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Between Heaven & Earth: Lives of the Christian Mystics
Step into the world of the Christian mystics — women and men whose lives were filled with profound faith, deep prayer, and a burning desire for union with God.
Each month, this series invites you to explore the life and legacy of mystics who helped shape the spiritual landscape of Christianity. From the desert fathers and medieval visionaries to modern contemplatives, we will uncover their stories, struggles, and spiritual insights that continue to inspire today.
Together, we’ll learn who these mystics were, what they experienced, and how their courage and devotion transformed both their times and ours. Whether you’re new to Christian spirituality or have long been drawn to the mystical path, you’ll find this series both enriching and illuminating.
Facilitators: Allison Murphy, Lisa Lickona,
Susan DiVita, and Susan Ward
Date: Fourth Monday of the month
~August 31 (5th Monday)
- Lisa - Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
~September 28 - Allison - St. Catherine of Siena
~October 26 - Sue D. - Mary Magdalene
~November 23 - Sue W. - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (rescheduled)
~December 21 (3rd Monday) - Lisa - Gabrielle Bossis
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Cost: $25 per session
Register to attend via Zoom
* Membership eligible program
Saturdays with the Spirit
August 29: "Mindful Table"
Jesus is the bread of life. Have you ever stopped to think about that statement? Join us as we bring together baking (focaccia bread) and our spiritual journey and how the two can work simultaneously in our lives. Come knead your spiritual journey and delight as it bakes.
August Facilitator: Erin Monagan,
MSC's Hospitality Coordinator
Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Cost: $60 per session (lunch included)
* Membership eligible program
Writer by day, Erin’s passion for cooking and baking is what gives her joy. Over the years, she has found how meditative and spiritual certain cooking tasks can be and wants to enrich others in the spirit
with her cooking experience.
September 12th: "Growing Older Gracefully, with Grace"
An invitation to embrace our age as a natural part of life… "both active and contemplative, reflective and deeply rewarding.” Become aware of our profound purpose…cherish the blessings of aging, overcome challenges and discover this special part of life. Life isn’t about the length of years but about the quality of life and love we live. Come, be surprised!
September Facilitator: Sr. Elaine Englert, SSJ.
Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Cost: $60 per session (lunch included)
or $45 via Zoom - Register Here.
* Membership eligible program
Sr. Elaine has been a Sister of St. Joseph of Rochester for 57 years. For 50 years, she was devoted to the ministry of Catholic Education as Teacher, Principal in elementary and secondary schools, Assistant Superintendent, Diocese of Rochester, and Creator of SSJ Women’s Leadership Program for/in a co-ed Catholic High School. She then served three years in ministry to those underinsured and uninsured at St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center.
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 10, October 8, November 12
Time: 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
9:30 am: Morning Prayer (optional)
Cost: $25
* Membership eligible program
Men's Spirituality Group
Our four-part fall study, September thru December, will be "The Sermon on the Mount," by Emmet Fox. This is a classic look at Matthew 5-7, the most known and comprehensive collection of the teachings of Jesus we have, but with plenty of surprises
we may overlook or forget.
January will be our half-day retreat, with a look at "The Return of the Prodigal," by Henri Nouwen. We will begin with breakfast and conclude with lunch.
More details to come.
Our February-May four-part study will be the Old Testament book of Ruth, one of the most beautiful pieces of literature in the Bible, a hauntingly thrilling study of friendship, grief, love, loyalty, and redemption.
Coordinated by: Ed Redmond, Rev. Harry Heintz,
and Michael Salamone
Dates: Third Saturday of the month:
September 19, October 17
November 21, December 19
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Time: 8:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Cost: $20 per individual session
$150 for the series
* 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:
September 15, October 20
Time: 6:00 - 6:30 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
September 8, October 13
November 10, December 8
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Facilitator: Mary Coughtry
Suggestion donation: $10 per session
* Membership eligible program
Grief Circle
Are you feeling grief over a loss of any kind?
This monthly, guided Grief Circle will be a space
to come as you are, a space where
sorrow, love, anger, and remembering
all have a place.
Together, we will honor what has been lost, what is breaking, and what still longs to live through us. You do not have to carry this alone!
Based on the work of psychotherapist and grief expert Francis Weller.
Dates: Third Wednesday of each month (through May)
September 16, October 21,
November 18, December 16
Time: 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Facilitator: Mary Gleason and Eleanor Newton
Cost: $25 per session or $200 for the series
* Membership eligible program
Eleanor Newton, PhD, is a retired clinical psychologist who specializes in group process.
Mary Gleason is an experienced grief circle leader
who was trained by grief healing
expert Francis Weller.
Third Annual
Sipping to Celebrate
Join us for this tradition to honor Catherine McAuley.
Sipping to Celebrate recognizes our founder Catherine McAuley's birthday and we'll raise a teacup in her honor as we celebrate with a traditional afternoon tea.
Catherine believed strongly in the education of young women.
As a way of educating others, this is an incredible opportunity to bring a friend to our house for tea. Maybe it is someone who would benefit from a program,
or someone in need of Mercy in her life.
So, bring a friend, come for tea,
and stay for the conversation.
Date: Sunday, October 4
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Cost: $25 or 2 for $40
* Membership eligible program
Pilgrims Again
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola through the eyes of contemporary authors.
Continue the journey as pilgrims of the Spiritual Exercises with conversation and commonality of purpose with others.
This program is open to all who have experienced the Spiritual Exercises, not just those who have made them at MSC.
Facilitator: Jane Stava
Date: First Tuesday of the month (8 sessions, through May)
October 6, November 3, December 1
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Fee: Please contact Allison Murphy
Intro to the Enneagram
The Enneagram is an ancient tool we can use to learn more about ourselves, and what blocks us in our relationships with God, and with others, and even with ourselves. There are nine different personality types, based on what motivates us, and whether we lead with our heart, head, or gut. Come learn about this powerful tool for spiritual transformation!
The Enneagram, as used today, is a modern synthesis of a number of ancient wisdom traditions. Often called a Tool of Conversion, it separates human personality into nine distinct personality types, based on where we get our energy, or validation. Do we make important decisions by what’s in our heart, or by using our head and then deciding, or by using our gut (intuition)?
Participants will learn the nine types Friday evening and then have the opportunity to take an online test, in preparation for the Saturday session. Overnight accommodations available.
Date: Friday - Saturday, October 30-31
Time: Friday at 6 p.m. - Saturday at 1 p.m.
Facilitator: Rev. Lisa Lancaster
Location: Mercy Spirituality Center
Fee: $80 for standalone program (includes Friday program 6-9 pm and Saturday program 9 am-1 pm),
$175 (includes program, breakfast, and overnight accommodations)
Rev. Lisa Lancaster was ordained in 1987. She served as a pastor for four years at a church near Princeton. After a year of hospital residency, she worked as Chaplain and Director of Pastoral Care at a health care system in central New Jersey. She also supervised many field education students in her 23 years there.
She also became certified in spiritual direction, and after her retirement, received certification in teaching the Enneagram. She and her husband Rich, a retired climate scientist, live on Lake Ontario in Hilton, NY with their children: a beagle and two cats.
To register for upcoming Zoom opportunities please visit the link.
For Overnight Retreats please visit the link.
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.
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.