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
Mental Health Matters
Good mental health is a key to protecting yourself from illness.
Join us during May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month for five opportunities to encourage your own mental health.
These short-day retreats will include a new theme on mental health each week, a healthy and fun activity (which will vary each week), ‘chicken soup for the soul’ (a.k.a. lunch - soup and bread), and discussion.
Dates: Thursdays in May, except for May 14th, which will be a Wednesday
May 14 (Guided Dream Journey)
*Please note, this session will be held on Wednesday, not Thursday
May 22 (Contemplative Prayer)
May 29 (Forest Bathing)
Time: 11:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Fee: $60/session or $250/series
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Facilitators:
Sue Divita (Guided Dream Journey Powered by the Energy of the Drum)
Nancy Weise (Forest Bathing)
Allison Murphy (Contemplative Walking)
Todd Manning (Mindful Yoga)
Pat Lawlor (Contemplative Prayer)
* Membership eligible program
Forest Bathing Retreats
Engage your senses and mind with a Forest Bathing Retreat.
You will be introduced to the to the practice of forest bathing, followed by a mindful and sensory meditation to settle in.
Interact with nature both outside and inside in varying ways using the senses and mindfulness.
This is a quiet, calming experience that opens our hearts to the relationship we have with all of God's creations.
Facilitator: Nancy Weise
Dates: Saturdays: May 17 and May 31
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (bring bagged lunch)
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Fee: $40 per session or $65 for both
#There are two unique sessions offered. Activities will be different, and each retreat will be independent of the other. You can attend one or both dates
* Membership eligible program
Walking in Prayer: Faith Journeys - What is Yours?
Each season we will gather at Mercy Spirituality Center, and we will begin with a session centered around "Faith Journeys" and the idea of 'what is your faith calling you to'? We will also be discussing our own faith journeys and journaling.
We may stay on our campus and other times we may walk to Highland Park or Mt. Hope Cemetery. This program will begin in the spring and meet in the summer, fall, and winter.
Come prepared to walk and prepared for the weather. We will be in the elements for about one hour. We will walk for approximately 40 minutes and then we'll journal.
Facilitators: Allison Murphy and Mary Cioppa
Dates: seasonally, first Friday of the month
Friday, June 6
Friday, August 1
Friday, October 3
Time (two options): 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Fee: $20 per session
* Membership eligible program
Mug Up - Summer
"Loneliness and connection are not enemies, rather two facets of everyone’s life. Aloneness can prove an ally in the exciting and complicated battles of life. All we need to do is to discern the heart song of loneliness, so we can learn how to guide our emotions to cope with it."
Join us on Zoom this summer as we read, Dancing with Loneliness, by José María R. Olaizola SJ. We will read 'Part One' for our first meeting on June 3.
Facilitator: Allison Murphy
Date: Tuesdays in June
June 3, June 10, June 17, June 24
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Fee: $60
* Membership eligible program
Men's Spirituality Group
The second half of our year, February-May, Harry will lead us in a study of St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians.
Our planning team has expanded: we welcome Mike Salamone, joining Ed and Harry.
Coordinated by: Ed Redmond, Rev. Harry Heintz, and Michael Salamone
Dates: Third Saturday of the month:
finished until the fall
Location: MSC
Time: 8:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Cost: $15 per individual session
* Membership eligible program
Men's Group Retreat
Join us for a film presentation and discussion to close out this years’ Men's Spirituality Group.
We will be showing the film Hacksaw Ridge. It is the story of Desmond Doss and his experiences as a Conscientious Objector while serving as a medic in WWII.
We will be pausing the film at intervals to discuss some of the themes presented. We will take a closer look at the challenges we face each day to stay committed to this life God calls us to.
There will be presentations from our retreat team along with the opportunity for discussion.
We will be meeting on May 17, 2025, from 8:30 to 1:00. A light breakfast will be served as well as lunch.
The cost for the meeting will be $25.00. If you have paid for the series, there is no extra cost.
Coordinated by: Ed Redmond, Rev. Harry Heintz, and Michael Salamone
Date: May 17
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Time: 8:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Cost: $25
* Membership eligible program
Where Two or More Are Gathered
When two or more of us are gathered in his name, Jesus is there among us. We know prayer works, and when we pray God will give us what we need.
We will gather monthly via Zoom and pray collectively for a group or petition in which our world needs prayers.
Facilitated by: MSC Team
Date: third Tuesday of each month:
May 20, June 17,
July 15, August 19,
September 16, October 21,
November 18, December 16
Time: 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.
Place: Zoom
Cost: FREE!
Centering Prayer
Join us this fall for our centering prayer group. If you are unfamiliar with centering prayer, it is a contemplative form of Christian prayer, designed to center awareness on the presence of God.
Prayer begins with a reading by Thomas Keating, followed by a 20-minute quiet and seated contemplation. This is followed by walking and then another 20 minutes of seated contemplation. Prayer ends this hour long gathering.
Dates: Second Tuesday of each month except for July and August
May 13, June 10
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: MSC
Facilitator: Mary Coughtry
Suggestion donation: $10 per session
* Membership eligible program
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:
June 12
Time: 9:00 am-4:00 pm; 9:30 am: Morning Prayer (optional)
Fee: $25
* Membership eligible program
The Twelve
What do we truly know about those who were closest to Jesus? This series takes a deep dive into the lives of the Apostles, as men, as professionals, and as followers of Christ. What were their lives like before joining Jesus in his public life? What happened to them after the Ascension? Were they martyrs? Did they die of old age? Join us for this most enlightening discovery. Each session will focus on a different disciple.
Date: second Monday of the month
May 12, June 9
July 14, August 11
September 8, October 13
November 10, December 8
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Facilitator: Allison Murphy
Fee: $25 per session or $250 for the series
* Membership eligible program
Ignatian Spirituality
Exercises of St. Ignatius In All of Its 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.