Learn By Doing
Our retreats and programs go beyond good teaching. When you join us, you will be invited to enter into experiences to discover or deepen your spiritual practice—and bring it into your daily life.
Registration is now open
Summer Institute
"It is Right & Just"
The marginalized in our society are suffering from injustices each and every day. This is occurring everywhere including Rochester. Blind justice should be a term everyone understands and strives for. Everyone outside the marginalized population should see these injustices and want to evoke change that will occur in our society.
Join us as we partner with local outreach groups: Willow, Angels of Mercy, and World Relief. We will learn how they serve the marginalized population in Rochester and how we can find non-violent resolutions to combat the injustices occurring every day. Our three-day program will focus on victims of domestic violence, victims of human trafficking, and refugees.
Dates: Wednesday, July 17 - Friday, July 19
Time: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. (continental breakfast and lunch included all three days)
Location: St. Anne's Church, 1600 Mt. Hope Avenue
Cost: $120 (price for the 3-part program)
Willow, Domestic Violence Center works to prevent domestic violence and ensures that victims of domestic violence have access to the services that they need, and the support needed along the journey to safety.
Angels of Mercy NY helps women move forward by raising awareness of human trafficking. They support children with protection and hope. They also have a well-known fundraiser called Dress A Girl, in which they send dresses to girls in third-world countries who are at risk of human trafficking.
World Relief Western NY creates change by addressing the root problems of poverty, vulnerability, and injustice. They provide newly arrived refugees in the Western NY area with access to basic necessities to begin them on their journey to belonging.
A Year of Prayer
Join us as we accept Pope Francis' invitation to make 2024 a Year of Prayer. We will meet monthly via Zoom to rediscover how to pray, and to explore the many different styles of prayer: Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, the Rosary -- are just a few examples. This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone, whether you struggle in how to communicate with God, or if prayer is a fixture in your daily life.
Facilitated by: MSC Team
Date: third Tuesday of each month of 2024:
June 18 - Gospel Contemplation with Pat Lawlor
July 16
August 20
September 17
October 15
November 19
December 17
Time: 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.
Place: Zoom
Cost: FREE!
Men's Spirituality Group
Amazing things happen when people gather to grow in their faith and encourage each other. We are envisioning a new opportunity for men as another part of the ministry of Mercy Spirituality Center. We invite you to join us as we gather together in community. Our meetings will offer an opportunity to share a meal or refreshments together. There usually will be a speaker or other presentation and then an opportunity to reflect and share insights about what we have heard. Our goal is to experience God’s grace and guidance together and deepen our connection to God and to other men in our daily lives.
Coordinated by: Ed Redmond and Rev. Harry Heintz
Dates: Third Saturday of the month:
June 15 - last session before summer break
Location: MSC
Time: 8:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Cost: $100 for series; $15 per individual session
Walking in Their Footsteps: The Journey to Sainthood
Each session of this monthly program will take a more in-depth look at the life and work of one of these holy role models. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about a lesser recognized saint, or a different perspective on someone you thought you knew. Every month will be enlightening. More information on the subject of the month will be featured as each session approaches.
July: St. Dymphna
In the town of Gheel, in the Flemish-speaking region of Belgium, great honor is paid to St. Dymphna, whose body is preserved in a silver reliquary in the church which bears her name. Gheel has long been known as a place of pilgrimage for persons seeking relief of nervous or emotional distresses. In our century, the name of St. Dymphna as the heavenly intercessor for such benefits is increasingly venerated in America.
Come learn more about this fascinating woman who died at 15, by the hand of her own father.
Facilitator: Carlos Garcia
August: St. Catherine of Siena
Join us to learn more about Catherine, the 25th child of her family, although most of her siblings would not survive infancy.
She joined the Third Order of St. Dominic and was instrumental in restoring the Papacy to Rome and would later be declared a Doctor of the Church.
Facilitator: Christine Kvam
Date: Second Tuesday of each month in 2024
July 9
August 13
September 10
October 8
November 12
December 10
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Cost: $25 per individual session or $240 for the series.
Day To Call Your Own
Come and enjoy a day to yourself in your own, private, comfortable room at Mercy Spirituality Center. You will be able to pray, contemplate, read and relax without being disturbed. A simple lunch of soup and bread is included. Morning prayer is optional.
Facilitator: Sr. Gert Erb, RSM
Dates: 2nd Thursday of each month:
September 12
October 10
November 14
December 12
Time: 9:00 am-4:00 pm; 9:30 am: Morning Prayer (optional)
Fee: $25
Personal Retreat Weekend
They are here! Your personal retreat weekend! We will be offering four personal retreat weekends in 2024. You can join us from Friday evening until Sunday morning. The weekend is yours to spend in prayer, relaxation, and spiritual awareness. You will receive breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday. Snacks will be provided Friday evening.
Dates:
September 27-29
December 13-15
Time: 7 p.m. Friday through 12:00 p.m. Sunday
Location: MSC
Cost: $250.
Ignatian Spirituality
Exercises of St. Ignatius In All Of It's Forms
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in all of its forms, create an awareness of God in all things—all people, all creation, every human experience, and especially in the person of Jesus. We offer a model of the Spiritual Exercises designed by St. Ignatius for use in daily life which takes place over 30 weeks, rather than 30 days. This program is currently being offered virtually.