We are excited to share that we just returned from our very first silent retreat weekend! After packing our spiritual reflection books, brand-new journals, and generously gifted handmade quilts, we headed to the wonderful and welcoming Sienna Retreat Center on the stunning shores of Lake Michigan for a weekend of peace. This sojourn was the result of many conversations about what the women felt would provide meaningful respite on their healing journey. We are so grateful to the generous donors who made this transformative retreat possible. From seeing the sun rise over the lake, to listening to the waves crash against the rocky shores, the silence of the weekend opened our eyes, ears, and hearts to the beauty of God’s creation and to the God within. Sitting still and listening, away from the cacophony of our lives, is a radical act that allows us to slow down and get in touch with what is important.
Closer to home, there sure is a lot going on at St. Bakhita House this month! Our eight-month Dorothy Day Deep Dive book study starts on October 9th. We still have four openings, so, if you are interested, please visit our website for the details and then send me an email at anne@bakhitahouse.org.
We are also extending an invitation to you to attend our weekly Masses. My brother, Bishop Jeff Haines, presides most Tuesdays at 5:15 pm in our St. Josephine Bakhita Chapel. Please join us! If we need to cancel a Mass, we will post it on our website, so please check before making the journey to our home. There will be a very special prayer and Mass opportunity on October 22nd. We will hold our monthly Contemplative Prayer to End Racism at 4:30 pm and a 5:15 celebration of the Mass followed by an invitation to share in a famous Catholic Worker soup dinner. Please RSVP at the email above. We have several other October events listed on our website including a presentation on Catholic Social Teaching at St. Joseph’s in Wauwatosa and a presentation on Human Trafficking at St. Dominic’s. All are welcome!
Have a beautiful October. It is such a colorful month full of both warm, breezy days and cold, windy nights. Kind of like life. Deo Gratias.
Blessings and peace,
Anne
