2013 ABRC Conference
All Are Welcome:
Extending Hospitality To Those On The Margins
Aug. 22-25, 2013
Download Brochure and Registration
Keynotes
Lesbian and Gay Catholics:
What Does the Church Say About Them? by Fr. Bob Pierson
Retreat Centers as Wildlife Sanctuaries:
Safe Shelter for Endangered Spirits by Prof. M. Sheila Nelson
Marriage and Remarriage:
A Pastoral Response by Rev. Charles Schramm
Workshops
Insights from Prison Ministry with S. Kathleen Atkinson OSB
Ministry to Non-present Young Adults: Exploring Lessons from Taizé with Sam Rahberg
Personal Testimony from the Margins with Carol and Fred Weber
Plus
Prayer with the monastic community
Best Ideas
Networking
Silent reflection time
And...
Closing Banquet
St. Benedict's Retreat Center
Benet Lake, Wisconsin
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For more Information contact
S. Carol Falkner
carol@benedictine.com
2011 ABRC Conference Highlights
Sharing Benedictine Peace in a Divided Church
August 18-21, 2011
Sophia Center of Mount St. Scholastica,
Atchison, KS
In August of 2011 the Association of Benedictine Retreat Centers (ABRC) gathered at the Sophia Center of Mt. St. Scholastica Monastery in Atchison, Kansas. Over thirty participants represented more than twenty different centers. Together we engaged the topic "Sharing Benedictine Peace in a Divided Church."
The 2011 ABRC conference participants appreciated:
"Reconnecting w/deep thought on the Benedictine charism and hearing how our stories overlap"
"Interaction and wisdom shared about solving and addressing common issues"
"a theme big enough to lift our eyes and shore up our hope"
Highlights included...
- S. Irene Nowell's keynote address and discussion about the tensions that Scripture itself holds. We are confident that it is the Word of God. We are humbled that it is the Word of God in human words. We are flexible because we trust that it is a living Word.
- S. Mary Collins' keynote address and discussion about the sharing peace in a divided Church held up the truth that it is fear the problem is not God; the problem is our lack of trust. It is our fears that keep us divided and prevent us from having conversation
- Facilitated conversations around Risk Management, Keeping the Peace Between Retreat Center's and Monastic Communities, and Fostering a Peacefulness in Our Ministries
- Hearing the best Benedictine idea shared by each center
- Prayer together and time for leisure
Participants said,
"I'm leaving with renewed energy."
"This was restful and yet productive, too!"
Special thanks to the staff of the Sophia Center and the Sisters of Mt. St. Scholastica Monastery for their shining example of Benedictine hospitality.
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