not always appreciate the privileges and comforts that others provide us. And more intimately, sometimes our own self-interest can become more important to us than loving and caring for our friends. Help us to be more mindful of the sacrifices that others have made for our own well-being and the ways we might give of ourselves for the good of others. Amen.

    What freedoms and rights do you take for granted?

    Dear Lord, I am sorry for the times that I…

    Reading

    Wisdom: 3:1-9

    But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them. In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble. They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them forever. Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones, and he watches over his elect.

    Thoughts on the Reading

    The reading from Wisdom, typically read at the funerals of the admired and inspiring, shows that God has neither overlooked the struggle of the brave women and men who have given their lives in defense of the freedoms we hold so dearly, nor their sacrifices for righteousness. We live in hope that our sisters and brothers now rest in the arms of the Lord, enjoying the peace, justice, and freedom that they fought so hard for us to enjoy. Memorial Day is an opportunity for our nation to remember, pray for, and mourn the loss of these women and men. We gather together in cemeteries, at flagpoles, on town greens, as well as in our churches, mosques, temples, and synagogues to pray, each in our own way, for the soldiers, police officers, and firefighters who have died in the line of duty. Encouraged by the hope of their eternal reward in the hands of God, we unite our prayers with those from all faith traditions as our whole nation prays in thanksgiving for the great sacrifice of the women and men upon whose shoulders we now stand, who have truly shown us all the greatest sort of love

    Reflecting on the Reading

    Take a few moments to think about (or even write down) your responses to the following:

    • Who do you know who serves her/his country as a soldier, police officer, or firefighter? How might you thank her/his for that service?
    • When you remember those who lost their lives defending our rights and freedoms, what does their legacy and sacrifice mean to you?
    • Name three ways you can more joyfully recall the memory of those who have died.
    • In what ways do you feel moved to help others? How might you become a servant to others in your community?

    Praying for the Community

    Adding our prayers to those across the nation, from a multitude of traditions, we give thanks for those who defend and care for us. Christ, we thank you for your saving sacrifice through which you welcome our fallen guardians into your kingdom. God, give us loving hearts so that we too may give of ourselves for others. Holy Spirit, bless all who serve and protect us. Add your own petitions perhaps for soldiers, police officers, and firefighters in your community: Christ, thank you… Father, give… Holy Spirit, bless…

    Make a Commitment to Those Who Serve Others

    Using your reflection responses as a guide, make a doable personal commitment that will help you to be more appreciative of those who put their lives on the line in service to our country. Ideas: Call or even visit your local police or fire station to thank the women and men there for their service. Invite a neighbor over for dinner who has a family member serving abroad with the military. Volunteer your time at a local veterans center or medical facility.

    Conclusion

    Christ, you taught us saying, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). We mourn the deaths of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of peace. Still, we know that you gave your own life so that these women and men can find eternal peace in your kingdom. May we learn, through their example, to appreciate the joys of peace and freedom that we may sometimes take for granted. Amen

  • Retreat to Honor Our Mothers on Mother’s Day

    Retreat to Honor Our Mothers on Mother’s Day

    This Sunday is Mother’s Day — a day dedicated to honoring our mothers. As we go through life, our relationships with our mothers evolve and our perspectives shift. We might feel distanced from our mothers or even at odds with them. This virtual retreat focuses on our changing relationships with our mothers. You can do this retreat on your own or with your mom! Live far away? Email her the link then get on the phone, Facetime or Skype. So, in addition to a card or gift (don’t forget!), celebrate Mother’s Day with your mother in a unique way. Click here to download the PDF.

    Getting Started

    Find a comfortable place in your home or even outdoors for this retreat. Take a few minutes to think about your mother or other women who have been nurturing figures in your life. You might want to light a candle in memory of any nurturing figures that have passed away.

    Now, settle into the moment …

    • Close your eyes and breathe deeply
    • Recognize that God is with you

    Prayer

    Loving God, we thank you for the gift of mothers who give us life. By their love and sacrifices, they have taught us how to love and make sacrifices for others. We are inspired by their faith and the way they have provided a foundation for knowing you. May you strengthen our mothers through your grace so that they can continue to grow as our examples of faith and love. And, may we, their sons and daughters, always honor them with a spirit of profound respect. Amen.

    Reading

    John 2: 1-11

    “On the third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.”

    Thoughts on the Reading

    This passage is most notable because it features the first recorded miracle of Jesus’ ministry. It also has a message for us about the changing relationship between a mother and a son. Mary has played a very special role in Jesus’ life. She carried the Son of God in her womb. She watched as her son grew in God’s wisdom and knowledge, and bore witness to Jesus’ life-giving ministry. No doubt the parent-child relationship of Mary and Jesus had its ups and downs. The changes in both mother and child over time transformed their relationship. So it is with us today as we grow older and our parent-child relationship and even our role in that relationship changes. These changes can lead to even deeper bonds – connections that can produce miraculous things if we let them.

    Reflecting on the Reading

    Take a few moments to think about (or even write down) your responses to the following. If you do this retreat with your mother, share your reflections with one another.

    • For children: What are 3 things about your mom for which you give thanks?
    • For mothers: Name 3 ways that your child/children has made you into the person you are today.
    • What are your hopes for your relationship with your mother/child at this time of your life?
    • What aspects of your current relationship challenge these hopes?
    • What can you offer to your mother/child to support them at this time in their lives?
    • What can you offer to your mother/child to help your relationship grow?

    Praying for the Community

    God, we lift up for prayer all of the mothers in our midst. May we especially remember mothers without mothers, mothers who have lost children, single mothers, widows who are mothers, mothers in prison, mothers who struggle to feed their families, mothers who suffer physical and emotional abuse, and all women who face injustice and rejection as they work to nurture and raise their children.

    Add your own: God, we remember mothers who…

    Make a Commitment to Nurture Relationships

    Using your reflection responses as a guide, make a doable personal commitment to embrace the changing relationship you have with your mother as an opportunity to better communicate with one another and form an even stronger bond of mutual respect and love.

    Conclusion

    God of all mothers, we draw closer to you through the relationships we have with others. As we pay tribute to our mothers this Mother’s Day, help us to always honor all of our relationships with utmost care and compassion. Help us to be patient in difficult times and rejoice at the small miracles that happen in the midst of our relationships with our mothers. Amen.