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Spiritual Life Ministry
Through Spiritual Life Ministry, Dominican Sisters make themselves available
to people who are seeking to deepen their relationship with God and who
want to expand the spiritual dimensions of their lives. We do not claim
to be experts in living the “spiritual life,” rather, we see
ourselves as companions and guides for those who want to share their personal
inner journey with another.
Spiritual Direction |
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One of the ways of companioning others is through a process commonly
called “Spiritual Direction.” This usually consists
of a monthly meeting during which the seeker is encouraged, first,
to notice God’s presence (or absence) in her/his
daily life and, second, to articulate the effects of such
interaction in the midst of the many noises and silences that fill
our days. This practice of noticing and articulating God’s
loving interventions in ordinary daily situations can help a person
gradually become more receptive to the gifts of the Spirit, who
is continually alive and active in every human and natural bit of
creation. |
Prayer |
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Sisters in Spiritual Life Ministry usually have the opportunity
of teaching ways of praying. They plan and teach a variety of prayer
experiences to individuals and to groups. Music, art, photography,
poetry, and dance are only a few of the media that put us in touch
with the deepest parts of ourselves, and thereby allow the divine
Spirit to be released. No one way of praying is best.
To reflect on Scripture, both the old and new Testaments, has been
a favored and much developed method of personal as well as group
prayer. Spiritual directors and guides try to help people discover
how their own life stories relate to those of the Biblical characters,
many of whom faced similar challenges to the work of justice and
peace-making as we do today.
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Retreats |
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A third part of the ministry includes involvement in retreat programs
offered at retreat houses, conference centers and in parishes. These
vary in length, and can be for a day, an evening, a week, and sometimes
even a month-long program. Spiritual life ministers are invited
to centers around the country and sometimes outside the United States.
They facilitate the retreat, offer presentations on a specific focus,
and, if time permits, make themselves available to retreatants for
one-on-one conversations.
Dominican retreat leaders generally prefer working as teams of two
or more when possible. St.
Dominic established this practice in the 13th century. It allows
for shared prayer and support, and the witness of preaching out
of a community context, not only of one’s personal and private
devotion. |
For further information about Spiritual Life Ministry, email
us.
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