After conducting numerous retreats focusing on the spirituality of Henri Nouwen over the past five years, the time has come to introduce a thematic format designed to immerse retreatants into a more in-depth study of Nouwen’s works in a synthesized way through a series of retreats spread over the year. I invite you to participate next year (2011) in this newly modified retreat experience which we have launched this year. If you are a serious student and an avid reader of Nouwen's writings, consider investing a year of journeying with Henri Nouwen via three sequential retreats, which can also be three separate stand-alone retreats from which you can choose. In short, you can attend all three of them or simply choose the one you wish to join in based on the focal theme you want.
- It's a communal journey.You develop rich relationships and fellowships with the other participants especially if you choose to attend all three of them over a period of one year.
- It's a transformative process. You are bound to experience a change of mind and heart as you wrestle with Nouwen's insights into the spiritual life and have a taste of the reality of community.
- It's a learning experience. You will be exposed to a good synthesis and integration of Nouwen's thoughts via mini-lectures on his writings, engaging directly with his books, and profiting from the collective insights of the group.
- It's a balanced rhythm.You will have ample times of private reflection and communal gathering and be immersed in a healthy cycle of solitude and community which Henri Nouwen himself held in creative tension throughout his life.
- It's a thematically-focused retreat. You will be able to concentrate on a particular emphasis in Nouwen's journeying reality (one journey at a time) without being inundated with too much data and content (see Retreat Themes below).
April 15-17
July 29-31
October 7-9
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Recommended Secondary Reading
In the main, Henri Nouwen: A Spirituality of Imperfection and Henri Nouwen and Soul Care: A Ministry of Integration will be the primary basis of the retreat contents. There will also be other suggested Nouwen books.
Journeying with Henri Nouwen Retreat Series 2011
Overall Theme: “A Life of Tension”
WEEKEND RETREAT FOCUS
April 15-17 – INWARD Tension (Psychological Dynamics)
The theme revolves around dealing with the tension brought about by the spiritual polarities between the true self and the false self.
July 29-31 – OUTWARD Tension (Ministerial Dynamics)
The emphasis is on how we can creatively balance off the ongoing tension between our practice of solitude and community.
October 7-9 – UPWARD Tension (Theological Dynamics)
This retreat highlights the realities of suffering and glory and how we can navigate our contemporaneous experience of struggle and victory in our journey..
Registration Information
Register directly through Mary & Joseph Retreat Center (c/o imanley@maryjoseph.org / 310-377-4867 ext. 234).
Cost for each weekend retreat is $ 295 (shared room) and $ 355 (single room).
Retreat Facilitator
WIL HERNANDEZ, PhD, is a trained counselor and a certified spiritual director who regularly conducts retreats all over the country aside from teaching at Fuller Theological Seminary, Azusa Pacific University, and Loyola Marymount University. Wil has committed himself to promoting the spiritual legacy of Henri Nouwen via speaking and writing.
Scholarship Fund Donation
If you are led to donate towards the Journeying with Henri Nouwen Retreats Scholarship Fund to help subsidize the retreat fees, click here (Please send me an email once you make a specific donation towards this need to notify me). Thank you!
