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Chiara Center Featured Events

Abortion Hurts Forgiveness Heals

 
 
November 20, 2010
Abortion Hurts Forgiveness Heals
A day of healing and hope for all those affected by abortion. Sponsored by the Office of Social Concerns, Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.


 
     
Ah Days of Quiet

 
 
October 18, 2010
Ah Days of Quiet
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Guests have access to the spacious grounds, the beautiful St. Francis of Assisi Church, peaceful reflection areas and spiritual audio and printed rescoures.


 
     
Directed Retreat

 
 
October 24, 2010 - October 29, 2010
Directed Retreat
A Directed Retreat is week of prayer, silence, and solitude with the daily opportunity to meet with a spiritual director.


 
     
 
June 5, 2011
Directed Retreat
A Directed Retreat is a time of prayer, silence and solitude with the daily opportunity to meet with a spiritual director. Retreatants are invited to reflect on ordinary life, its joys and struggles, experiences of prayer, and one's response to all of it. The atmosphere of quiet can lead to a greater knowledge and experience of God and oneself.


 
     
Food & Faith - Evening With Henri Nouwen

 
 
February 17, 2011
Food & Faith - Evening With Henri Nouwen
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Presenter: Ed Wojicki Come for dinner and learn about internationally renowned priest, author, respected professor, and beloved pastor, Henri Nouwen was a spiritual thinker, a synthesist and one of the first in our time, along with Thomas Merton, to consciously develop a "theology of the heart". Meet the person behind the writings as you explore key themes of his works.


 
     
Food and Faith - May They Be One: Ecology and Communion

 
 
April 14, 2011
Food and Faith - May They Be One: Ecology and Communion
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Come for dinner and discover that each time we remember the Paschal Mystery, we make present that love which birthed a universe. The evening will consist of a presentation, a short film, and an engaging telling of the Story of the Universe through the ritual of the "cosmic walk".


 
     
Food and Faith - Meeting God at the Movies

 
 
May 5, 2011
Food and Faith - Meeting God at the Movies
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Come for dinner and discover how people are shaped by film and television. When we watch a movie we are not just being entertained, we are exposing ourselves to narratives that define what is possible for us. It is possible to create a dialogue between Scripture and film...between morality and film. Movies can be a way for culture and faith to meet.


 
     
Food and Faith - The Creation Story: Awakening Our Consciousness

 
 
November 11, 2010
Food and Faith - The Creation Story: Awakening Our Consciousness
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Come for dinner and learn exactly what Eco-Spirituality is. Does Eco-Spirituality lead us away from God? What does the earth have to do with our faith? This will be about a wholistic awareness of the Divine in which we have our being. What does the earth have to do with our faith in God? Everything.


 
     
Franciscan Nativity Festival

 
 
December 3, 2010 - December 5, 2010
Franciscan Nativity Festival
The Nativity Festival celebrates the mystery of the Incarnation made visible through the vulnerability and humility of God made flesh in a child. More than 120 nativity sets from around the world are displayed in the Festival that has attacted over 1,000 visitors each year. Visitors may also tour the historic St. Francis of Assisi Church while here. The event is free and open to the public.


 
     
From Here to Hope: Being a Reconciling Presence in a Broken World

 
 
September 24, 2010 - September 25, 2010
From Here to Hope: Being a Reconciling Presence in a Broken World
This weekend experience is a journey into one of the most powerful human experiences… forgiving and being forgiven. Discover how we live as reconcilers in our personal and communal lives we forgive and seek reconciliation with others and with our earth we embrace the skills needed to be agents of healing and hope in our families,our communities and churches. Enter into the reconciling peace of Chiara Center.


 
     
HarpScape Retreat

 
 
November 4, 2010 - November 7, 2010
HarpScape Retreat
At the HarpScape Retreat and Chiara Center you will find a serenely beautiful setting for new learning, sharing, playing, and listening to harps. You may choose to attend structured workshop sessions, spend time alone, walk in the extensive grounds, or meditate in the inspirational Canticle Prayer Room with contemplative harp music.


 
     
Meaning in Recovery

 
 
February 18, 2011 - February 20, 2011
Meaning in Recovery
A weekend for individuals active in any recognized 12-step recovery program. The focus of the weekend is finding the deeper meaning in recovery and knowing how to enhance the pathy of recovery. The presenters will share materials, guide meditations, lead group discussions and offer private time to participants to help maximize the journey of recovery from addictions and/or having been impacted by addiction in life.


 
     
Mission, Metrics, Mercy - Annual Spirituality in Health Care Conference

 
 
March 16, 2011
Mission, Metrics, Mercy - Annual Spirituality in Health Care Conference
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Natural tension occurs when health care providers and leaders responsible for overseeing financial performance indicators, perceive mission differently. How can the tensions created by a commitment to mission, metrics, and mercy bring forth a renewed shared vision? What drives the mission, metrics and mercy triage? How can fruitfulness of productive outcomes be balanced with faithfulness to mission?


 
     
Retreat - Mystics in the Marketplace: Then and Now

 
 
July 10, 2011 - July 15, 2011
Retreat - Mystics in the Marketplace: Then and Now
Mystics gaze outward from the place inside where they dwell in God's presence. By their visions and lives, msytics show us that God is intimately involved with us today and always. This retreat will journey with some of the great mystics, past and present, and will invited participants to enter into the way of mysticism.


 
     
Retreat and Refresh Stroke Camp

 
 
October 1, 2010 - October 3, 2010
Retreat and Refresh Stroke Camp
An opportunity for stroke survivors and their caregivers to enjoy a weekend retreat and camp experience. Sponsored by Marylee Nunley and St. John's Hospital.


 
     
Spiritual Direction in the Franciscan Tradition

 
 
April 5, 2011 - April 8, 2011
Spiritual Direction in the Franciscan Tradition
Co-sponsored by the Franciscan Federation and Chiara Center, this national program will be an exploration into the essential Franciscan elements of beauty, discernment, and story in light of spiritual direction. Breakout sessions will provide avenues for greater exchagne of experience and questions.